Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 130307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“I’m going to have hair on me for days.”
“Just don’t cough any of it up near my food, and I’m fine with it.”
Arushi turned back to what she was doing in the kitchen as I let out a heavy sigh. Apparently, that sigh disturbed one of the three cats currently using me as a bed, because the white one meowed and glared at me.
“Don’t meow me,” I warned.
The orange one had been the first to invade my space. Here I was, minding my own business and watching Jeopardy, when suddenly I had a furry asshole in my face.
And I do mean a furry asshole.
The cat I was pretty sure was named Nacho had jumped right into my lap, twirling until its tail flicked under my nose. It promptly took a seat, and when I immediately tried to remove it, I was met with a hiss that told me I’d better think twice.
I was ready to bark at the damn thing when its companion decided it was best to team up on me. Black and gray striped and far skinnier than the orange fluff in my lap, that one climbed up onto the back of the couch and walked to where I was sitting before curling up on my shoulder like a scarf.
Every time it flicked its tail, I got a mouth full of hair.
And just when I thought I couldn’t be in a more nightmarish situation, a third, white cat sauntered into the living room. At first, it slow blinked at me and watched from a distance, but as if it sensed when I was about to stand and shove the other two off me, it bounded over and made biscuits on my house slippers before settling in as if it were a nest.
So here I was, held hostage by three cats that scared me more than any winger ever had.
The one on my shoulders jumped a little when my daughter and Chloe slid into the living room, both of them looking like cartoons as their arms windmilled to keep them from falling once they stumbled upon the sight of me.
The other two cats didn’t so much as blink.
Chloe covered her mouth with her hands, eyes flicking from my shoulder, to my lap, to my feet, and then back to my flat gaze.
And Ava was silent for one long pause before she burst into laughter.
It fizzled out of her at first, like she was trying with all her might to fight it. But when it came, it was as if it was a laugh that had been held captive for years, like it was breaking free.
My daughter’s face turned beet red as she gave into it, her eyes watering, and she pointed at the cats on me before dramatically flopping onto the other end of the sectional and down to the floor.
Chef Patel ran in like the living room was on fire, and when she realized it was Ava laughing, her eyes softened, hands covering her heart like she’d just seen a barrel of puppies. She looked from Chloe to Ava to me, and though she didn’t say a word, I could hear her loud and clear.
At least, until my daughter managed to speak through her fit of giggles.
“Daddy’s covered in assholes!”
“Language,” I warned, but my attempt at sounding serious was thwarted by the upturn of my lips.
Because my daughter, the one who was unfortunate enough to have a grumpy brute for a dad, was laughing.
“I’m so sorry,” Chloe finally said, and I realized then that she was wiping tears from her eyes. “They shouldn’t be in here. I promised I’d keep them under control and I… I’m sorry.”
She made her way over to me, bending to grab the white one first, who let her scoop the thing into her arms.
Its blue eyes sparkled at me, and I swore it smiled in victory.
“It’s my fault,” Ava finally said once she was able to control herself. “I left the door open.”
I let out a heavy sigh, but forced as much of a smile as I could. “It’s fine, Pumpkin.”
“I think they like you.”
I arched a brow. “Mm, lucky me.”
Another fizzle of laughter seeped out of her, and when I slid my gaze to Chloe, I saw her eyes well again. She glanced at me, her cheeks turning pink when our gaze met, and just like Arushi, she didn’t have to say a word for me to understand those tears weren’t from laughing too hard.
It was another part of her mission.
She’d made Ava smile, and now, her stupid cats had made Ava laugh.
The corner of my lips tilted up.
I couldn’t even pretend to be mad now.
“Why don’t you help Miss Chloe get them back home,” Chef suggested to Ava. “Dinner’s almost ready.” She disappeared into the kitchen then, but not without watching me a little too closely, a smirk on her lips like she was hiding a secret.