-7-

"Hey buddy, your momma's here." I give him a scratch on the head, wide yellow eyes looking up at me like I know exactly what she's saying. "Or maybe she's your sister? She told me about Charlie; I bet you miss him."

He meows, though I'm not sure if he really gets it or he's just responding to the attention.

"All right, come on. She needs ya more than I do. But hey, when you get a chance, put in a good word for me, okay? I wouldn't mind being your new daddy someday. Little lady is fine as hell."

I swear he winks when I pick him up, but I shake it off. It's probably all in my head.

What's not in my head is the look on Little Lady's—Bella's—face when I walk in carrying her cat.

Pure shock, mouth wide open in a way I wouldn't mind seeing more in the future, eyes wide, quickly growing brighter with the shine of her tears.

"Seth! Oh my God, I'm so happy to see you! Shit, you gave me a big scare! Dude, you gotta stop doing that!" She rushes forward, taking him from me and pressing him to her chest, petting, kissing, and cooing at him, and it's about damn near the cutest thing I ever did see.

I lean against the door frame, one foot crossed over the other, smiling from ear to ear when Rose comes out of her office.

"Seth, eh? What happened to Pilot?" She teases, shoving my shoulder with hers.

"Looks like I found the owner," I shrug.

"You're gonna miss him, huh?"

"Nah," I wink. "I plan on seeing a whole lot more of him. And her."

"Cub," Rose gasps. "I never thought I'd see the day my little boy fell in love." She throws her arms around me, squeezing tight.

"Slow your roll, Rosie. No one said nothin' about love." I struggle to get away from her slightly embarrassing maternal grip, but it's tight enough I can't budge.

"Yeah, well, I know love when I see it."

"Sure ya, do, Rosie. Sure ya, do."

"You," Bella suddenly shrieks, whirling towards me and somehow pointing a finger while still gripping onto the cat. "You had Seth all this time, and you didn't tell me?"

Her cheeks tinged red, that familiar stormy anger brewing behind her eyes.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I kinda got attached to him. Let me take you out to repay you."

She stares me down for a few seconds; eyes narrowed in contemplation. Time stretches on, but I refuse to lose my grin, and I even risk throwing a wink her way. It's gonna take one hell of a man to break this one, but I reckon I can take her just fine.

Or, I could.

But I'd rather keep her wild.

"Okay...you have yourself a deal. But I don't want no lame-ass dinner and a movie. Make it worth my time."

Little does she know, it's a challenge I'm all too happy to accept.

Thanks so much for reading! in the past 4 months I've gotten a divorce, got Covid, lost my job, and moved twice, but I still managed to get this little story out and I hope y'all love it and it brings some wholesomeness into your life like it did mine *