Gentleman Nine(9)

Homesick, I decided to transfer back to a state school after my first year in Gainesville was up. When I came home that summer and found out that they were together, it felt like the ultimate betrayal. I alienated myself from both of them for a while. During that time, my manwhore ways were worse than ever once the school year started up again. It was a bad combination of acting out due to anger along with being the new, hot guy on campus at the local college I’d transferred to.

Over time, though, I began to accept things as they were. After all, even if Amber had been available, I knew I wasn’t the right guy for her anyway. She deserved someone who wouldn’t screw her over, someone like…Rory. He was safe. I grew to accept them together, and she and I were able to renew our friendship, although things were never exactly the same again between the three of us—especially between Rory and me. And he knew why.

Had seeing them together still hurt like a motherfucker? Yes. But I’d accepted that he was the better man for her. Sucking up my jealousy and pride, I ended up moving on.

So, finding out that he’d broken her heart all these years later was a tough pill to swallow. If he were in front of me right now, there was no guarantee I wouldn’t injure him.

I flipped my pillow around and fluffed it while Kitty purred and curled up into the crook of my neck. A sneeze from behind the bedroom door was the first indication that Amber, too, wasn’t getting any sleep.

I got up. She was leaning against the kitchen counter blowing her nose.

“Are you okay?”

She jumped a little. I’d startled her.

Amber sneezed again then said, “I think I might be allergic to your pussy.”

“Well, that’s a new one. Can’t say I’ve ever heard that before,” I joked. Then, it really hit me that she was serious. “Fuck. You’re allergic to the cat…”

“I’m not sure, but it’s a good possibility, seeing as though I’m suddenly sneezing incessantly.”

Shit.

As much as it pained me to follow through with my original plan to take Kitty to the shelter, I knew that was going to be even more necessary now. I’d secretly hoped to be able to keep her around.

“I’ll find a place for Kitty tomorrow, make some calls during my lunch break.”

“Kitty?” She laughed. “Is that her name?”

“Yeah. I know…not very original, but that’s what I started calling her and it stuck.”

“I’m gonna start calling you Stud.” She stuck her hand out in jest. “Nice to meet you. I’m Bitch.”

I took her hand, which was so small it felt breakable. “My friends call me Dick.” My smile faded into a frown when I said, “Kitty will be gone by tomorrow.”

“No.” She blew her nose. “Don’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s only a few months. I’ll get on some medication or something. That cat loves you. She belongs with you. It would break my heart to see you have to take her to a shelter. I can’t let you do it.” Blowing her nose again, she said in a stuffed-up voice, “By the way, I know where she came from.”

“You do?”

“Yes. I couldn’t sleep, so I was watching a repeat of the late evening news. A pet store on Devonshire was supposed to get a delivery of cats. The truck was parked while the driver left it unattended. They think someone broke into it and set the cats free.”

“No shit? She’s stolen property? Maybe I’ll take her back there, then?”

“No! You can’t.”

“Well, I can’t let you just…be sick.”

“It’ll be fine. Seriously. Sneezing never killed anyone.”

“That’s pretty insane that you would want to keep her around.”

“Yeah, well, I might just be a little insane.”

“Actually, no, it’s how you are. You’ve always had a kind heart.”

“A lot of good it did me.” She rolled her eyes.

I knew she was referring to Rory and once again wanted to kick his ass.

“God, you must think I’m such a fucking Debbie Downer,” she said. “I haven’t stopped talking about my breakup since you got here.”

“Debbie Downer? Nah. More like Negative Nancy.” I winked.

She sniffled. “Have I mentioned I’m really glad you’re here? I think I’ve smiled more in the last twelve hours than I have in three months.”

And that’s exactly the reason you need to keep yourself in check, Channing.

You can’t risk crossing a line and hurting her.

Your job is what it’s always been, to be her friend, to make her smile.

You weren’t supposed to mess with Amber before she got her heart broken. But after? Now it’s even more important not to fuck up.

“I promise to make an effort to be a little more upbeat,” she said as she looked over at the clock on the wall. “You should go back to bed. You start your job tomorrow. I’m sorry for waking you.”

Feeling more wired than ever, I shook my head. “You didn’t wake me. I got up because I heard you, but I hadn’t fallen asleep yet.”

“Why can’t you sleep? Are you anxious about work?”

I couldn’t exactly admit to her what was really keeping me up.