Kitty
Tina was busy shoving clothes into the dresser drawers when Jimmy Junior came in with a box in his hands and a huge grin on his face.
"I got you something."
"Aww!" She stood up and grinned back, eyeing the box as she walked over to him. "You didn't have to do that."
"But it's out first apartment together. I wanted to do something special," he insisted, and he placed the box in her hands. She felt the contents move around inside and she gave him a look. He was still grinning widely. "Open it! Open it!
She chuckled a little at his enthusiasm. He was so cute when he got all excited like this. Suddenly she was more interested in kissing him than seeing what was in the box, but he looked about ready to burst, and whatever it was moved again. She carefully pulled up the flaps. A furry head popped up. Tina looked back at her fiance.
"A kitten?"
He nodded his head vigorously and reached into the box to pick her up.
"Isn't she cute?" He held the kitten up to his face, touching noses with her. Tina could feel the corners of her mouth pulling up into a smile, but she was still trying to remain practical.
"While you were supposed to be buying groceries, you went out and adopted a kitten?"
Jimmy Junior frowned a little and tucked the tiny creature against his chest. "I got the groceries too," he defended. "The pet store was just across the street."
Tina sighed and set the box down on the floor, where it was easily lost among the other boxes of items they had yet to unpack.
"We barely had enough for the deposit on this place," she fretted. "You think we can handle a pet?"
"I know, I know," he said. "But I saw her in the window, and, I don't know. I think if you would just hold her..." She groaned as he dumped the kitten into her arms.
"Jimmy-"
"Just look at her."
Tina did. She was so small, but she felt so warm in her hands. She was nothing like Aunt Gayle's cats, they were always so aloof. Or even that cat Gene secretly used to keep under his bed, the one that always hissed and spit at her whenever she got too close. Tina found herself stroking her soft, calico fur.
"I just thought, I don't know," Jimmy Junior stepped in closer and scratched under the kitten's chin, and she started to purr. "I thought this might be the first step towards being a family." He blushed a little and rubbed the back of his neck.
Tina watched him for a few seconds, her expression soft. She turned and set their new pet down on their bed before wrapping her arms around Jimmy Junior's neck.
"I can't decide who's cuter, you or the cat."
His eyes lit up.
"We can keep her?" Tina giggled and nodded.
"We'll figure something out."
He pulled her in for a kiss, which she eagerly returned. Just as things were starting to heat up, though, he pulled away and rushed back to the bed, scooping up the kitten before she stumbled off the edge. Tina huffed a little, but smiled.
"Now come on, we have to think of a name for her!"