Page 7 of The One You Want

She followed me into the kitchen to supervise as I got out their bowls and the little cans of chicken and shrimp they preferred. Lady watched each of my movements, judging me, I was sure. Once I had everything laid out on their mat, I expected her to join the others in chowing down. Instead, she hopped up onto the counter, right in front of me, and sat, yellow-green eyes fixed onmine.

I held out a hand for her to sniff, wondering if she was actually going to let me pet her. When she didn’t hiss or bat me away, I attempted to scratch behind her ears. To my shock, she let out a low, rumblingpurr.

“Thank you, Lady,” I murmured, feeling strangely close to tears. “I really neededthat.”

She held my gaze for a moment longer and I realized I wasn’t exactly sure what I meant—that I’d needed the hours of uninterrupted couch time? Or that I’d needed to offer her a little love. Regardless, she gave one last purr and jumped off the counter, ready toeat.

Across town, the Libbies would be meeting right about now. They’d be drinking and laughing while they ragged on each other. Maybe Sherry would have actually planned an activity, and they’d gleefully be giving her a hard time aboutit.

My eyes stung as I pictured it. Whatever happened tonight, they would be having fun. The Libbies alwaysdid.

I shook my head, trying to dispel the cheerful image. The truth of the matter was that what I had right here was better for me. Peace and quiet. All the Netflix and ice cream a girl could want. My own safe little refuge, where no one could bother me. Where no one could hurtme.

This had been my life for years. It was silly to think it was ever going tochange.