The cat sitter

1

After recently losing my job at the local florist for accidentally selling 'poisonous' flowers, I started job hunting to avoid my crippling debt in my bank account.

I checked around online, applying to a few which I felt suited me. I then came across a poster,

I love cats.

I instantly dialled the number on my phone and waited for it to start ringing. Butterflies and a pool of nervousness opened up. I wasn't nervous for the others but this job seemed really fun and I didn't want to mess it up.

"Hello! I'm calling about your pet sitting poster." I said with a friendly tone.

"Oh hi! Okay yes hi um.. so I'm going out of town for a week and I need someone to pet sit and also potentially house sit." The masculine voice said as if it were a question.

"Okay, I could do both. I actually have my certificate for house sitting." I replied. I used to do jobs like these before I started at the florists, a lot of people paid well and it was rather entertaining.

"Wait really?" I heard him fidgeting with something, "I go in a week. It'll be the 2nd to the 9th. You don't have to stay in the house but if you'd like to then you can stay in the spare room. Are you good with cats?" He quickly said, stuttering on some words from speaking so fast.

"Yes. I used to have 2 cats when I lived with my parents, I love animals and your cat looks very cute." I said.

"Thank you, she's the sweetest cat ever. Could you come to mine for an informal interview of sorts? I need to see if Patches likes you, she's funny around some people."

"Yeah sure, I'd love to." I said eagerly.

"I'll text you my address, if you're free somewhen today that would be perfect. Also just wear casual clothes, this isn't anything professional I just don't want to give her to some random person. Bring all the paperwork you would for a usual interview please."

We said our goodbyes and ended the call. Although brief, the interaction with him was nice. Maybe I'm biased since his voice was instantly attractive to me. But who am I kidding, this man could be 50 years old for all I know.

I was expected to be there in an hour from now. I did as he asked and wore some beige corduroy trousers and a small brown top which complimented my figure nicely. It was very humid today in Florida.

I already had some makeup and jewellery on so I just sat and waited until it was time to leave.

—

I walked up to his house, it was in a nice part of the neighbourhood. I took in all of the details while getting to the front door, gently knocking it and stepping back.

A tall, dirty blonde man walked up to greet me.

"Hi! Welcome, come on in." He said with a big smile. He honestly reminded me of a golden retriever, he seemed so happy. I was so relieved that he wasn't a fifty year old man.

He had dirty blonde hair, some pieces gently falling onto his tanned forehead. I noticed his eyes, how they were a beautiful emerald green with a freckle inside.

"I'm Dream. This is Patches!" He said, scooping her up into his arms and holding her up to me. He held his hand out to shake mine, we met in a gentle handshake. A/N: I didn't want to use his real name because I don't feel comfortable using it. He is Dream to us, not Clay. Pls respect my decision for doing this!

"Nice to meet you guys, I'm y/n." I said, quickly taking off my shoes and admiring their big open living room.

"Come sit here." He ordered, patting the sofa. I walked over and sat there with one leg crossed over the other, my back rested comfortably against the pillows.

He put Patches down next to me, assessing how she reacted to me being here.

"Hi Patches!' I said while clicking my tongue to get her attention.

She meowed and stepped closer to me. I let her sniff my hand before I stroked her. She lent into my touch and ended up falling over onto my thigh and the sofa, snuggled up in a ball.

"I think she likes you. That's so weird, she's normally scared of other people. It took her a while to warm up to my roommate." Dream said while coming to sit next to us both.

"She seems comfortable, maybe she can sense that I'm a cat person." I said while smiling up at him.

He nodded and smiled back at me, also starting to pet Patches who was sat in between us.

His fingers grazed over mine slightly, sending electricity pulsating through them.

I don't know why my body reacted that way, I had known the man for two seconds. Jeez, I really am touch deprived arent I?

Dream started going through my files that I had brought here. I included my cv, my certificates, qualifications and other important things that he might need.

We sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, him scanning my files and me admiring patches.

Our silence was interrupted.

"Okay." He blurred out.

"Okay?" I questioned.

"You can have the job. She likes you, I like you, your paper work seems really good. I have one question though.." He said with a hint of confusion.

"Go ahead." I said while still petting Patches.

"It says here that you've got a coding certificate. Level three. Is that true?" He said while sifting through my certificates to find it again.

"Yeah! I used to be really into it, I did computer science courses at college and I did coding for some companies a few years ago. Honestly, I wish I could get back into it." I said, sighing at the end. I miss coding a lot.

"Do you have experience in coding.. games?" He questioned, looking strangely optimistic.

"That's actually the area I specialised in at college! Why?" I said, making eye contact with him.

"Do you want to help me on a project? Get back into coding? Trust me, it'll be so fun. I-i'll pay you, I really need help with it. It's so frustrating." He said while laughing softly.

I looked at him with a slight smirk on my face.

"Yeah. Let's do it. You don't have to pay me though, you'd be doing me a favour, really." I said with a reassuring smile.

"If you spot where I've gone wrong, I'll give you a million dollars." He exaggerated with a small laugh. "It's kinda fate that you saw my poster. I'm stuck and I'm not sure where I've gone wrong. But also this is a good excuse to you know.. get to know you a bit more." He said with kindness seeping through his facial features.

Oh so he's bold, hm okay.

"You want to get to know me, huh?" I said laughing at him.

"Yeah I mean what can I say, Patches loves you, you like coding and you're also really pretty." He said, his face instantly blushing. "Okay I didn't mean to be that forward, I'm sorry. I'd like to get to know you more though, if you'd like that too."

"Yeah, I'd love that." I said giving him a reassuring smile.