Page 8 of Her Sloth

“It’s me,” I say. “Please tell me you know someone in NY.”

“What’s up with you?” asks Luke. He and his boyfriend are my family, because they were the ones who took me in when I was lost and caught me when I was falling before I crashed.

“Don’t even ask,” I say. “I need to steam off.”

Luke chuckles. “Sending you a spot. Whatever you do, don’t provoke anyone, and least of all don’t challenge the top dog.”

“What’s his name?” I ask.

“It’s a her, Cass. Just don’t.”

“Can’t promise,” I say with a chuckle.

“Addy,” says Luke.

“Where’s the fun? You know I like to touch the untouchable. What’s up with her?”

“I don’t know, never met her, but Tommy tells me to let it go.”

“Tommy?” I ask.

“Hi darling,” says Tommy. “And you will just listen to us once. She’s bad blood. Just tell them you’re with me.”

Sounds exactly like what I need right now.

“I’ll try,” I say, laughing as they both groan. “How’s L.A? I’m missing it every second.”

“Everything’s alright,” says Luke. “Throttle is the happiest cat on the planet; he’s spoiled beyond.”

“I hope so,” I say. Throttle is my elderly tripod cat, who I once found under a dumpster after I hid from the cops after my first race in L.A. and he has been with me ever since. He’s old, probably blind and doesn’t hear much anymore, but I love him in ways I never thought possible. Being without him feels awful. I hate leaving him behind.

“You know we love him like we would our child,” says Tommy.

“I do,” I say, and add, “Just don’t fuck in my bed,” because there is some noise coming through the speaker…noise of a blanket being pulled.

“We won’t,” says Luke, and I hear some more rustling.

I groan.

“Seriously,” I say, shaking my head.

“Throttle is in your bed with his filthy paws after using the litter box; we’re family, who cares?”

“Throttle cleans himself thoroughly with his tongue,” I say, and regret it the moment I said it.

“Mhhhm,” says Luke, sniggering. “We too.”

I can’t even be angry, because while one part mad, I also have to laugh as an image appears in my mind.

“Urgh,” I say. “You two!!”

And suddenly, part of the dread in my chest disappears. They are family. That’s what family does.

“I expect to be coming home to a freshly made bed,” I say.

“You will,” Luke says. “Have a good time.”

We hang up and pull up the location he sent me.