Page 157 of Speechless
Behind me, the guys loaded our luggage into the back of the SUV. The sound didn’t bother the sleeping cat one bit. Bastian tapped me on the shoulder. Other than Rin, we were ready to go.
I’d never seen her look like this. She was so still I might worry if I couldn’t see the cat. Her entire focus was on the little ball of fur cradled in her lap.
I cleared my throat. “I glanced when you handed it to me. Pretty sure it’s a girl.”
“Can we keep her?” Her tone was so soft I almost missed it. So full of both hope and dread, it made my chest ache. Had she asked for a pet before and been denied? Not to mention she saidwe. I wasn’t sure she even knew she said it. The simple acceptance that this was real.
I glanced at the guys. Brooks was already smiling. Bastian nodded once. Theo shrugged with a smile. I felt the same. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do to make Trinity happy, and the kitten was adorable.
Aiden glared at the four of us, arms crossed. He didn’t like cats? Fine. He didn’t have to have the cat in his room.
I looked down at Rin pointedly before looking back at him. He followed my gaze and sighed, shoulders dropping. Finally, he nodded once.
“Yeah,” I said, “we can keep her.”
“Really?” Rin’s eyes were filled with tears when she lifted her face.
Brooks went and sat next to her, keeping his moves smooth so he didn’t wake the animal. “Yeah, baby.”
“Thank you. I always wanted a cat.”
“Why didn’t you get one?” I asked.
Trinity shrugged. “Val and Paige are allergic. And they didn’t think I’d remember to take care of a pet when Dad was traveling.”
“I’ll order some stuff,” Theo said, pulling out his phone. “See if there’s a pet store that does short-term deliveries.”
“Did you pick a name?”
Trinity ran a single finger over the kitten’s head, smiling as it curled more and exposed its belly. “I know it was a car, but she looks like she fell in a fire pit down on the beach. And she has orange eyes. What about Cinder?”
Bastian nodded. “That’s perfect.”
I climbed into the last row of the SUV and Trinity came with me. “I can’t believe you let me keep her.”
“I love animals. Surprised we haven’t adopted one before this, actually. Guess we never thought we had time.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I turned her face to mine. “But just so we’re clear, we’re not the keepers of every decision. You’re an equal member of thispack, even though we have a dynamic. We’re notlettingyou keep her. This is a decision we made together.”
Her brow furrowed for a moment while she processed my words. We weren’t gods sitting on thrones handing out favors she needed to be grateful for. Our power exchange worked because it brought us all joy and pleasure. That didn’t mean Trinity didn’t have her own mind or didn’t get to make decisions, and I didn’t want her to fall into the habit.
“Yeah,” she finally said. “Yeah.”
“All good?” Aiden called from the driver’s seat.
I gave a thumbs up. Trinity curled into my side with Cinder in her lap, and before we were even halfway home, both kitten and Omega were fast asleep.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
_____________
TRINITY
The concierge had a million and one packages for us. Cat necessities for Cinder, something for Aiden, and a few other packages. It wasn’tquitea million, but enough.
Cinder climbed my shirt, eager to look around her new home. She had a tiny squeak that was precious. I loved her already.
