Page 76 of Hunter or Hunted

“Right now, it is.” I checked the clock again. “When are they gonna be done bedazzling the ball? I’ll go get Junie. We’ll make dinner, and we’ll get the pullout bed set up, and you guys can stay with me tonight.”

“Alice is gonna text me when they’re finished up.” Sniffling, she rubbed at her nose. “But I should go back to the apartment. There’s keycards, and security measures, and—and⁠—”

“But no crazy bitches like me.” I gave a teasing smile. “Let that woman show here and try to hurt you or Junie. I dare her.”

Simone let out something that almost resembled a laugh.

My smile grew more genuine. I reached out and thumbed Simone’s tears away. “As soon as the court’s open after the holiday, we’re getting you that restraining order. But for tonight? You’ve got me.”

Nostrils flared, a smile tugging up the corner of her lips, Simone nodded.

Once Simone settled down a bit, a “Mrreow!” sounded in my bedroom. Honey ran to the door, tail wagging, and Simone cocked her head at me.

I told her Sebastian and I found the cat wandering the streets in Delilah’s hometown. He wouldn’t leave my side, so I took him.

She believed it. Hopefully everyone else would too.

With the air lighter, I figured now was as good a time as ever to make the introductions. I clipped on Honey’s leash and opened the bedroom door.

Samson stood on the floor, a few feet away. The moment he saw Honey, the hair on his back stood. When Honey took a step forward, Samson snarled like a rabid raccoon. Hissing, he bolted under the bed.

Honey’s tail still wagged as she inched forward. When she lowered her head, peering under the mattress, a paw snaked out with claws ready to rip.

I pulled Honey back. Simone took hold of her leash. I got on my belly, saying, “Here, kitty kitty,” with fingers extended.

Samson came closer, rubbing his head against my hand. I thought if I held him, if I made him feel safe, he’d be less inclined to attack my dog.

I thought wrong.

Even with him in my arms, held closely to my chest, he hissed and snarled and growled at Honey on the ground. His back legs trembled, reminding me he was afraid.

Of course he was. God only knew what he’d gone through in Evan’s custody.

Simone, a proud cat lady, took Samson into her lap. She held him and petted him while Honey watched from the ground, eyes so sweet, short tail still bouncing back and forth with excitement.

But when I invited her onto the couch as well, Samson’s claws came back out. He hissed and growled and flopped around like a fish out of water.

He jumped onto the windowsill behind us, climbed the curtains monkey-style, hopped onto the shelf, then off the shelf, and ran back to the bedroom in a blur.

My heart ached as I carried his food bowl and litter box back there. No one could convince me bringing him here hurt him more than living with Evan had, but I’d hoped he’d love Honey. Maybe he would one day, but that wasn’t going to be today.

Hopefully, he just needed time to adjust.

Simone’s phone rang as I was coming back into the room. They’d finished bedazzling the ball, and Simone was still a bit tipsy.

I took Honey with me to pick Junie up. A few of the girls at the daycare asked me how the funeral went. With all the little ears nearby, I told them we could talk more about it at group.

From there, Junie and I drove back to my cabin. As we unloaded from the car, a familiar Jeep rolled to a stop in the gravel road. Rhiannon stepped out.

“Go ahead in, kiddo,” I told Junie, lengthening Honey’s lead so she could scope out the yard. “I’ll be in soon.”

“Can I say hi to Samson?” She bounced on the tips of her toes. “I’ll close the door so he can’t get Honey. Pretty, pretty pleeeease.”

I laughed. “Yeah, of course. As long as that’s okay with your mom.”

She grinned ear to ear as she skipped up the stairs.

“Samson?” Rhiannon asked, stowing her hands in her pockets as she approached.