Page 55 of Falling With You

Diego just looked at me, his ears twitching.

“Okay, I sort of used you to get into her good graces so I could take her out. But it’s not like I’ve actually been in her pants since then. I didn’t use you for completely nefarious purposes.”

I shook my head.

“Now I’m talking to a cat. I feel like you’re responding to me and answering questions, though that might be because I’m tired. But Sienna says her cats talk to her, so maybe we’re all just a little insane. But you’re not allowed to tear at my shit anymore. You’re not allowed to get cute about it either. Thankfully, you know how to use the litter box, but there’s still litter everywhere. It’s like it crawls right out of the little litter box and follows you around.”

I set Diego down on the cushion beside me and leaned against the back of the couch, letting out a sigh.

“This is ridiculous.”

I really wanted that beer, but I was too tired and a little annoyed with myself to get up and get it. Sienna was supposed to come by later and bring a few old things from her cats to my place. We had gotten Diego a couple of toys, but so far, he really only liked to play with my laser pointer, which I didn’t use often, and a ball of foil that I had made for him that seemed to be the best toy in the history of toys. I wasn’t really sure exactly how that worked, but apparently, foil and boxes were all the rage with kittens.

But there were a couple of old things like beds and mats that her cats hadn’t wanted, even though she had bought them, and we were going to see if Diego wanted them. Because maybe if Diego used those to sleep on, I wouldn’t have to deal with the cat on my face as I was trying to sleep.

Seriously, the little devil really loved to sleep on my face, my neck, and sometimes with his butt right on my mouth.

That was something I never wanted to feel again.

As I looked down at Diego who was cleaning himself, I was pretty sure it was going to happen again. Often.

Now I was a cat person.

A goddamn cat person.

How in the hell had that happened?

Images of Sienna arching under me as I pushed into her and she wrapped her legs around my waist filled my mind, and then I remembered. Oh, yeah, that was how.

Damn woman.

The doorbell rang, and I froze, looking at the time. She wasn’t supposed to be here for another hour. Maybe she’d gotten done with her paperwork early.

“Looks like your favorite person’s about to show up,” I told the cat and then realized I was talking to the cat and shook my head.

I really needed a dog or something. Or maybe a turtle. A turtle would be nice.

Why the hell was I thinking about getting more pets? I barely had enough time for this kitten, and I already felt bad about that.

I went to the door and opened it and froze.

It wasn’t Sienna.

No, it wasn’t even close.

I swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the door with my bad hand and holding back a wince.

“Mr. and Mrs. Pritchett,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “I…I didn’t know you were coming.”

Allison’s parents. Allison’s freaking parents were at my door. I hadn’t seen them since the funeral, hadn’t really known what to say to them then, and I sure as fuck didn’t know what to say to them now.

I hadn’t always gotten along with Allison’s mom and dad, but no one really had. They were good parents, but just slightly reserved and a little off-center from everything else. They’d had dreams for their daughter, and Allison had done well for herself, but she hadn’t done exactly what her parents wanted, and they hadn’t really and truly understood Allison.

They hadn’t liked the fact that their daughter was dating some foster kid with a past they weren’t too keen on.

But they had never treated me poorly, had never refused Allison wanting to be in a relationship with me.

But they also hadn’t been quite welcoming either. I just hadn’t known if it was because of me or because that was just how they were.