Page 45 of Cats Never Fly

WouldSimonwant a big family like that?Overtheyears,I’dconsidered adopting—given the scarcity of supes,I’deven thought about taking in human children—soIwas open to that possibility, but not too many.Onlyone to start.Thenmaybe another one a couple of decades or more later.

Andthere went my brain, treating us like a couple again.

Throughthe whistle, we’d forged a bond of sorts, but it differed from a mate bond.WouldSimon’slife expectancy grow to match mine?Orwas that perk reserved for mates blessed by theEternalMagic?Mychest tightened at the thought of outlivingSimon.I’donly known the cat shifter less than a day, but something had developed between usIwanted to explore.Icould easily envision my exploration taking centuries.

“Yeah,Mamasays she’s waiting for the day we mate so there are more girls in the family to balance things out.”Cliveshot out around a slower vehicle—you know, one that was going the speed limit instead of trying to get their car to defy gravity and achieve lift off—andIgrasped at the handle over the door.Thisguy was reckless.NowonderWarrenwanted to drive.

“Oh?”Isaid, even thoughSimonwas definitely not bringing home a girl.Ever.

“Exceptmost of us are gay, so…”Cliveshrugged as he sent us careening around a corner.Hewas looking at me instead of the road.Ialmost shouted at him to pay attention.Honestly,I’dnever been afraid in a car before—even in the early years.Asa shifter, my body was resilient, butClive’sdriving was making me question ifI’dsurvive if we crashed.Whoeverhad given him hisdriver’s license was an idiot. “Mama’sout of luck on that.”

Warrengrinned as he rocked to the side with the force of the turn.Asmuch as he’d foughtClivefor the right to drive, he appeared to be enjoying himself now.Wereall cat shifters crazy?No.Icouldn’t imagineSimonliking this.

“She’spinned all her hopes onJustin, our other littermate,”Warrensaid, “butIthink he’s like the rest of us.Butwe don’t really know.Heleft right out of school and hasn’t been back yet, so we can’t confirm who he’s been dating.”

Clivespun the car into the driveway of a small suburban house that looked modest but well-cared for.Thecar lurched as he stomped on the brakes, and my seatbelt bit into my shoulder asIjolted forward.

“We’rehere,”Warrensaid as he grinned and patted me on the shoulder.Ihalf-expected him to hand me a framed certificate that saidCertifiedSurvivorofClive’sDriving.

Ipried my fingers off the handleI’dbeen clutching.Noteto self:NeverletClivedrive again.AndIwas a little worried aboutWarren’sstate of mind too, given how relaxed he was after all that.Iwas definitely not feeling composed.Ididn’t like it.

It’dtake just a moment to pull down the visor and check my hair in the mirror and see ifIneeded to pinch a bit of color into my cheeks, butIcould see a middle-aged woman with her hands on her hips staring at us through a big picture window, soIrefrained.Itwas showtime.Iwaved cheerily and got out of the car.Aswe approached the front step, another figure joined her in the window.

Simon.

Hetilted his head in confusion as he eyed his brothers.Thenhe saw me.Hismouth dropped open.Iguess this was an unexpected turn of events for both of us.

Whenwe stepped inside,Simonrushed to me.

“Surprise,”Isaid.Somepart of my brain decided this was the perfect moment for jazz hands, andIregretted it immediately.Thatgesture betrayed how frazzledIwas.Atleast none of them knew me well enough to register that fact.

“Whatdid they do to you?”Simonglared at his brothers.

CliveandWarrenlifted their hands in a placating gesture.

“Theydidn’t do anything,” the woman, who had to beSimon’smother, said as she swatted the back of my kitty cat’s head. “Iheard all about your trip to the police station last night and then you came in here smelling like a stranger this morning.Howcould you not bring him?Areyou ashamed of your family?Yourbrothers are good boys, though; they went and got him.”

Simon’scheeks were bright red again, butIdidn’t find it adorable this time.Hismother was making him uncomfortable because of me.Thiswould never do.

“Mrs.Rivers,Ipresume?I’mOgdenWalsh,”Isaid asIstepped betweenSimonand the rest of his family. “Yourson was respecting my wishes this morning.Hetried to wake me, butI’mafraidI’mnot usually awake for another four hours or so.Simonhas nothing to apologize for.”Iended my explanation with a hard tone, andIdid not offer any apologies.Noone should apologize for not wanting to get up at this uncivilized hour.

Simon’slittermates stared wide-eyed at me before their gazes darted over to their mother.Mrs.Rivers, for her part, narrowed her eyes.Shelooked me up and down as if cataloguing every piece of clothingIwas wearing.Yes,Iwas wearing her son’s clothes—we both knew it.Igrinned at her and dared her to say something.

“You’renot from here, are you?Whatis it you do,Mr.Walsh?”

“I’ma business owner inAspenBay.”

Shetilted her head, still assessing me. “Whatkind of business?”

Obviously, she was pondering howIcould be a business owner whenIdidn’t normally get out of bed until mid-morning.

“Iown several, actually, but the only oneImanage personally is calledTheDrunkenDrake.”

WarrenandClivehooted before they remembered they were standing with their mother.Theyslapped their hands over their mouths as their gazes bounced back to her.Sheblinked.Yep, she’d heard of it too.Simonwas the only one who didn’t look like he understood the significance of the name.

“Thesleazy place with the strip club?” she managed to ask.

WarrenandClivelooked like they were going to choke on their own spit as they tried to swallow down their laughter.