I hop off the stage, almost tripping over my dress. “Stop! Let him go!” I step in between him and Kas, glaring at him with my fists balled at my side. “I said let him go!” Finally, Rosier lets go of Kas’ collar with a grumble. I cross my arms over my chest. “That was rude. And cruel! Kas is helping us. Helpingme. We wouldn’t have been able to get those tickets without him.”
Rosier crosses his arms, mirroring me. “I would have found a way.”
I snort. “Yeah right.” His eyes narrow. “You didn’t even have clothes before Kas helped you out. You have no right to treat him this way.”
Rosier raises his voice. “I have every right–”
“You know you’re not even half as charming as you think you are. Jerk.”
Kas steps in like a referee. “I adore a lover’s spat, really, I do, but I’m fine.” He fixes the top button of his shirt. “I kinda like being manhandled.”
I scoff and start walking back to the dressing room, the chain above rattling as I throw the curtain shut. “Chanel! Can you please come help me!”
We get the dress and leave promptly.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
ROSIER
Jerk is farfrom the worst insult, yet it echoes in my head like the wail of a dying soul.Jerk. Jerk. Jerk.Minnie sits with her arms crossed, pouting out the car window. Kas sits between us, a neutral wall.
I lean over to whisper in his ear, “It didn’t hurt when I grabbed you, did it?”
He looks at me with furrowed brows, his lips crooked. “Of course, it hurts. You’re a lot stronger than me, you know.”
Still looking out the window, Minnie pipes up, “Usually when someone hurts another person, they apologize.
I grit my teeth. If I remind her of my nature, she’ll only pout further, kick me out again and again and again. I prefer her apartment, with her books and where Leaf can run around like a mad imp. I like sleeping in her bed. I like waking up beside her.
Kas touches Minnie’s shoulder. “It’s okay Minerva, honestly. It’s not the first–”
Refusing to let Kas inform Minnie of the previous instances I’ve manhandled him, I cut in. “I’m sorry.”
Both Kas and Minnie look at me with wide eyes. Then Minnie’s eyes narrow, like she’s expecting more. But what the fuck else is there to say?
“I… shouldn’t have been so aggressive. You didn’t deserve it…”
Kas’ face softens.
“...in that moment,” I finish. “You have an attitude that needs to be tethered.”
Kas laughs. “It’s a good thing I like hands on me. Just promise me you’ll give me a kiss afterwards next time, yeah?”
I glance past him at Minnie, hoping she’ll object. She looks at Kas. I want her to look at me. “Sure…”
Soon I find myself standing in the middle of the hallway between Kas and Minnie’s apartments. Minnie opens up her door, and Leaf comes bolting, attaching himself to my leg. “Needy little thing,” I scoop him up in my arms. As I scratch his chin, I face Minnie, waiting for her to say something.
Her cheeks are hollow and her lips puckered, clearly thinking. What I would give to hear her thoughts. “He’s probably hungry.” she says finally before waving me inside.
Kas pats me on the shoulder before he disappears into his own apartment.
Minnie opens up a can of food, and Leaf hops out of my arms to sit at her feet, his bent tail swishing back and forth.
“Cats are different than I imagined,” I think aloud.
“What were you expecting?” She shakes the can over a small plate, the food slopping down. “Do you guys even have cats?”
“Our own version. They’re much larger–more heads and tails.”