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Adam had never expected to be in a position like this, waking up groggy, struggling to breathe under the immense weight pinning him flat, a horrible hot reek wafting over his face, and—when he made the mistake of groaning and trying to turn his head away from the stench—a warm tongue licking up over his entire face—mouth to nose to forehead.
He made a gargling noise of horror that he didn’t know could come out of him. “Dammit, Baby, don’t!”
But the noise and reprimand only seemed to enliven Baby who squirmed on top of him, wheezing the remaining air out of Adam’s lungs, and set to licking Adam’s face in a flurry of slobbering love.
“Euurgh,” Adam’s response wasn’t any more fluent as he tried to push the adoring dog off him so he could breathe and enjoy a waking moment of non-stinking air.
“You aren’t supposed to be on the bed,” he chided, but it wasn’t very impressive since he was trying to crawl out of the bed while Baby draped over his back and licked his ear.
Adam finally won the battle and got to his feet, panting. Baby jumped off the bed and crowded up against him, also panting.
“You’ve got to stop waking me up like this. I can’t handle it,” Adam told the dog, one traitorous hand already rubbing the big pointy ears. Baby dropped to sit on his feet and pant up at him in adoration. “At least you waited until only five minutes before my alarm.” Adam reached over and turned it off then used both hands to ruffle Baby’s face and ears. “You need to go out? Go out?”
Baby let out one low woof and led the way downstairs to the back door, long legs twisting themselves in his hurry. Adam obligingly unlocked the dog flap and let Baby tumble down the deck steps to the small fenced-in back yard. He yawned as he leaned against the door frame and watched the dog attend to his business quickly then set off to sniff every single thing in the tiny yard as though it had all been changed in the eight hours since he’d last been ourside.
Baby was not what Adam had expected when he’d gone to the humane society to adopt a dog. Adam hadn’t actually ever planned for a pet. He had fulfilled one of his greatest desires by purchasing the small house in the suburbs that was a short drive from work. Although he had plans for moving to the city and a bigger job next, he’d bought the house as an investment, knowing he could always use it as a rental when he moved away.
But once he was moved in and all the painting and little home improvement projects he’d wanted to do were done, he found out his nights and weekends were a little bit lonely. He made himself have a semblance of a social life, but when he curled up on the couch after a long day, he realized it would be nice to have someone to curl up with.
And it seemed easiest to pick that someone with four legs and fur rather than go through the labor intensive dating process.
So, he found himself at the humane society on a weekend, the din of barking dogs ringing in his ear. Adam had thought that although a cat would be less work in the long run, he’d always had a soft spot for the mutts that lingered in the trailer park he’d grown up in, seemingly owned by no one but still looking for a friendly hand.
Plus, he had some notion that having a dog would be good for home security, someone to watch the house during the day and be alert at night, providing some extra reassurance.
As the volunteer led him down the rows of cages, Adam quickly decided he did not want a toy breed, or something smaller than his knees, or something that was as large as a pony. Neither did he want something that required loads of runs and energy nor something that would just lie around and nap all day.
There was quite a selection of medium-sized dogs and Adam quietly looked down at each while the volunteer happily rattled off their information. There was one that looked somewhat like a well-loved stuffed animal with tufts of brownish hair sticking out, and it looked back with large liquid brown eyes...and okay, maybe Adam was more interested in having a dog than he’d admitted even to himself.
Then they turned a corner and Adam first saw the ears. That was his first impression of the dog—big pointy ears that stood upright and pointed in his direction. As he came around the front of the cage, he saw the striking blue eyes, highly unusual in a brown and black dog, and the lolling pink tongue. When he stepped forward, the tail began a wag that shook the dog’s entire body.
It was bigger than Adam had initially wanted, and thin, lean but not starved, and seemed to be mostly long legs, ears, and those striking blue eyes.
When the dog let out a low boof and opened its mouth to pant and smile, Adam thought he might be in love.
He knelt down outside the cage, and the dog stuck its nose through the grate to bump into his hand.
“Ah, this boy, he was returned last month. He’d been raised here and finally adopted a month ago, but he, uh, wasn’t a good fit for that family.”
Warning bells went off in Adam’s brain, and he reluctantly pulled his hand away. “Why wasn’t he a good fit? Behavioral problems?”
The volunteer looked shifty as she looked over her clipboard, clearly buying for time. “Well, the parents claimed that he wasn’t as affectionate as they wanted.”
“Not affectionate, this guy?” Adam stood up and brushed off his jeans. The dog boofed again and followed his every movement.
“I’m going to be frank with you,” the volunteer said, finally meeting his eyes. “We warned the family that he might not be used to being around other dogs and we’ve never had him around cats so we recommended a situation where he was the only dog with only older children. They agreed, but then found out that he was … well, they said he sort of grew attached to the father but he didn’t take to the rest of the family.”
Adam stared down at the dog who was sitting, looking pointedly back at him, tail still swishing along the floor. “Was he aggressive? Unfriendly?”
The volunteer shrugged. “They said ‘indifferent.’ It obviously wasn’t a good match. We’ve had dogs before that we call ‘one-person’ dogs, that take a shine to one human only. But this dog has never shown aggression to humans. And he’s never had a reaction to another visitor like he has with you.”
Adam didn’t try hard to resist. “You said I could take a dog outside for a walk, to try out? Not like a test drive, but well—”
The volunteer came to his rescue. “Absolutely! Let me grab a lead and you can walk him in our yard!”
Then Adam realized the very important question he couldn’t believe he’d forgotten. “What’s his name?”
Again the volunteer stopped to consult her clipboard which was ridiculous until she looked back at Adam and said, “The family named him Babycakes, and unfortunately, we haven’t been able to get him to answer to anything other than Baby.”
“Baby,” Adam repeated, his tone incredulous, but Baby didn’t seem to care because he boofed again at Adam and began to wag/shake in ecstasy when the volunteer clipped the lead to his collar.
Adam was expecting to either be pulled around the yard like a cart or to have to pull the dog behind him, so he was amazed when Baby walked along beside him, stopping frequently to sniff at dandelions or look around at the wide open field, his big ears flapping in the slight breeze. Adam stopped once and said firmly, “Sit,” just to try it, and Baby sat immediately.
Adam rewarded him with a fuzzle of his ears, and the dog bopped his head up into the movement, his mouth opening again in a grin.
That was when Adam knew he’d been chosen. But, “The name Baby is ridiculous. We’re definitely changing that,” he informed the dog.
Like many of Adam’s plans, that was doomed to failure. So was his strict budget when he shopped at the pet store before picking up Baby on his adoption day. He’d never known there were so many products one could buy for a dog. It was crazy, it was ridiculous, it was … obvious that Baby might prefer a harness to collar and require three different types of toys for tug of war. And of course he had to buy a multitude of treats because he had no idea which flavor Baby would prefer.
Baby had settled into the house much easier than Adam had dared to hope. He followed Adam that whole first day, curling up periodically in a sunny corner in whatever room Adam just happened to be in. And then just so happening to move into the next room after Adam did.
Adam had read a few, well, quite a few, different articles on bringing a pet home and training. He introduced Baby to his food and water corner in the kitchen, walked him on the lead through a tour of the back yard even though it was fenced, and showed him how the dog flap worked.
He was maybe a little heavy handed on the treats, but Baby was being so good, no barking, no scratching and even standing by the back door until Adam let him out to pee in the yard. Adam knew he was blessed that Baby was house-trained but it would be even better when Baby could just let himself outside.
Baby sat at attention a few feet behind him while Adam cooked dinner, and then snuffled loudly under the table while Adam ate, slipping Baby a couple pieces of plain chicken that he ate delicately from Adam’s fingers.
Adam turned on TV for a little while and sat on the couch, waiting to see what Baby would do. He just curled up in a ball under the lamp, head turned in Adam’s direction, and napped.
When it was time for bed, in order to create a sustainable routine, Adam took him out in the yard. But again, Baby seemed to understand that the dark was time for sleep because he didn’t waste as much time peeing and followed Adam back inside.
Their first disagreement came over the bed. Baby had to investigate every nook and corner of the bedroom while Adam brushed his teeth and got ready for bed. Adam walked over to the huge dog bed he’d splurged on, hunkered down and patted it, calling for Baby.
Baby walked over, nose to the floor, sniffing as he went. He obligingly walked into the bed and circled and circled then circled again. Then stood there staring at Adam.
“Good boy,” Adam said, standing up and going to pull down his bedspread. Baby immediately appeared and leaned against his leg.
“Oh hi,” Adam said. “Your bed’s over there.”
Baby just leaned harder and Adam sighed. He had a feeling this was going to be a battle, and he wasn’t wrong.
Adam tried ignoring the dog and got into bed, plumping pillows behind him so he could read for a while. Baby, who obviously didn’t know what the word “ignore” meant, stood at the bed, head resting on the mattress by Adam’s hip and panted loudly, an occasional whine coming out when he exhaled.
Adam finally got up, rubbed his ears and took him back to the dog bed. He squatted and smoothed his hand over the special memory foam mattress, made encouraging noses, looked back to Baby … and got licked on the nose.
He sputtered and sat down hard on his ass. Baby took that as encouragement to crowd onto his lap, at least, as much of his head, legs and chest as he could, while Adam pleaded with him.
“You’re a good boy,” Adam gasped. “But you are not a lapdog.”
He pushed and wrestled with Baby who was in ecstasies of love at the attention. Adam knelt and patted the bed again. “C’mon boy, this is a better mattress than I’ve ever had. It’ll feel so much better than the floor.”
He smiled when Baby walked into the bed again and turned. Looked at Adam. Turned again. And finally plopped down with a sigh.
Adam rubbed his head and ears and praised him lavishly. Baby’s tail continued its metronome beat of loving devotion.
Adam hurried back to bed, turned out the light and lay down before Baby could change his mind. Although he’d worried about whether the noise of a dog would keep him awake, Adam was pleased that his lifetime of exhaustion allowed his usual deep sleep to continue, and although he had a weird dream about dating a woman wearing a fur coat and felt extra warm all night, he slept just fine.
Until he stretched the next morning and froze, wondering just who the hell was spooning him. It only took one deep breath and the smell gave it away.
Adam groaned out, “Baby,” which woke the dog and started the day’s wriggles of delight.
No matter how he tried, Adam just couldn’t break Baby of the habit of sleeping in his bed, no matter how they started the night.
It was only one of the challenges of having a dog that Adam was soon to learn. Baby followed him throughout the house, but once Adam moved the unused bad to the living room, Baby did agree to use it to rest while Adam puttered throughout the downstairs.
Adam had already decided to allow him on his couch, so when he settled in to watch TV, Baby happily joined him. But Adam did eventually win the war and insist that Baby snuggled against him, not on him.
Baby finally took to the door flap Adam had installed so he could let himself in and out throughout the day. However, Adam started locking it at night when Baby showed no need for it, and Adam watched enough YouTube videos showing unexpected wildlife visits.
Baby wasn’t fussy at all about eating, and would eat anything, including any food Adam dropped on the floor that wasn’t retrieved within one split second. And Adam was pleasantly surprised that he didn’t dig or destroy his belongings inside. While Baby would sniff every square inch of the back yard and bark at squirrel and bird invasions, he didn’t damage anything in Adam’s sparse yard either.
Adam knew that Baby would require more exercise than his own sole leisurely investigations of the back yard. As soon as he pulled out one of the leashes he’d bought—Adam had examined each type and finally settled on three—Baby went into paroxysms of joy.
Adam could barely get the new harness on him because Baby insisted on dancing and licking any part of Adam he could reach.
But once outside, he settled happily at Adam’s side and walked along, head and tail erect, looking from side to side in the neighborhood. Adam felt his shoulders begin to relax at the amazingly good behavior.
He tightened again when a woman walking a floofy white dog came into view, and shortened the lead on Baby. But Baby had already seen them, and charged for an instant with the loudest bark Adam had yet heard from him. Adam hauled him back and Baby obliged, crowding into Adam’s legs and growling lowly, a ridge of fur on his spine starting to rise.
By that time, the lady and dog were drawing near and Adam tried to smile at her, but it definitely felt inadequate. The little dog would’ve come closer, despite Baby’s now constant growl, but the owner said sharply, “Control your dog.”
“Yes ma’am,” was all Adam could say because what did she think he was trying to do, one hand tight on Baby’s harness and the other snugged up on the leash.
But he didn’t think he’d have to worry about Baby leaping away because he was wedged as close as he could get to Adam. That continued every time they so much as glimpsed another dog.
At first Adam worried that Baby was territorial around everyone, but he breezed right past human strangers walking or jogging without a care. It seemed like he was experiencing something Adam had read about called resource guarding, only it was Adam that was the resource and Baby was attempting to guard him against all other canines.
That nixed Adam’s plans to drive them to a fenced-in dog park for the moment until he could get some professional training. Baby didn’t seem to mind and loved walking the neighborhood sidewalks pressed close against Adam.
They spent the day finding out that Baby also loved playing with a ball and frisbee even though he hadn’t learned fetch, but he loved chasing them then running around with them in his mouth until Adam all but tackled him.
Adam figured they’d both sleep well that night, and he certainly did, although he woke up Monday morning spooning Baby and cursed under his breath when Baby’s giant head craned back in joy and hit his chin.
Then came the moment he’d been most dreading—leaving for work. Baby didn’t know what was to come, but Adam lavished him with praise and watched him snarf down his morning bowl of food while he sipped his own coffee. He even gave him a handful of treats then walked Baby into the living room.
“I’ll be back, I promise,” Adam vowed. Baby panted and tried to kiss his face. “I can’t stop in at lunch, but I’ll be home on time. Please be good. Ah, Baby, I know you’ll be good,” he crooned.
Baby followed him to the front door, still wriggling in excitement, but Adam had to stop him. “I can’t take you with me, sweet thing. But I’ll be home soon. You take a nap. Go outside and chase those robins.”
Baby’s head tilted and he wagged his tail again, but he still tried to squeeze out the door with Adam. “I’m so sorry, I’ll be back,” Adam babbled as he turned himself to get outside and shut the door behind him.
He could hear Baby start to whine the saddest, most mournful sound he’d ever heard. Adam had his key back in the lock when he caught himself. He had to be strong. Baby would have to get used to being home alone. Adam couldn’t afford doggy daycare and after their experience the day before, he didn’t think it would suit Baby anyway.
He had to tough it out. He had to go to work. He could not take time off just because he’d adopted a dog. He could not stay home.
But he could rearrange his schedule to go home at lunch.
As soon as he slotted the key in the lock, he heard a thump and the skitter of toenails across the hardwood then Baby leaped at him when he finally opened the door.
There as a millisecond of fear that Baby was attacking him, thinking him an intruder, but instead of going for his throat, Baby was whining and kissing him.
Adam laughed gratefully. “I guess you’re not going to make much of a watchdog, eh Baby?”
He tried to pet him and move him so Adam could get the rest of his body inside. They spent a blissful half hour together, Baby looking up at him adoringly while Adam ate a quick sandwich.
He could do this temporarily. It would save money eating at home. It was only twenty minutes round-trip. Just until Baby settled in.
The whining began when Adam headed back to the door, and he hardened his heart and made his promises that he’d be straight home after work.
Thankfully, Baby started to adapt and while Adam still came home once in a while for lunch, Baby seemed okay alone all day. Adam researched dog boredom and bought some more toys that Baby could work at for puzzles and treats while he was gone.
However, Baby usually left them until Adam was home, seeming to crave Adam’s attention and praise more than the treats.
Adam soon found he loved coming home to someone who worshiped him, who looked at him like he hung the moon and stars—although in Baby’s case it was more like doled out treats and walks. They’d eat dinner, go for a brisk walk, then home to play some ball before settling in to watch TV or read.
Adam hadn’t made the time to get out socially and make friends except for talking to a few co-workers. One of them, an assistant named Blue, was quick to zoom in on his nerves that first week and his unexpected lunch trips home.
“You hiding a new girlfriend or boyfriend?” she asked bluntly.
“No,” he said quickly then he sighed and relented when she showed no sign of removing herself. “Here,” he offered his phone gallery. And accepted all the cooing and compliments Blue made over Baby.
But he balked at first when she invited herself over to meet him in person. “Pshaw,” she said, joining him on Friday afternoon. “I walked dogs for half the town in high school. Dogs love me.”
Adam tried to explain how Baby acted on walks and admitted he’d never had anyone over the house to see how Baby would react. “You’re going to have to seek out professional training,” she advised. “Definitely sounds like he has some issue with letting other dogs around you. And you know that could be dangerous.”
It didn’t dissuade Blue. She had Adam enter the house first and was witness to the raptures of love Baby showed him.
When she stepped in, Baby got behind Adam’s legs, and he laughed. “He’s so confident outside.”
Blue squatted down, not that it made much difference, Adam thought, and regarded Baby calmly. He growled a little nervously, so she sat down on the floor. “Hey, Baby, I have some treats here. If you’re a brave boy, can you come get it? It’s the good cheese.”
She held her palm out and Baby warily poked his head out from behind Adam then his body slowly followed.
“I love cheese too,” Blue confided in her sweet, soft voice. “If you want it, just come over here.”
Adam felt Baby’s tail wag cautiously then he tried to ooze over to Blue and carefully took the cheese cube from her hand. She didn’t move, and he swallowed the cheese and sniffed her hand. Then he glanced up at Adam who reassured with, “C’mon Baby, Blue’s a friend.”
Although Baby kept looking back at Adam, he did allow Blue to pet him and ruffle his ears, and he graciously accepted more cheese. They slowly made friends, Adam was pleased to say, although any time Adam sat down, Baby was quick to jump up and crowd into him, always pressing between him and Blue on the couch.
“Someone’s definitely jealous,” Blue teased, but then she offered another piece of chicken or cheese and Baby eventually rested his head on her lap.
Adam secretly thought Baby put up with her because he thought she was some kind of squeaky toy, small and capable of high-pitched noises.
One evening when Adam was busy in the kitchen, Blue sat alone on the couch until Baby joined her and climbed on her lap, efficiently smothering Blue, pretending his damnedest to be a lapdog, and Blue sank deeper into the couch thrilled at the love Baby was showing for once.
Adam made sure he took a lot of pictures.
************************************
Ronan snaked out an arm and batted at his phone alarm to make it shut up. Then he spit out the fur on his lip and reached up to sink his fingertips into the soft fluffy ball curled on his head.
“Dammit, you’re going to give me fucking furballs too. You shed like a rug,” he mumbled.
A muted grumble responsed then a rough tongue rasped on his shaved scalp as if in apology. Only after a few licks, the throat connected to the tongue coughed alarmingly.
“Oh no you little shit, no more yacking furballs on my damn pillow!” Only the threat of that indignity could get Ronan out of bed so quickly.
The cat that usually slept as his nightcap horked once but didn’t spit up. She did get stand partway up and then stretch, long and slinky, in a way that Ronan envied because he was sure it’d cure his spine pain if he could stretch like that.
“God, you have me trained too well,” he said and scratched her around the ears. She tolerated that for a moment, tiny head pushing up into his big hand, then she began to ooze away so his hand petted strongly down her back the entire way to her tail. He scratched right above her tail and she raised her butt appreciatively.
Then she jumped off the bed and sashayed out of the room.
“Why did I have to fall in love with such a diva?” Ronan called after her. He showered and went back to his room to get dressed when he heard the distinctive noise of her food bowl being rolled across the kitchen.
“What are you even doing up, anyway?” he asked when he followed her into the kitchen. “We’re usually asleep for another good three-four hours, you know. You shouldn’t be hungry yet.”
Opal just sat beside the cupboard where he kept her food, sitting straight upright, tail curled primly around her feet.
“I know you can’t read a clock, but you’re a cat. You should have some internal clock shit that tells you we work afternoons and evenings. We’re not used to getting up at the asscrack of,” Ronan glanced at the microwave clock. “Eight-thirty a.m.”
Opal opened her mouth and let out a deceptively polite meow.
“We only get up this early for Mass,” Ronan reminded her. “This experiment of Hennessy’s to open at nine in the fuckin’ morning is ridiculous. And going to fail.”
Opal meowed again, a little louder.
“I don’t like it, so you shouldn’t be all bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and hungry at this godawful hour,” Ronan finished his lecture to his thoroughly unimpressed audience.
The audience who suddenly jumped up on the counter and sauntered toward Ronan’s favorite coffee mug that sat ready beside his Keurig.
“Oh no no no, you don’t, you little fucker,” Ronan raced over and grabbed the mug right as a furry paw reached out to bat at it.
“You’ve broken enough of my glasses, you don’t get to destroy my mug too.” He set it on top the microwave and waggled a finger at her.
As he expected, her paw shot out and hit his finger and they engaged in a brief yet fearsome battle.
Then he laughed and picked her up, sneaking a kiss to the top of her little head as she struggled against all the indignities of her life and tried to escape from his embrace. Ronan kissed her again then dropped her beside where the food bowl should be.
He retrieved it from across the kitchen and got out one of her cans of food. Opal twined between his calves and began to purr when she saw he was obeying her wishes. She then appeared to forget all about him when she began to eat.
“Spoiled rotten,” Ronan told her as he filled her water bowl then prepared his own Pop-Tart and coffee quickly.
With one last look at the clock, he grabbed his wallet and phone. “Gotta go. Be good today, for once. Don’t do anything I would do.”
Opal continued to ignore his existence so he left for the tattoo shop. He was a little disgruntled about the new hours he’d have to work for a few weeks, although he did understand the reasoning behind it. Hennessy’s newest girlfriend was apparently helping her actually create a business plan, and thought they were losing business by not offering longer hours.
He and Hennessy had tried to explain that there wasn’t a lot of demand for tattoos and piercings at 9 a.m. on a Tuesday, but Hennessy was still trying to impress so she’d agreed to try it for two weeks and see if walk-in business did improve. Of course, she wasn’t the one who had to get out of their comfortable bed in the middle of the damn night. No, she left that pleasure for Ronan who she pointed out had no one in his bed, and of course, he would still be responsible for his booked clients which were spread across evenings.
Ronan didn’t like it, but Hennessy had also ignored his empty threats of quitting, so he figured he’d suck it up for two weeks, show that their numbers didn’t improve at all, then take a couple weeks off to make up for it and let the two lovebirds fight in peace.
“You’re just jealous,” Hennessy informed him. “The only pussy you have in your life doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
“Wait, did Ronan get a cat?” Noah turned from his client.
Ronan rolled his eyes. “You know that. I adopted her a couple months ago.”
“Aw, you never invited me over to meet her!” Noah pouted.
“Lynch’s pussy is the best thing about him,” Hennessy said. “And I’m not talking about his damn cat.”
“Disgusting,” Ronan said and Hennessy smirked.
That exchange was probably why she made him open the shop all alone.
True to his fears, Ronan spent the entire morning scrolling through social media and downloading stupid games. He didn’t have a single walk-in until Noah joined him for an appointment at 2.
“You look tired, dude,” he said.
Ronan flipped him off.
His finger was still up when Hennessy breezed in. “That for me? Thanks, but no thanks Lynch.”
Ronan answered with his other middle finger.
“Was business brisk?”
“Business was non-existent.”
“Well, wait until we get the word out,” Hennessy said vaguely as her first appointment arrived.
It definitely made the afternoon go a lot faster when they were busy, Ronan realized. The little shop filled up by the end of the night with clients as well as Hennessy’s friends, her twin Jordan, her girlfriend Carmen, and various other hangers-on who liked to hang out there and go for drinks after.
Ronan cashed out his last client and stretched, thinking of Opal’s flexibility and getting jealous again.
“Ready to go home to your princess?” Noah asked.
“Ready for bed. Early mornings suck.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Hennessy said. “Got you a little something for volunteering to work our morning shift.”
“Volunteering my ass,” Ronan sneered, but he unrolled the black T-shirt she handed him. Then he swore.
The shirt had a white profile of a cat’s body and the words “I love pussy.” The entire group burst out laughing. Ronan swatted at Hennessy, but she and her wide grin got out of the way in time.
“I do think we’ll adjust the schedule for next week,” she said as Ronan was getting ready to leave. “If you open at nine, you can leave at five. And don’t worry if you have an appointment scheduled for later. We’ll call them and change it. You shouldn’t be here twelve hours a day.”
Ronan was glad, but he bitched about it anyway because he got irritated when Hennessy ran a joke into the ground. When he got home, his princess actually met him at the door, first threading around his ankles, making it difficult to walk without tripping, then jumping up onto the couch and watching him while he stumbled around.
“Is your majesty ready to dine?” he asked sarcastically from the kitchen. Then swore when Opal turned up right beside him. “I still think I should make you wear a bell, you fucking furry ninja.”
He shook out her dry food and she went through the nightly tradition of turning up her nose at it and watching him get ready for bed.
“I don’t know why you continue this farce. We all know how it’s going to end,” he called down the hall. Opal was silent in response.
Ronan finally fell into bed then cursed, got back up to find his phone, and set the alarm for eight fuckin’ a.m. again. He turned off the light, dropped onto the bed and tried to smother himself in his pillow.
Just as he dozed off, he heard the undeniable crunch-crunch-crunch of Opal eating her dinner.
He hated the new schedule, but Gansey hated it even more. “When can I stop over and show you these artifacts? They are quite simply fantastic.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that before,” Ronan mumbled as he half-listened while brushing his teeth. It was entirely too early for his best friend’s eager scholarly interests.
“What about Saturday night? Do you have plans for after work?”
“Yeah. Go to bed. Like I’ve been doing all week.”
Gansey sighed. “I forgot about Mass. What about Sunday afternoon? Or are you going out with Matty?”
“I got no plans except maybe to curl up with my best girl and nap.”
“Then I’ll be over Sunday and I’ll bring lunch. If you can stay awake.”
Ronan had to laugh because Gansey had conveniently not acknowledged the comment about Opal. Their entire relationship was the most constant source of amusement in Ronan’s life.
When Gansey visited, Opal ignored Gansey thoroughly in the way that only cats could. Gansey didn’t love cats, but he’d tried to win Opal’s affections out of loyalty to Ronan. So of course Opal was completely apathetic to him regardless of treats, fluffy feathers on strings, or jingly balls. She would stay in the room in sphinx mode, somewhere, just so when Gansey walked past, she could snake out an arm and paw at his leg or swipe at his head.
When he sat down, she just happened to appear nearby, watching. And waiting. It unnerved Gansey which amused Ronan to no end.
“You know, Lynch, cats are very closely linked to witches and demons in folk lore,” Gansey told him once after Opal had perched on her cat tree then batted his glasses nearly off when he walked past. “There are also numerous tales of cats sucking the breath out of infants.”
“Old wives’ tales,” Ronan scoffed. “She only tries to suffocate me when she sleeps with her ass on my face, but she knows if she murders me that I’ve got the thumbs to open the food cans, don’t I?”
He made a kissy face at Opal, who yawned with a nearly demonic fervor of unhinged jaw and toothy opened mouth, and Gansey shuddered.
“Anyway, it’s all transactional with this one,” Ronan said.
The only time Opal purposefully went near Gansey was when he appeared in impeccably tailored black slacks and she decided right then was the time she absolutely had to rub hard against his legs, twining in and out, purring loudly as she happily deposited her light-colored hair all over his slacks. When he sat, she even jumped up on his lap to his great and frozen shock, kneaded his leg, shook herself out thoroughly, and jumped back off, purring like a happy motor the entire time.
Gansey looked down at the coating of fur he’d been gifted and said, “Why did you get a cat with dust-colored hair when all you wear is black?”
Ronan picked Opal up and rubbed her against his cheek which she accepted for a moment. “She’s not dusty, she’s fawn. Aren’t you, lovely?”
When he tried to kiss her, she stuck out a strong paw and held his lips at bay. It was the usual response to his caresses, but Ronan didn’t give up.
Opal came to him when she wanted, sneaking next to him when he stretched out on the couch. She would start at the end of the couch by his feet then gradually slide closer until she was snuggled against his chest. Then she’d start to purr with such a loud rumble that Ronan’s chest vibrated. That was when she’d allow him to gently stroke her and mutter compliments.
The Sunday visit with Gansey was duly accomplished. Ronan showed the appropriate snark over Gansey’s finds, Gansey and Opal exchanged stiff and formal greetings then watched each other suspiciously, and Gansey left with Ronan’s promise to get together as soon as his other week in hell mornings was over.
Monday was Ronan’s day off so he lazed around, did some laundry, wiped some counters and watched some TV. Opal slept in various sunbeams until Ronan settled on the couch and she began her slow creep into his warmth.
Then things started to get weird.
When he got home Tuesday hours earlier than usual, there was no sign of Opal. He called her name and went to the kitchen to put down the takeout he’d gotten. It was nice but strange to be home so much earlier than usual. Once he prepared a plate, he turned around carefully, expecting to see Opal at his feet, but she wasn’t there.
He called her again and walked through the downstairs but still didn’t see her. He didn’t worry because sometimes she didn’t meet him immediately upon arriving home. He was chewing his way through his meal when he heard a little mrrrp-mrrrp noise coming down the stairs and getting ever closer.
“Hey you, where’ve you been? Too good to come see me? Gimme a kiss.” Opal ignored his request, as usual, but deigned to brush against his legs as she passed between the couch and the coffee table.
He reached down to let her run against his fingertips then pulled them up with a swear. There was fresh cut grass trimmings in her fur. He swore again, put down his plate and followed her to her water bowl in the kitchen. Once she finished drinking thirstily, he picked her up, against her twisting struggles, and brushed more grass out of her fur.
“How the fuck did you get grass all over you?” He looked her in the stormy blue eyes as he asked then cursed himself because she couldn’t answer. “Did you get outside? How the fuck?”
He put her down and went upstairs. He went from room to room looking at the windows. He knew everything was secure on the first floor because he did have some sense of safety and he’d worried about Opal getting free and running off.
But the house was old, and some of the upstairs windows didn’t fit the best, letting in drafts in the winter and hot air in the summer. The one in the spare bathroom especially… Ronan glared at the window which had indeed been pulled open just far enough for a body the size of Opal to slip through.
He sighed then closed the window with a definite slam. It didn’t shut completely, but the sill was more warped than he’d realized.
That was the problem with buying an old fixer-upper then running out of patience and energy before everything was fixed up. It’d probably worked itself open over time, and it would only take once for Opal’s curiosity and skillful paws to work it open enough for her to escape.
Fuck Ronan’s life, though. He came home the next evening in the middle of a spring thunderstorm and called plaintively for Opal. When she didn’t appear, and she wasn’t visible in the living room, he headed up the stairs two at a time.
Opal sat on the bathroom floor, head twisted around, licking her back.
“Oh God, you’re soaked. How the fuck did you get out again?” Ronan grabbed a handtowel and tried to help dry her off. She hissed and swatted at him, but he dodged her claws as best he could. When he was done, her fur stuck up like a punk rocker’s and she spit irritably as she started grooming herself again.
Ronan slammed his hand against the window, closing it as tightly as he could against the swollen frame. “And I’m nailing this closed so you don’t get out again.”
Opal just licked her back harder and pretended she couldn’t hear him.
“I can’t believe the little fucker got out. Twice. At least. She could’ve gotten hurt,” Ronan grumbled the next day.
“But she always came back. That means she loves you,” Noah said.
“Fuck. That means she loves her food. And treats.”
“And that catnip mouse I gave you for her? Does she like it?”
Ronan sighed. “Yeah, she does love that mouse.”
“I ordered some organic high-grade stuff for her,” Noah waggled his eyebrows. “I think she’ll really like it.”
“You can’t keep buying drugs for my cat. You’re the reason she’s spoiled and acting out.”
Noah laughed. As Hennessy went past with her next client, she said “What’s this I hear about you being upset about a wet pussy? Don’t know what to do with one, Lynch?”
Ronan rolled his eyes as her client chuckled at his expense. Noah just shoved at him affectionately.
Noah insisted on coming home with him to finally meet Opal. Ronan was relieved that she was asleep on the couch and not out wandering somewhere.
Noah knelt beside the couch immediately and whispered compliments to her until she raised her head and flicked her ears.
“I think she likes you,” Ronan said.
“How do you know?”
“Because she hasn’t tried to claw your eyes out.”
Noah frowned at him then rooted in his pockets. He presented another catnip mouse to her, on both palms, like a suitor presenting an engagement ring.
Opal finally sat up and sniffed the gift. She meowed and pawed at the mouse until Noah lay it on the couch. He also put a baggie of green herb on the coffeetable and whispered loudly, “Don’t tell your Dad.”
Opal petted at his face without extending her claws, which was practically a declaration of undying affection. Then she rolled over, holding the mouse in her front paws.
“I have to do it,” Noah gasped.
“Don’t. It’s a trap.”
“I have to, Ronan,” Noah murmured. He reached out and gently petted her belly. “Oh, it’s the softest thing ever.”
Opal dropped the mouse and held Noah’s arms in her paws. She let the petting continue for a long moment. Then she brought up her back paws with a series of vicious kicks as her teeth descended on Noah’s hand.
“Aw, look at her! She’s trying to kill me!” Noah was way too thrilled about the abuse, but Ronan stepped in to break it up.
Opal was strangely attached to Noah, though, and watched him flit through the house. Noah promised he’d return soon and keep up her supply of whatever herbs she wanted.
Ronan sat down with her later and petted her while she sat in a loaf on the couch. “I’m proud of you, not escaping today,” he said.
Opal did not deign to respond. It was common for most of their conversations. Ronan talked, and Opal pretended not to listen. But Ronan knew that deep down, she did care about him. And seek him out for ear fuzzles and butt scratches.
That’s why he couldn’t stand seeing her mope about not getting out the window. But neither was he going to risk it and let her roam out in the big world where there were cars and dogs and God only knew what other dangers. He vowed to start work the next weekend on a catio so she could sit in the sun and grass while safely screened in.
“Gonna make you a little paradise,” he promised. She looked up at him and mrowed morosely.
She was still sulking Saturday night when he got home, and he lay awake for a long time waiting for the crunch of her food. But when he woke in the morning, the tiny uneaten pellets were scattered wide and far across the kitchen floor.
And his mug lay in pieces along with it.
Ronan swore and went to find sandals to protect his feet while he cleaned up the mess. Opal took the opportunity to start knocking the kibble around the floor, skittering after it, chasing it under the fridge and the stove and …
“Dammit, Opal! Quit it! Let me get the sharp shit up—ouch!” Ronan dropped the piece of mug that had cut his finger and hurried to pick up the rest before Opal could get hurt. But she managed to get around it while spreading the mess from the food.
“I give up,” Ronan groaned and dumped her food into the bowl that had mysteriously made it to the foot of the stairs. Opal sat in its rightful place and sneered; if cats could show disdain, she had it perfected.
“You little shit,” Ronan said, bowing sarcastically as he placed the food before her. He had just enough time to finish cleaning up the kitchen and eat his Pop-Tart cold before rushing out to church.
He stopped for groceries after church, so he was distracted as he opened the front door while carrying way too many bags at once. He saw a flash of fur, felt a light brush against his leg, and as he turned cursing, Opal was out the front door.
Ronan dropped the bags and dashed after her. But she was wily and ornery and faster than he realized.
She streaked down the sidewalk to the end of block then cut across the street. Ronan ran after her, praying that no traffic was coming as they both darted across the road.
He lost her for a second when he had to dodge between parked cars while she went underneath, but he glimpsed her tail disappearing around the side of a house. Praying now that no one would call the cops on him, he cut through a front yard, hurried through the side yard then through two back yards with the sight of Opal trotting happily along.
She crossed another street with Ronan grinding his teeth, but, thank Christ, there was still no traffic. He followed her around another block, huffing a little, breathing hard, regretting that he’d ever given up going to the gym.
He was closing in when Opal stopped at a nice white vinyl fence that enclosed a yard. He panted for a second and got ready to pounce, just as her butt wiggled and she leaped, landing softly on the top of the fence.
She took a moment to look down at him then disappeared down on the other side.
“There’d better not be some crazy ass gun lover living here,” Ronan hoped, swore, and swung himself up and over the fence.
*************************************
The first time Adam dusted some soft, tawny fur off the coffeetable, he didn’t think much of it. It was nearly the color of Baby’s belly hair, and although Baby was short-haired, Adam was learning that pet hair got everywhere.
Looking back, the first clue was actually the evening Adam got home and Baby was slow to greet him. His mood was a little off and he refused to go out the dog flap until Adam opened the door and accompanied him into the yard. When Baby ran around then bounded back to Adam, tongue flapping and more himself, Adam rubbed his face and looked closer. There were three tiny lines on his nose beaded with dried blood.
“Sweet boy, what happened? How’d you hurt yourself?” Baby only winced a little bit when Adam softly ran his thumb over his nose.
Baby just butted his head into his belly and leaned heavily into him. Adam kissed his head. “Let’s get that cleaned up.”
Once Adam took a soapy washcloth to the quivering nose, after holding the scrabbling Baby in a tight grip, the lines practically disappeared. “I’m no doctor, but I think you’ll make it, Baby.” Baby showed his appreciation with lavish kisses to Adam’s own nose before he could push him away.
Adam started to clue in when the amount of hair continued, especially noticeable on his dark throw pillows and all over his dark green fleece he left over the back of the couch one day.
“Are you shedding, buddy? Or are you— oh God, you’re not bringing bunnies or something in here, are you?” Now that he thought about it, Adam began to fear there was another creature coming in the house, even as he rigorously checked Baby’s belly to make sure there wasn’t a bald spot.
But search as he might, there wasn’t any other sign of animal infestation. Baby acted normally although he began to show a different relationship with food. Adam was surprised that instead of inhaling his breakfast and sucking up all his pre-work treats, Baby left a few kibble in his bowl and Adam caught him carrying a couple biscuits every morning to hide them in his bed.
He made a mental note to ask the trainer about it, just as soon as he had the spare cash and the time to schedule a training session.
“There’s something going on,” he fretted to Blue one day in the break room.
“What’s wrong? Baby’s not sick, is he?”
Adam shook his head. “No, he seems fine. But some days when I get home, he’s out back roaming around the yard. He used to always greet me right at the front door.”
“In other words, he’s settling in and getting used to you.”
“But that doesn’t explain the stray hairs.”
“Do you think another dog’s coming in? Because it can’t be a squirrel or rabbit. You know Baby would tear the house apart if that was the case.”
“I know,” Adam said. “I just can’t figure out what’s going on.”
“Why don’t you set up a camera? Like a nanny cam? Then you’d be able to know exactly what he gets up to when you’re gone,” Blue said. “You can put it in the living room corner facing his bed and still catch the dog flap in the back door.”
“Blue,” Adam said, “you are a genius.”
“I know,” she replied.
Adam ordered a camera immediately and set it up on a Tuesday night. Baby sniffed everything but lost interest when it didn’t squeak or smell like food.
“I’m sorry to be spying on you,” Adam said when he stepped off the step stool. “I just have to find out what’s going on. If it’s something that’s a danger to you, well, then it’s gotta stop. It’s just so weird that nothing happens on the weekends when I’m home.”
Baby just wagged his tail and grinned up at him.
“Thanks for being so forgiving,” Adam said wryly and gave him a treat that Baby swallowed happily in one gulp.
Adam began to check the app footage as soon as he got to work. Baby was curled up in his bed in the living room, looking like the perfect angel that never did anything wrong, just like Adam knew he would.
When he got up for a coffee refill, he took the phone with him, wanting to show Blue. They stood in the break room, watching Baby nap in peace.
“Keep me updated,” Blue ordered as she went back to her desk.
Adam assured her then his words dried up when he glanced down at his phone. There was no advanced warning when a cat pushed right through the dog flap, strutting in, tail up, like it owned the place.
“Oh my god,” Adam breathed, riveted by the drama he could only observe. “Get outta there.”
When Baby lifted his head and sniffed, Adam yelped. “No! Oh god, Baby, leave it alone!”
Then Baby began to stir as the cat sauntered into the living room. Adam gurgled, throat tight with anxiety.
“What is going on with you?” Blue stuck her head back in the break room. “I can hear you from—”
“There’s a cat in the house and Baby’s going to eat it!” Adam hissed in horror.
Blue hurried to his side and they watched the brief stand-off as cat and dog stared at each other. Then Baby got to his feet and the cat turned and ran out the flap, Baby scurrying right behind.
“Oh shit, I gotta get home!”
“Just calm down a minute,” Blue said. “Didn’t you upgrade to the camera with sound?”
“Don’t judge me right now!”
They watched the bare interior of Adam’s house for a few moments while Adam argued he needed to leave for home and Blue pointed out that whatever was going to happen would already have happened before he got there.
She elbowed him sharply. “Look!”
Baby entered through the dog flap, and Adam was relieved to not see any obvious signs of carnage on him. But then the cat walked in.
“Holy shit!” Adam said.
Both animals disappeared from view into the kitchen and Adam groaned. Baby reappeared as he licked his lips and chin in the way he always did after he’d taken a big, thirsty drink of water. He stood in the middle of the living room until the cat joined him, also licking its lips with a tiny tongue.
Adam watched horrified as the cat went straight to Baby’s bed and jumped in, nosing around the edges.
Even Blue squealed when Baby stuck his big head in and poked his snout beside the cat. Blue sighed in relief when the cat pulled out one of the treats that Baby had started stashing there.
“Aw, do you think he’s been saving them for the cat? Maybe they’re friends!”
Adam swore softly. “I’ve gotta get home and get that cat out! We don’t know how Baby will react!”
“Adam, I don’t think you have to worry,” Blue said.
Sure enough, Baby watched while the cat ate the treat then jumped back out of the bed. Baby nuzzled it once, and the cat just kept walking. It jumped up onto Adam’s couch, and Baby immediately joined it, curling up close. Once Baby had settled, the cat climbed onto Baby’s back and lay down.
Adam held his breath, but slowly exhaled once Baby didn’t react. It looked like they were both ready for a nap.
“This is better than any TV special,” Blue said. “It looks like Baby does have a friend.”
Adam shook his head. He couldn’t believe it. But Blue was right about the fact that he couldn’t do anything about it in real time. He’d just be powerless and watch then come up with a plan to keep any other animals out of his house, away from Baby.
Adam went back to his desk after Blue forced him to promise to get her if there was more action. So they watched together when he saw the animals wake up, both stretching fully and sniffing each other. Baby pulled out one of his stuffed toys and placed it before the cat. The cat pawed at it while Baby wriggled and dropped into play mode, his hind end up, front feet spread. He panted and Adam could clearly imagine the eager heavy breathing he did when they were ready to play.
The cat batted the toy around and Baby pounced. Then the cat pounced on Baby and Baby rolled over, belly up, letting the cat roam on his belly.
“I can’t handle this,” Adam said shakily, just sure that one instant of rough horseplay would end in disaster for the cat.
“I know! They’re so cute together!” Blue said.
“Not what I meant,” Adam muttered.
Eventually the two got to their feet, and Baby led the way out the flap again, and out of their view.
“I’m going home for lunch.”
“No, you’re not,” Blue insisted. “Don’t be a helicopter parent. Let your son spend time having fun with his friends.”
If Blue hadn’t known him, the look he gave her would have been withering.
Adam’s fears abated just a little when the two spent the afternoon back in the living room, taking turns napping in the bed and on the couch. When the cat rubbed the side of its face all over Baby’s snout and head and there was no teeth or trouble, Adam breathed a sigh of relief. And when the cat licked at Baby’s ear like it was trying to bathe him, Adam thought that maybe, just maybe, Blue was right.
He walked to his car still glued to his phone. “They still loving on each other?” Blue asked.
“They’re moving again,” he said.
Sure enough, the cat got up from Baby’s head and stretched. It jumped down from the couch lightly and looked back up at Baby. He stood up, shook vigorously, and jumped to the floor. They walked to the door flap and exited.
Adam and Blue stood beside Blue’s car, still transfixed until Baby re-entered the house, all alone.
“Bless them, leaving in time so Dad doesn’t catch them,” Blue said.
“Well, my son is going to get an earful when I get home,” Adam said sarcastically. “And I’ve got to figure out how to secure that damn flap.”
Baby greeted him at the door with all the love and affection he normally did. Adam looked all around the downstairs and couldn’t see anything out of place. The cat hadn’t left any obvious clues except for the light hair on the couch.
Adam squatted down to be eye level with Baby. “You’re not exactly in trouble, but we are going to have a talk about this, young man,” he said sternly.
Baby tilted his head, wagged his tail, and licked Adam’s chin.
Adam started researching automatic electronic doggy doors that night. He debated whether he should keep the flap locked all day, but worried that would confuse Baby and he might have accidents in the house.
But watch as they might, neither he or Blue saw anything on the camera Thursday or Friday. Baby seemed lost and restless as he paced around the house and went in and out numerous times.
“Looking for his buddy,” Blue said sadly. “I hope nothing bad happened to it.”
Adam couldn’t help but feel relieved even though Baby acted sad and less energetic than usual when Adam was home. He took Baby for a longer walk on Saturday to try and tire him out.
Baby followed Adam through the house on Sunday morning as he did some general cleaning. Adam knew that Baby seemed to cling to him on the weekends whenever he was home, and he wondered if he also got lonely while Adam was at work. Was that why he’d made friends with the stray cat somehow? Was it keeping Baby from being lonely and sad?
He was scrubbing the kitchen sink when he glanced out the window and saw it. The cat. Sitting on the top of his fence.
“Oh shit,” he said. As if he read Adam’s mind, Baby’s head jerked up.
The cat jumped down into the yard. Adam was torn between watching it, seeing Baby move toward the back door, and then staring in horror as a large man swung himself up and over the fence.
“Oh hell no,” he said, pushing Baby out of the way so he could open the door. But Baby squirmed past him and bolted across the deck and down the steps as Adam shouted for him.
The cat was strutting toward them when the stranger lunged at her, yelling, “Fuck no!”
Then everything happened at once. Baby jumped, Adam screamed, the man grabbed the cat by the scruff of the neck and swung it up into the air. He was swearing, Adam was swearing, and the cat was squawling in a way that—although he’d never owned a cat—Adam was sure was also swearing. Baby was jumping up into the man’s broad chest, paws scrabbling on his chest as he whined.
Just as the man pushed Baby down, Adam caught at his arm. “Don’t you fuckin’ touch my dog!”
“Don’t let your fuckin’ dog touch my cat!” the stranger yelled, still holding the cat in the air above his head, out of the reach of Baby.
Adam grabbed Baby’s collar and used all his strength to pull him back. “Sit, Baby. Sit!” Baby sat, reluctantly, and his hind quarters quivered with the effort of obedience.
“Now what the hell are you doing?!” Adam turned on the stranger.
The man eyed them both angrily but he’d brought the cat down to his chest and was trying to cradle it. The cat was angrily insisting to be put down, and Adam almost winced in sympathy at the bloody scratches appearing on the arms of the man’s shirt.
“Get your damn dog away from my cat,” the man said.
“Your damn cat is trespassing,” Adam said and later on winced at how ridiculous he sounded. “Baby, sit,” he warned the dog who was still wriggling and whining at the cat.
The man snorted. “Call the police on her,” he said. “Can you let us out a gate or something? I can’t climb over holding her.”
“There’s no gate out here,” Adam sighed. “You’ll have to come through.”
“That’s a shitty ass design,” the man said.
“Then climb, asshole.”
The man sighed and swore as the cat renewed its struggles to get free. “Look, I’m—”
With a surge of strength, the cat squirmed free and launched itself from the man’s arms. He swore, reaching for it, but the cat landed lightly then was a tawny streak shooting across the lawn, up the steps, across the deck and through the dog flap. Baby followed close behind.
The man’s swearing redoubled and he shook off Adam’s hand when he grabbed at him. But Adam caught him again on the steps. “I think it’s OK,” Adam said hurriedly.
“Fuck you! Your dog’s going to rip her to shreds!” The man threw off his hand and savagely tore the door open.
“She’s been here before,” he called out and it froze the man for a second.
“What the actual fuck?”
By that time, they were both in the kitchen. Baby was placidly taking a drink at his bowl; the cat was nowhere in sight.
“Opal!” the stranger yelled. “Opal, get your furry little ass out here right now!”
“Look,” Adam said and pointed. The cat was in Baby’s bed, going through the same motions it had before. As the man stalked over, the cat found a treat and pulled it out to eat.
Baby followed them and squeezed past the man to join the cat in the bed. Adam said, “Just give it a second.”
The man hovered nervously, but the animals ignored him. The cat continued to sniff for treats while Baby turned in a circle then plopped down with an audible sigh. The cat arranged itself on top of him and began to purr, its paws starting to flex.
“Holy shit,” the man said. Then he turned to Adam, “How the fuck did you know this?”
“I just found out Wednesday,” Adam admitted. “I think your cat’s been visiting my dog during the day for a few weeks.”
“No fucking way,” the man ran a hand over his face and sighed. “That does make sense though. I just found out my cat’s been getting out of the house. I don’t know for how long.”
“It didn’t show up Thursday or Friday.”
“No, I finally fixed the window the little shit’s been using.”
Adam looked down at the two animals already drifting off to sleep, the cat’s purrs still rumbling. Then he looked at the man and his bloody arms. Although he was tall and big and had a shaved head, the man was dressed in tailored navy slacks and a white button down, its sleeves getting ruined by blood.
“Do you want to wash your wounds?” Adam offered. “And some peroxide would be a good idea.”
The man side-eyed him. “I still don’t trust leaving them alone.”
“It looks like your cat can take care of itself. But you, on the other hand…”
“Bullshit,” the man said but he followed Adam to the kitchen, with a long look back at the pet bed.
Adam gestured to the kitchen sink then hurried up to the bathroom to get his first aid kit. When he returned, the man had his shirt sleeves rolled up and was using dish detergent to wash his forearms as he swore.
Adam handed over the peroxide and some cotton gauze, but the man just grabbed the bottle and squirted it all over his arms, making him hiss and swear again. “That’s one way of doing it,” Adam said as he privately admired the green snakescale tattoo that covered one of the man’s arms.
“Saves time,” he grunted. He took the box of bandaids that Adam handed over.
“Peroxide’ll get blood out of your shirt too,” Adam said.
“If the little shit didn’t actually rip the shirt along with my skin.”
“Your cat is something else.”
“Yeah, she is,” the man said, fond pride tinging his voice.
“I’m Adam. Parrish.”
The man turned then and looked him over. “Ronan Lynch. And Opal. The cat from hell.”
“My dog is Baby, no I didn’t name him,” Adam always said the last clause in a rush every time he had to introduce the dog by name.
Ronan snorted. “He’s big, but he’s friendly?”
Adam nodded. “To me and my friend. He doesn’t like other dogs. I didn’t see him around cats before I adopted him.”
“You said this little illicit relationship has been going on for a while?”
“Apparently,” Adam got out his phone and found the app footage he’d saved. He started it and handed it to Ronan.
Ronan watched, lips quirking occasionally as if he wanted to smile. Adam took the opportunity to admire his sharp cheekbones, his piercing light eyes and his strong lips. His body was nice to look at too.
“So this is where she’s been coming? She’s been sulking and grumpy since I nailed the window shut. I thought I just stopped her random wanderings, or maybe she had a second family somewhere feeding her, but I never thought she had a friend that she was hanging out with.”
“I think she’s been helping Baby adjust to being alone all day. He’s much more settled now when I have to leave for work,” Adam said.
“Let me guess: you get home around five?”
“Usually around twenty after,” Adam agreed.
Ronan nodded. “I was getting home this week a little after five and that’s the only reason I caught her. I’m usually not home until ten or so.”
“Oh. What do you do?”
Ronan talked about his tattooing, and Adam said a little about his job. That led to some talk about the neighborhood and where the best Chinese takeout was. Adam noticed that Ronan’s looks at him were longer and his glances moved from Adam’s mouth to chest to hands.
“Shit, my groceries,” Ronan groaned. “Fuck, my front door is still open.”
He told Adam how they’d come to be in his back yard, and Adam laughed out loud imagining the chase. Even Ronan grinned wryly.
“Now my ice cream is melting and my TV is probably getting stolen.”
“Hope not,” Adam said. He glanced in at the sleeping pets. “Do you want to let Opal here while you go take care of things?”
Ronan peeked around him. “I guess I could, if you don’t care. But I don’t want her roaming home alone. I couldn’t handle it if she got hit by a car.”
Adam nodded. “I understand.” He locked the pet flap. “I’ll keep them inside.”
“Did you eat lunch yet?” Ronan blurted.
“No, I just kind of graze on Sundays,” Adam admitted.
“I could bring something over, when I take Opal home.”
Adam didn’t want to appear too eager, but, why not. “Sure, okay. I guess maybe we could talk about some kind of play dates for those two, as well. Seems like they make each other happy.”
Now Ronan’s look was definitely hotter and heavier. “Maybe we should see about that.”
***************************************
“My cat’s a fuckin’ cheater,” Ronan complained from the doorway.
“Your cat is a pleasure and a delight,” Adam murmured.
“Just like her owner.”
“In spite of, I was going to say.” He turned another page of his book and leaned his head into the purring ball of fur perched on his shoulder. Opal nuzzled above his ear and purred louder as she peered down at his book.
“Well, your doggo and I have had a very good time too, building that catio, and I hope that makes you jealous,” Ronan taunted.
Adam shrugged. “Your cat likes me because I’m quiet when I read. My dog apparently likes loud and boisterous, coming from the ruckus that was going on outside.”
“Yeah, well, he keeps interrupting my building for wrestling and tug of war. Who am I to argue with that?”
In the weeks since they’d met, as parents of the kids as Blue liked to say, Adam had let Opal—and Ronan by extension—into their lives. Baby certainly approved of the changes. He took to Ronan right away and constantly brought him toys and ropes and the leash, wanting exercise and play and attention. Ronan wrestled and ran and rubbed him roughly which Baby loved right back.
Opal had surprised both of the men by expressing an appreciation for Adam. As soon as he sat down, she sat beside him or stepped delicately into his lap if he was settled. She sometimes followed him as if curious what he was doing, quietly observing.
After keeping them separated another week and seeing how destructive Opal became and how depressed and moping Baby was, they tried a compromise. Adam would drop off Baby at Ronan’s house on Mondays and Tuesdays. Ronan would take Opal to Adam’s the other three days, with the understanding that the pet flap only opened now for the electronic gizmo on Baby’s collar.
Opal learned to cooperate and get in her crate without a fight for the short drive to Adam’s. They were working on getting her used to a harness and leash so she could join them for the neighborhood walks that Baby adored.
Ronan’s catio was growing more elaborate so they’d be able to let both of the pets in the screened-in enclosure safely, without worrying about escape.
And Adam was learning a lot more about Ronan Lynch, especially what Adam had to do to get him to purr just as smugly as his cat.
“You know,” Adam said, “when I was looking for a pet, I thought I’d find one just like me, so we’d get along. Instead—”
“Instead, you ended up with my cat who actually does share a lot of your personality,” Ronan leaned down to growl in his ear and kiss his cheek. Opal grumbled and swatted a paw at him. They laughed until Baby pushed past Ronan, laid down beside Adam and messily kissed his other cheek.
“Whereas, my dog and my boyfriend resemble each other,” Adam laughed then harder when Ronan threw himself onto Adam as well and they all had to wrestle for breathing space.
Maybe he didn’t get exactly what he’d expected but this was definitely something even better.