Love and Lint Rollers by Kaje Harper

Author:Kaje Harper [Harper, Kaje]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Lgbt, Gay
ISBN: 9781724150813
Google: 9BUhvQEACAAJ
Amazon: B07HRYMKP2
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: 2018-09-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

When Dean pulled up at the little blue house, Thom was waiting for him on the front step with the cat carrier and a shopping bag beside him. The lift of Thom’s chin and the set of his shoulders meant he was stressed. Dean had learned that look over the last few weeks. No need to ask why today.

He leaned over to pop the passenger door open. Thom got in, buckled up, and settled the carrier in his lap with the bag at his feet. Inside the crate, Onyx expressed his displeasure in a low, undulating growl.

Dean winced. “Hates the carrier, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Ready to go?”

“Please.”

He backed out of the drive, wishing he could say something comforting. Lori’s a great choice to rehome Onyx. I was so glad she responded to our newsletter. Or maybe, Onyx will love being an only cat? He’d already said all that in the last few days, helping Thom make this decision. So he tipped his head toward the shopping bag. “Is that his stuff?”

“Yeah. Might help him feel at home in a new place. As much as anything can.” Thom rubbed a fist across his lips.

Dean turned his attention to the road, pulling around a pothole repair crew. Lori’s address was a twenty-minute drive from Thom’s— not too far for a visit now and then. The drive passed in silence, other than the grumbles of the unhappy kitten.

Dean had only known Lori at the clinic, but the homey look of her front garden matched her personality. He pulled over. “Here we are.” He expected Thom to linger in this last moment with Onyx, but as soon as the car came to a stop, Thom pushed the door open, climbed out, and strode up the front walk with the carrier and bag. Dean hurried to follow him. He’d already rung the bell before Dean reached the front porch.

Lori opened the door, glancing over Thom’s shoulder. “Dr. Edwards. Hi. And you must be Thom?”

“Yes.” Thom lifted the carrier slightly. “And a not-happy Onyx.”

“Come on in. We’ll put him quietly in his room and let him settle.”

Dean hung back as Lori led the way to a small bedroom. “I’ve got this set up for him.” There were two litter boxes, two cat trees with multiple perches, and several open cardboard boxes and paper bags on the floor.

Thom’s shoulders relaxed visibly. “This is nice.”

“When I first rescued Lucifer, he lived in this room for months before he settled enough to let him roam the house.”

Dean chuckled, remembering her old cat. “He was a wild child. We had to sedate him for vet visits.”

“Still my sweet boy.” Lori’s voice wavered. “But he’s been gone for months, and I’m ready to adopt a new baby.”

“Onyx is friendlier than Lucifer already,” Dean said. “He’s willing to be petted, just skittish. I think you’ll fall in love with him fast.”

Thom set down the carrier and the bag in the center of the floor. He pulled out a fuzzy bed, a blanket, and toys, and puttered around the room setting them up.

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