Page 15 of See You in Your Dreams

“These are mostly preventative. One is for pain relief while the other is an antibiotic to help ward off infections.” The doctor’s smile turns wry. “And before you ask, if you end up dropping her off at a shelter, you can leave the pills and instructions with them. I think that’s the best we can do for her tonight. If her condition worsens, you can visit us between 8 AM and 8 PM or go to the emergency animal clinic over in Davport. Take care.”

With that, Dr. Jenkins retreats toward the back. He pauses when he passes me long enough to squeeze my shoulder. “Good job tonight, Dylan. You kept your cool and brought me exactly what I needed when I needed it. I can tell you really care. You’ll make a fantastic vet someday.”

“T-thank you, sir!”

He nodes wearily and departs. That leaves me alone with Ash and Wendel, the purring kitten still in my arms. Ash pointedly avoids looking at me, scowling as he pays Wendel for the visit. Maybe he’s hoping that if he ignores me, the kitten will magically disappear.

A buried part of me is jealous at how casually he drops what must be a couple hundred bucks on a cat he doesn’t even seem to care that much about. Had our roles been reversed, I’d havebeen scrambling to come up with the money, maybe begged to work out some kind of payment plan. But then again, I’m also wearing thrift store purchases that don’t quite fit right instead of the sleek, stylish (and boringly black) clothes Ash seems to favor.

Out of excuses to avoid me, Ash turns to regard me, crossing his arms. Disappointment flickers through me when I notice he put his shirt back on at some point, the damp material clinging to his chest.

“Now what?” he demands.

I blink, confused. “What do you mean?”

His scowl deepens. “The cat’s had its check-up, and I’ve got the medication to prove it.” He jangles the bag with the two bottles of pills. “So, what’s the next step?”

“The next…” Am I just tired or is Ash being unusually dense? I hold out my purring bundle. “Thereisno next step. At least, not here. She’s your responsibility now.”

His expression darkens. “Great. Just what I need.”

Starting to get annoyed by his attitude, I deposit the cat into his reluctant arms. “So sorry you’ve been inconvenienced like this. How dare this cat get hurt and almost freeze to death while you happened to be nearby? I mean, thenerve!”

“Hey, I didn’t ask for any of this! I’m thelastperson that should be entrusted with the fate of another living being.”

“Well, too bad! You’re all this cat’s got, so unless you plan to put her back on the street, suck it up and do the right thing.” My eyes narrow as I picture the poor kitten huddled in a puddle. “You’re not actually considering leaving her outside, are you?”

His eyes widen. He clutches the cat to his chest almost protectively. “Of course not! I’m not a monster.” I raise an eyebrow, and he scowls. “Shut up. I brought the damn thing here, didn’t I? Ran over a mile in the rain with it wrapped in my shirt. So don’t lecturemeon responsibility. I did my part.”

Well, that explains his previous lack of a shirt. Probably should have questioned that earlier. “Fair enough. Except that your part’s not finished yet. If you’re not going to abandon her outside like her last owner, your options are to take her home or to a shelter.”

He glances out the window at the torrential rain. “It’d be fine in a shelter?”

I hesitate for a beat before opting for a shrug. “Hard to say. They do the best they can, but they’re pretty much always overcrowded. Still, it’s better than being out on the street, especially with an injured leg.”

Ash looks down at the bundle in his arms and bites his lip. “What about you? Can’tyoutake it home? You like animals.”

I reluctantly shake my head. “I can’t. My family would never go for it.” Nor could we afford the extra expenses right now. “What about yours?”

“It’s just me and my aunt,” he says, dodging the question.

I don’t let him get away with the evasion. “And is your aunt a cat person?”

“I think my aunt is aneverythingkind of person. I seriously doubt she’d have a problem if I brought home a pet peacock.”

His response startles a chuckle out of me. It’s the first crack I’ve seen in his sullen aloofness since he got here. He grins at me for a moment, then seems to remember he’s supposed to be angry and suppresses his humor beneath a fresh scowl.

Somehow though, it doesn’t seem as intense as before. Maybe he’s finally relaxing his defenses a hair. Or maybe I’m beginning to realize how much of it is just an act. The realization gives me the courage I need to press him.

“In that case, maybeyoushould take her home.”

“Me?” he scoffs. “I don’t think so.”

“Why not?” I lean against the counter, raising an eyebrow.

“Didn’t you hear what I said before about being trusted with another life?”

“Sure. I just think it’s a pretty bullshit excuse.” He sputters, and I continue before he can muster a retort. “Clearly, you care or else you wouldn’t have brought her here to begin with. And I can say for a fact that she’d be better off in a home than on the streets or in a shelter. We’ve already established your aunt won’t mind. So…any other arguments?”