Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
I walk with him along the aisles as he piles up on everything. I have no idea what a cat needs, but Brendan is all over it. “I’m guessing you want that?” He points to a Christmas cat house on an endcap. I gasp and run over to it.
“It even has lights on it that are safe for the cats!” I flick them on, and they dance with color. “And there’s different options.” I click the button over and over, showing all the different ways the house can light up. “It’s wonderful.”
“Then we’ll get it.” He motions to one of the employees in the store, letting him know that we’ll take it. Turns out they have to be put together at the store and then delivered.
Leaning over, I grab the tag. “Holy cow. It’s five hundred dollars.” I do well, but that seems high for a cat house. Thank God I didn’t suggest getting two. One for each of our babies.
“Merry Christmas, angel.” He gives me another one of those kisses on top of my head.
I don’t know what it is about them but they’re sweet and endearing. He makes all of my insides melt when he gives them to me. I notice as we walk around the store that we look like a normal couple. Like we’re together-together. I wonder if he’s thinking the same thing. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself but he sure is acting as though we’re already a couple. Not that I have much experience with any of that. My last boyfriend was probably circa third grade, and I’m certain he cheated on me by holding hands with one of my friends.
The cashier finishes ringing us up, bags up our stuff, and prepares the cat house to be shipped to us. I’m not sure why, but Brendan pays for the entire order despite my protests. We walk out of the store, load everything in his black truck, and head home. It isn't until we’re in the car that I realize how easy being in the store had been with Brendan at my side. Usually, I’d freeze up, especially since there were lots of other customers inside. But I’d barely noticed them. I was too focused on Brendan and his encyclopedic cat knowledge. Oh, and the Christmas cat house that is pretty much the greatest thing ever.
He pulls onto the highway and heads toward our neighborhood, the sun warm in the blue sky. “Did you hear that it’s supposed to snow late tonight?”
“Yeah, it was on the radio.” He glances at the sky. “I guess we’ll see.” Clearing his throat, he asks, “So, how long have you known Laura?” The question comes out casual, but I keep thinking about the odd face he’d made when we were talking about how Laura tracked my location.
“I’m not really sure. Like I said, she just sort of showed up one day, and she’s been coming around ever since.” I look over at him, and even though his eyes remain on the road, I can tell he’s listening closely.
“She come over often?”
“Yeah. I feel as my stalker, you should know these things,” I tease.
“I know plenty of things.” He shrugs. “Like how you wanted two of those cat houses but settled for one.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. “Maybe?”
“You’re such a sweetheart. Don’t worry. I got two. One for your place and one for mine.”
I smile but for some reason I have to force it. I think it has to do with us having two houses and that we’ll inevitably have to part once we get back. He’ll go into his house that looks sad without icicle lights, and I’ll go into my glorious Christmas palace.
It’s just that I’ve had so much fun with him, I hate for it to end, but it has to. You don’t meet someone then just start living with them. That’s crazy. I mean, it’s crazy, right? I hated him just a day ago. If I didn’t already know I was a little bit out there, this line of thought would verify it. I should try and rein it in. I know he says he likes my quirks, but I don’t want to be a total wet blanket.
“So you got a house for Charlie, too? That was really sweet of you,” I say to him as he pulls into the driveaway.
“I know you don’t like to wait on Christmas decor, so they’ll be dropping the cat houses off this afternoon.”
I gawk at him. “How have I spent that last year hating you? How?”
“There’s a fine line between love and hate, angel.” He smiles at me, the look in his eyes soft and warm. “And sometimes we only hate things because we fear them, because they’re unknown. But now we know each other.” His smile warms even more. “And I have to say I’m loving every minute of knowing you, Ariadne.”