He makes you want to be the best version of yourself. Becausehe’salways doing his best.
So with a determined nod, I go back to writing.
It’s much later in the evening that Millie finally breaks my concentration, milling between my legs.
I shock myself when I see that I’ve been at it for at least a few hours, and not once did I feel the need to stop. The knowledge makes me happy.
Pushing my chair away from the table in the corner of my bedroom, I stretch my body as a yawn slips past my lips, my muscles feeling the strain of sitting for hours on end. But I don’t feel tired for a second.
Elated and with a smile on my face, I bend down, pick up Millie, grab my phone, and head for the living room.
Setting the fur baby down, I give her head a few scratches and prepare a meal for her, taking out her can of cat food.
I was so happy when Noah asked me to look after her while he was away. My heart sings for him when I remember what he said while dropping off the kitty at my apartment.
“Are you sure you want me looking after your cat?” I asked.
He gave me a deadpan look, making me feel ridiculous for asking the lame question. “I distinctly remember you saving this hellcat.”
“And?” My brows furrowed.
He sighed, shaking his head like he was done with me. “Millie always belonged to you, youcrazy woman.”
“She did?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “For fuck’s sake,” he murmured under his breath. Stepping right into me, he tilted my chin up to look at him and whispered against my parted lips, “Everything you see is yours.”
My breath hitched. “Even you?”
His lips turned into the most blinding of smiles. “Especially me.” And he seared his words into my soul with a toe-curling kiss.
I fan myself just thinking about it. When I bend down and keep Millie’s bowl of food in front of her, she looks at me like she can’t decide whether she wants to laugh or cry at my absurdity.
“You think I’m crazy, too, don’t you, Millie?” I speak in a baby voice as I sit down on my haunches, the smile not leaving my face.
She huffs as if to say,“Dang right, I do,”and goes back to her meal, completely ignoring me.
I chuckle in the empty apartment, save for Millie, and slump on the couch. Powering on my phone, I dial Ezra. His game must be over by now.
He picks up on the third ring. “Hey, kid,” his voice lacking his usual spark, and that’s weirdbecause he just got engaged to the love of his life.
That can only mean one thing—they lost today’s game.
“I’m sorry about the game,” I say, folding my legs and pulling them to my chest as I burrow myself deeper in the couch.
He sighs over the phone, his breath causing a crackling noise. “It’s fine. Shit happens.”
He says that, but I know my brother, and I know he’s probably taking their loss the hardest, especially when they’re so close to the end—they can practically taste their season win.
“Stop blaming yourself,” I say, trying to sound stern but failing.
He chuckles roughly. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ve been asking him the same for the last hour, babe,” Kaeli joins in the conversation. The phone must be on speaker, as it always is with them.
“He probably just needed some tough love,” I say with a smile, though she can’t see it.
She scoffs, “He sure did. He can be bullheaded sometimes. Don’t know what I was thinking agreeing to marry this guy.”