Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 97151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
I spot a bundle of white fur on the ground, shivering against Ben’s building. “Oh sweetie,” I say, bending down to check on the cat. “Did someone in your building lose their cat?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Never seen her before, but I’m not generally scanning the ground for cats either.”
“She’s cold,” I say. The furbaby nuzzles at my knee. I know touching random animals isn’t advised, but this cute little munchkin is too adorable to resist.
“She’s literally wearing a fur coat,” Ben replies.
“Hey, it’s New York in February. Everyone’s cold. Even the pigeons.”
Ben rolls his eyes, scoops up the small cat, and marches back into the building. I scamper after him. What’s he going to do? Stuff it in the trash?
“Thiago, please, can you give this cat something to eat and drink and see if its owner claims it?”
I hang back as they talk about the cat. Thiago has noticed it’s been outside the last few mornings, but it doesn’t seem to belong to anyone in the building. It doesn’t have a collar.
“We should check to see if it’s microchipped,” I say.
“The cat?” Ben asks.
I shoot him a look that says, No, my ass!
“How do we check that?” he asks.
“We need to take it to a vet.”
Ben groans, sticks the cat on the reception desk, texts someone on his phone, then picks up the cat again.
“Let’s go,” he says.
“We’re taking the cat to the gym?” I ask.
“We’re taking it to the vet’s. There’s one on Delancy that’s open.”
As we get outside, a car pulls up on the curb, and I recognize the driver as the one who took me home on Sunday morning.
“We’ve ditched the gym for kitten rescuing?” I ask, hopefully.
Ben opens the back door and I slide in.
“We can do the right thing by the cat, then go to the gym,” he says, as he takes a seat next to me. His tone is a little more stern than I’m used to from him. But maybe he’s one of those guys who has to follow a set schedule and this adorable cat is throwing him off.
“How often do you go to the gym?” I ask, as I reach over to stroke the cat, who seems very content to be in Ben’s arms. I get it, Cat, I get it.
“Couple of times a week. Usually I meet Deacon.”
“Will he be there today?” Maybe Aurora will be there as well and we can hang out. Although, then I have to explain what I’m doing with Ben and…Urgh. This is such a mess. I should have thought this through better.
“No, if we meet, it’s at lunchtime during the week. He has his hands full at the weekends with Willow and a pregnant fiancée.”
“But you meet for bro time in the week? That’s cute.”
“I can’t respond to that while I’m holding a ball of white fluff.” He narrows his eyes at me, and I can’t tell if he’s really irritated or if he’s pretending.
I can’t help it if the poor cat needed rescuing. But I accept it’s sweet that Ben gave enough of a shit to find out if the cat’s microchipped. Or maybe this is all part of his agenda to get me to fall in love with him. It’s going to take more than a single cat rescue.
ELEVEN
Ben
When we leave the vet’s, we get back into the car and my mind is whirring. Honestly, I don’t know why I agreed to this situation with Avril. I’m a successful guy at the top of his game. Yes, she’s attractive, no, I can’t stop thinking about her, and yes, she can get me to confess things that a priest couldn’t. But so what? Why am I so drawn to her? If I have to make difficult decisions and disappoint people, I usually find it easy to stand firm and back myself.
I could have said that I wouldn’t help Avril and moved on.
Why didn’t I?
Our first date hasn’t turned out as I’d planned. Not that I’d planned much. Yes, I want to get to know her, understand how she works and what it is about her that has a hold over me. I haven’t done that yet. But I have enjoyed myself. Who knew? Avril’s actually good company.
Of course, I’ve helped plenty of people who consider me their friend, but that’s different. Because it’s all on my terms. And I’m clear there’s a difference between friends and friendly. I don’t have many friends, but I’m friendly to anyone I meet. If someone asks me for a favor, as a friend, I’m happy to help. Just so long as I’m not actually friends with that person. Doing business with anyone who’s crossed that line is absolutely off-limits. It’s what got my dad into trouble, and I vowed not to make the same mistake.
What Avril and I did after Aurora and Deacon’s engagement party was more than just friendly. I still have the nail marks on my back to prove it.