Page 80 of No Need to Run
Sebastian snorts.
Ivy laughs, stepping closer. “Okay, hold on. What is happening? Mr. Pickles doesn’t even likemethis much.”
“He barely tolerates me,” Sebastian adds.
“Exactly,” I say. “What is this betrayal?”
Violet’s fingers move absently through Mr. Pickles’ fur, like it’s second nature.
“He just has good instincts,” she says lightly.
“His instincts are terrible,” I shoot back. “He once knocked a glass off the counter just because I looked at him wrong.”
“That sounds justified.”
I stare at her. “You’re siding with him?”
“I’m siding with the one who’s consistent.”
Sebastian loses it. Ivy grins.
I don’t even know what to do with this.
I should be questioning it.
Instead, I’m watching her on my brother’s couch, the cat in her lap, smiling like she’s been here a hundred times before.
And for some reason… it doesn’t feel wrong.
It just feels… easy. Like it’s supposed to be this way.
Which might be the most concerning part of all.
I standin the doorway to the kitchen for a second longer than necessary, taking in the spread across the table.
“You overdid it,” I say to Ivy.
She looks up from the stove. “That’s your fault. You couldn’t tell me whether Violet ate meat. So I had to have options.”
I glance over at Violet.
I tried texting her this morning, but everything I typed sounded stupid.
So I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, jumping an imaginary rope while chanting,You can do it. Be cool. You've got swag.
Ivy and Mr. Pickles walked in halfway through. It was the most embarrassing two minutes of my life.
Mr. Pickles's judgmental stare still haunts me. I swear he called me an idiot when he meowed.
“Smells delicious, baby.” Sebastian leans against the counter, arms crossed, watching her with that look he always gets—like he’s half-impressed, completely in love, and fully resigned to whatever chaos she brings into his life.
Then his gaze moves to me. He gives me that look like he’s about to go to war for his wife. “She’s been cooking for two hours.”
Noted. I’ll shut up now.
The last thing I need is for my brother to start kicking my ass, and Violet to intervene like she did with Smoke.
“I like to be prepared,” Ivy replies sweetly.
