Close to You - Kristen Proby Page 0,48

so mild-mannered.”

I stare at Landon, and then bust up laughing. “Right.” I hold out my arm so he can examine the scratch marks from my elbow to wrist. “I made this up. Of course, this didn’t happen until after the vaccinations. When we first got there, all was fine. I opened the carrier, and he came out, meowing, looking all innocent and cute. He let the male doctor hold him and examine him. He’s perfectly healthy, by the way.”

“Good to know,” Landon says with a smile.

“He thinks that Scoot is about two years old. He was malnourished at some point.” I frown, not enjoying the thought of the evil cat being hungry. “I guess he can tell by his teeth? I don’t know. Anyway, he got a couple of shots since we don’t know if he’s ever had any before. He’s been neutered, so probably, but we can’t be sure. So, he got some shots. He sat perfectly still, looking around like, whatever.

“And then.” I swallow hard. “The vet left me alone with him.”

“Take a sip of wine,” Kat suggests, and I comply.

“So I opened the cage and reached for him, and he became this . . . wild creature.”

Landon is holding his hand over his mouth, trying to stifle his laughter, but it’s not working.

“His ears went back, and his eyes got super wide and all wildlike and he hissed at me.”

“He doesn’t like the cage,” Kat says, nodding sagely.

“You weren’t there, Kat. You didn’t see it.” I take another sip of wine. “He actually scratched me. And I was so surprised, I practically threw him into the cage!”

“Aw, poor Scoot,” Landon says, earning the glare of death from me.

“Poor Scoot?” My voice is calm, but I feel my cheeks flush. “Poor Scoot?”

“You know what I mean,” he says, reaching for my hand, but I jerk away.

“I bled. And then he screamed at me all the way home, and when I opened his cage, he ran out super fast and tried to trip me . . . and the worst part?”

“There’s a part that’s worse?” Landon says, laughing.

“He freaking peed in his cage!” Both Landon and Kat are laughing now. “Have you ever had to clean cat pee? It’s the most disgusting thing ever.”

“But tell him the rest,” Kat says, waving at me and holding on to her stomach. “Seriously, it’s the best part.”

“Oh God,” Landon replies. “I have to hear it.”

I square my shoulders, trying to wrap a little dignity around myself and failing miserably, I’m sure. “Well, I took the cage into the laundry room, and I had it in the big sink back there to wash it out.”

Kat doubles over, lays her forehead on the bar, and hits it with her fist. “Oh my God, I can’t handle it.”

“So, I’m running hot water into it, and swishing the water around.”

“Oh my God, I’m gonna pee!” Kat exclaims.

“And suddenly, out of nowhere, Scoot jumps into the sink! Which isn’t such a bad thing because after he peed in the cage, he needed a bath anyway. He starts flailing about and howling, and sending water all over me and over the side of the sink onto the floor, and to try to climb out, he latches on to my other arm.” I pull my sleeve up so Landon can see. “And proceeds to almost amputate me as he launches himself across the room!”

Now they’re laughing so hard that I wouldn’t be surprised if one or both of them has a stroke.

“I’m so happy that my bloodshed is funny to you.”

“Oh, baby,” Landon gasps, trying to gather himself. “I’m sorry. It’s just that it’s so horrible.”

“Horribly funny,” Kat agrees, wiping tears from her cheeks. “Damn, my makeup is a mess.”

“Yes, and my arms are a mess,” I say, which only makes them laugh more.

“Seriously, it hurts.” I pout, but I have to bite my lips because I want to bust out into laughter with them, but now it’s the principle of it all.

Jake and Max are onstage, singing one of their old hits, the restaurant is packed, and I’m back here with these two being ridiculed.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Landon pulls me against him to give me a hug. “I should have gone with you.”

“Why does he like you so much and not me? I feed him! I give him a place to live. I’m nice to the little bastard.”

“He’s just temperamental,” Landon says reassuringly. “Are you set on staying through the show, or can I steal you away?”

“I guess