The Illusion of Danger

Chapter 27

After successfully making it through the meal without further outbursts, Mordecai paid for the meal and stood to start the journey back to where Rocky had parked the automobile.

"I'd say that was a pleasant experience, all intrusions aside."
The tuxedo said as he straightened his sleeves.
"You seemed to enjoy your meal as well."

Rocky stood with Mordecai and pat his full stomach.

"It was delicious, and it hit the spot, thanks!"
The tabby smiled, then made his way through the restaurant with the older man to walk back to his car.
"How was yours?"

"It was better than I expected it to be."
Mordecai replied as he guided them out to the street and started walking.
"Was there anything else or are we safe to return immediately?"

"Oh! I gotta pop into the pharmacy before we head back. You can wait for me in the car if you want, I won't be but a minute."
When the two men reached the pharmacy, Rocky walked in and held up a finger to Mordecai to indicate he'd only be a moment.

The black and white cat nodded in turn and opened the passenger door. As he got in and got comfortable, something felt off.
With his ears pinning back, Mordecai slowly turned himself to look in the backseat. There sat the same potted succulent staring at him.
With furrowed brows, he turned his back to it again with a shake of his head. Someone must know that it belonged to Rocky and returned it.

Rocky walked through the same aisle as the last time he visited. The store was a little busier than last time so thankfully he knew where the item was that he was looking for. Once he grabbed it he brought it to the register, the clerk behind the counter recognized him and cocked an eyebrow at him with a smirk. The tabby blushed violently.

"Have fun young man."
He gave Rocky a wink and bagged up his goods. The tabby's tail bristled with embarrassment. He glared a little at the store clerk who gave him a small chuckle.

Rocky grabbed the brown paper bag and walked swiftly out the front door and ran up to his car. He opened the door and was about to toss the bag in the back seat, but stopped when he saw her.

"Ah....you're back I see...."
The tabby glared and folded the bag to put in his coat pocket instead. He then hopped into the driver's seat and started the car.

"Ready!" He said excitedly and pulled away from the curb in the direction of Mordecai's place.

The black and white cat remained focused on the road ahead while the tabby drove just to be safe.
"Where are we going to begin? There were a few things that had come up that we had to discuss in a more private setting. Your friend Anthony might be ideal along with the topic of a woman."

"Well, first of all, Mordecai... we were talking in code. You are my 'best gal'."
Rocky laughed.
"I'm surprised you didn't catch on to that honestly. You're a smart cookie after all."

"That may be so, but I can't be thrown into a situation haphazardly and expected to understand everything immediately. While yes, I suspected that to be the case, I wasn't confident. You could have been talking about an actual woman for all I knew."

"Ah... well, you've got me there. I am sorry to have thrown you for a loop and make you worry. You're the only 'gal',"
The tabby let go of the wheel for two seconds to make air quotes with his hands.
"for me, Mordecai."
He brought his tail over to set next to Mordecai's for him to take if he so wished.

"As for Anthony, the day we had met at the Nine Lives for me to return your garment and I was somehow awakened in a hotel room."
He began recalling the night.
"I ran downstairs and met our lovely bartender from the night before. He informed me he had a nephew like me. And we got to chatting. Then I went to meet up with his nephew to ask how he carried on with his male lover."