“Ah, Sweets.” He opened the door and stood aside so I could enter the apartment he shared with Cris. “I’m glad you’re finally getting to see our place, though not under these circumstances.”
I looked around the kitchen, which opened right off the stairs. “It reminds me a little of the kitchen we had when I first moved in with you guys.” It was larger, though, with enough room for a table and chairs.
“It is a bit dated, but it suits our needs.” He dropped the bags to the floor and rubbed my back. “Why don’t you take Miss Su out of her bag? She must be getting a little restless in there.”
I unzipped the bag and lifted her out. “Say hello to Uncle Tim, puss.”
“Mrrow?” She blinked at him.
“What a pretty little lady, yes, you are.” He rubbed a knuckle under her chin, and she slitted her eyes in pleasure and purred.
“I think you’ve made a conquest.” I put her down, and she wound herself in and out of his legs.
“I’ll put her litter pan right here in this alcove. It leads to the outside stairs, but we don’t use them much, so that’ll be a good spot for it. You can leave her bag there too, if you like. Come on. I’ll show you your room.”
One of the pet store bags had tipped over, and Miss Su’s little stubby tail disappeared into it. “Don’t get into any mischief, puss.”
“Will she be okay in there?”
“Oh yeah. She’s a veritable huntress.”
Miss Su backed out and dropped a bag of catnip mice at my feet. “Mrrow.”
“Okay, then.” I tore open an end, dropped a white mouse with very pink ears onto the linoleum, and she began batting it around and stalking it. “That should keep her occupied for a bit.”
“She is a sweetie.” Tim chuckled, and I followed him down the hallway. “This is our living room.”
“It’s nice.” A comfortable room, with sofa, twin recliners, and a large screen TV.
“Our bedroom.” At the far end of the hall. It had floor to ceiling windows covered with sheers, a dresser, armoire, and king size sleigh bed. I wondered if my lover would be interested in a bed like…
I pushed him out of my mind. That wouldn’t matter, not ever again.
“The bathroom is right down this hallway. There’s just one. And this’ll be your room.” Across from the living room. “It’s a little small,” he said apologetically.
“It’s fine.” A double bed was against one wall, framed between two floor-to-ceiling windows. It was more than big enough, since I’d be sleeping alone. Opposite the bed was a single dresser. French doors on the far wall opened onto a tiny balcony where a couple of wrought iron chairs sat in the late afternoon sun.
“Why don’t you unpack and take a leak, then join me in the kitchen? I’ll have the menus out on the table, and we can decide what we feel like for dinner.”
“Thanks, Tim.” I set my carry-on down on the bed and unzipped it, then hugged him. “Guess you’re…you’re still looking out for me.”
“It’s my job, babe.” He held me tight. There was nothing sexual about it, and I felt comforted, but I knew if I didn’t step away from him, I’d be crying like a baby in a minute. He ran a hand up and down my back. “You’re not that skinny little kid anymore, but…Oww! Hey!” He looked down. “Feeling neglected, Miss Su?” He stooped to pick her up, and she flattened her ears, spat, and batted at his hand.
“Miss Su! Shame on you! I’m so sorry, Tim.”
“It’s okay, she didn’t draw blood.”
“She’s never done this before.” Not when…when a certain someone who I wasn’t going to think about anymore held me. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her.”
“Don’t you?” Tim grinned wryly and patted my shoulder. “Maybe she just doesn’t like seeing you with another man.” He picked up Miss Su’s bowls and food. “I’ll take these into the kitchen and meet you there when you’re ready.”
“Bad girl,” I scolded my kitten as I emptied the carry-on. “You want Uncle Tim to kick us out? Now you stay there and behave yourself.” She sat down, her back pointedly toward me, and began to groom herself. “Fine. Be that way. Just remember I control the can opener.”
She paused and looked over her shoulder. “Mrrow.”
“Never mind the can’s got a pop top.” I waggled my thumbs at her. “I’ve got the opposable thumbs.”
She yawned in my face, lay down and tucked her paws under her, and closed her eyes.
“Hmph.” I put my underwear in the top drawer of the dresser. Jeans and shirts went into the next two drawers. Maybe I should have packed slacks and tailored shirts, and wing tips instead of sneakers.