Your Loyal Servant

(17) Kiss Me This Time?

Meow.

I looked down to find Tommy staring up at me, the look there both questioning and longing. I sighed and put my hands on my hips, asking him, "What?"

He meowed again, rubbing his head against my leg. Those big green eyes looked up at me, still yearning for something, still asking a question.

With a smile, I dropped onto the floor and let him crawl onto my lap. I began to pet him as I mused, "You've probably felt lonely lately. I'm sorry, buddy. It wasn't in my plan to get a boyfriend."

He basically ignored me as he curled up in my lap, purring.

I scratched between his ears, and the purrs grew louder. I told him, "I can only do this for so long. I have a date soon."

Tommy just didn't care.

Smirking, I glanced at my watch, and lifted the stubborn kitty into my arms. He did nothing—proof he did not care. I trotted down the stairs and found Freaky in his usual spot at the dining table, slaving over a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle.

When he noticed me, he took note of the limp cat in my arms and he shot out of his chair. He approached us, eyes worried, and moved to touch Tommy. "Is he all right?"

"Oh, he's just fine," I answered, blowing in his face to get him to glare at me. As I shifted to hand him to The Freak, I informed him, "He's just in need of some love. I haven't been around as much as usual, so he got a little lonely."

Freaky took Tommy in his arms, and the kitty started purring again.

"He likes you," I commented.

He smiled at me and replied, "Turns out he likes the people who feed him and give him fresh water."

Sighing, I yanked on a strand of hair. "I should really be the one who does that. He is my cat."

He set Tommy down on the table, where he walked off to investigate the jigsaw puzzle. When Freaky's eyes landed on me, they were soft and understanding as he said, "You needn't worry about it, Ms. Orrie. It's my pleasure to do a simple, yet important, task as caring for Tommy. After all, I am your loyal servant." He bowed.

I smiled at him, and rolled my eyes. "That is still the weirdest thing ever," I admitted, turning away.

"What? The bow or saying I'm your servant?" he asked, moving so I continued to look at him. He smirked, his eyes shimmering.

"Both," I answered, my expression beginning to match his.

A knock came at the door, and the butterflies started flapping about in my stomach.

As I ran around the house like a chicken without a head, I heard Freaky chuckle. Suddenly, he appeared before me, grabbing me so I'd stop. I looked at him in surprise, and he held up the very thing I was looking for: my purse.

He put his hands on my shoulders and took a deep breath, indicating I do the same. Once I did, he smiled and assured me, "You look lovely, ma'am. You'll be fine. You've done this before."

"I know," I said, voice reflecting my anxiety. "But that doesn't mean I'm any less nervous."

He flashed that gentle smile and stepped away, bowing. He disappeared into the other room, probably to tend to Tommy.

When I opened the door, Brick stood there, smiling his heart-stopping smile. He offered his arm to me, and as I put my hand in the crook of his arm, I shut the door behind me. He escorted me to his Mustang convertible.