Page 130 of No Need to Run
I move past Drew, gingerly stepping onto the deck.
“It’s okay,” I murmur, hunkering down. “You’re okay.”
The kitten hisses louder.
“Wow,” Drew mutters from behind me. “It really doesn’t like you.”
“It’s scared,” I say calmly.
“So was I,” he murmurs.
I reach out a hand, slow and steady. “Hi.”
The cat hisses.
I scoop it up.
It struggles for a second... then stills.
“There you go,” I whisper. “You’re alright.”
Drew moves closer, crouching beside me. He looks stunned.
“You just picked it up,” he says.
“Yes.”
“It was hissing at you.”
“It was scared.”
He reaches out carefully.
The kitten flinches—then stills as he lightly strokes it.
He gives it a few more strokes before it relaxes, leaning into his hand. A soft purr fills the air.
Drew blinks. “I can’t believe it. I think... it likes me.”
A sharpscratchpulls our attention to the patio door.
Mr. Pickles is still there, glaring at us like we betrayed him.
He hisses at Drew.
Drew freezes. “Why is he mad at me?”
I watch Mr. Pickles, then turn my attention to Drew.
“He’s jealous.”
“…Of the kitten?”
“Yes... and you.”
“That’s insane.”
Mr. Pickles hisses louder.
