Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“We couldn’t go to the festival with one drink and people not know we’ve worked on it together.”
“But then it would be over. It would be done, and we…”
The horror on his face told Caleb what he was going to say. He stood up, needing some distance. “We wouldn’t see each other anymore?”
“No.” Rhys shook his head.
“Really? That’s not what you were thinking?” Caleb immediately knew that was the wrong thing to say and wished he could take the words back, but he was tired of pretending he and Rhys weren’t anything to each other.
“I… I was…”
“What do you want to do?”
“I think we should not see each other for a few days.”
That was what Caleb was afraid of. Rhys was going to hide so no one would see them and have any more reason to think they were interested in each other. “Everyone knows we’re working together. There’s a clear reason for us to see each other. And you’re the one who’s worried about how much time we have left.”
“I know, but—”
“Fine. Let me know if you want to work together again.”
“Caleb.” There were tears in Rhys’s eyes, and Caleb wanted to kiss them away, but he couldn’t let himself. His heart was already breaking.
“I just want to wait a few days. That’s all, so people settle down about it.”
“Okay.” Caleb was fighting tears of his own, but he forced some more words out. “I guess I’ll see you in a few days.”
Rhys started to speak, but Caleb held up his hand. “I don’t think we should say anything else right now.”
He hated seeing pain in Rhys’s eyes. Caleb knew Rhys was panicking. He knew this was hard for him, but it was hard for Caleb too. He made himself walk away, and it was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.
CHAPTER 25
Caleb was thankful he didn’t have to talk to anyone on his way to Cloud Nine. He was desperate to keep himself from crying in the middle of town, and his mind was full of fog. He doubted he could form a coherent sentence. He walked around to the back door of the shop to avoid anyone passing by.
As he reached for his keys, he saw a flash of white in the corner of his vision. When he turned, he saw the kitten he’d caught glimpses of before. He stayed still, hoping the kitten wouldn’t run. “Hello there.”
The kitten meowed loudly.
“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.” He crouched down and held out his hand. The little ball of fluff skittered back but didn’t run off.
He moved closer, and the kitten hissed. “It’s okay. I want you to come in with me so I can get you some food.”
The kitty watched him. He moved a little closer. It started to run, but Caleb managed to scoop it up. The kitten hissed and gave his finger a sharp bite, but he held on as he unlocked the door and got them inside.
He managed to wrap the kitten in his jacket and carry her—on closer inspection, he thought it was a girl—upstairs to his apartment. Once they were inside, he opened his fridge and began to consider what he could feed her.
He had some rotisserie chicken. That would do if he cut it into small pieces. He wasn’t sure how young she was. He didn’t think she still needed milk. Chicken would have to do for now. He would take her to a vet the next day and get her checked out.
Then, unless she had a chip or someone had inquired about a missing kitten, and he doubted that, since she’d been hanging around the alley for a few weeks, he could keep her. He didn’t need anyone’s permission or agreement to have a cat. This was his shop and his apartment; he could have a cat if he wanted. Frostwick Harbor seemed like the kind of town that would be charmed by a coffee shop cat.
He cut up pieces of chicken while the kitten pushed against his hand, purring loudly and trying to get to the food before it was ready. Once he moved the plate to give her better access, she started eating so fast he worried she’d choke. She was thin, but not bony. He hoped she hadn’t gone too long without food.
He filled a small bowl with water and put it next to her. When she’d licked up every morsel of chicken, she drank for a long time.
She let him pick her up without protest then. He carried her to the couch, and she curled up in his lap.
“Would you like to stay here?” The kitten looked up at him and meowed. “Was that a yes?” He hoped so. “I’ll need to figure out a name for you.”
Curled up in his lap like that, the fluffy white kitten looked like a little marshmallow. “What about Mallow? How’s that for a name.”