Temperance: A Dark Retelling of The Ugly Duckling by Everette EJ

Author:Everette, EJ
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

FIONA

Early Monday morning, I wake up to a pissed off Mick racing through the house, hissing at just about any and everything he sees. It’s vet day, and he just knows it somehow, like always. I’d swear he understands English, if he could just talk to me.

“Get back here, you grumpy puss.” Reaching under the couch, he swats at my hand when I get close to him, before darting away, running to the back of the apartment. “I mean it, Mick. We are going to be late, and I have things I want to do today.”

Giving up for a few, hoping I can trick him into thinking I’ve quit trying to catch him, I pour myself another cup of coffee, slowly sipping at the hot goodness. And herein lies the problem - I believe a cat will think that I’ve given up. Like he has the ability to understand complex behaviors. Yup, totally crazy. And yet…

“Alright, Mick. I quit. You win. I’ll just head out to run my errands. Enjoy my day off all alone.” Making extra loud stomping sounds with my shoes, I set my cup down, grabbing my purse like I am really about to leave. Like I’m totally fooling him. The quiet tinkle of his bell catches my attention. Sure as shit, he comes around the corner, head held high, confident I’m not about to swoop down and snatch him.

“Guess I’ll see you later, bud,” I lean in to pet him and he purrs into my hand. Sucker. In a flash, I have him wrapped in my arms, heading toward the carrier. He claws at my arms, though not nearly as viciously as he could, but I prevail, stuffing him into the container and zipping the see-through door shut. “Haha!” Doing my victory dance, I hurry to get the last few things I need, then we are out the door locking up.

“Still on for dinner and trash tv tomorrow?” Mal calls from his door where he is just getting back from a run.

“If Mick doesn’t kill me first,” I shout back, heading down the stairs.

It takes me about twenty-five minutes to get across town to the vet clinic in Fable Village, but we don’t have one in the city. Besides, Dr. Bell is literally the best vet. Even Mick loves her.

When we arrive, after half an hour of hearing Mick’s non stop whining, I hurry inside, giving the sweet front desk lady my name. She knows me, and Mick, but she always asks like it’s our first time. Sitting down in the waiting room, it’s fairly empty since they just opened. There’s a huge trial going on that has the courthouse basically shut down aside from the people working. Kregg has been next to impossible to chat with and Meredith is the reporter for the trial, so I decided to take the day off and get some much needed housework done.

While I wait, my mind slides into the last few dates with the guys. Well, Bixley

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