Page 129 of False Comeback

“This ain’t nothing to do with Vin,” Rob said. “I’ll hold you to that, High Lord. Thanks for the offer. Some real charming phrases would be good. Stuff like, ‘You look beautiful tonight.’”

“So you’re seeing her at night?” I smirked.

“Shut your face, Vinnie.” Rob grabbed two mugs from the cupboard and reached for the coffee pot. “I’m not old yet. I’ve still got some spunk in me.”

“Rob.” I shot Crossbody an embarrassed look as his mouth twitched.

“I meant metaphorical spunk, not literal spunk. Although…” Rob cocked his head meaningfully as he poured us each a cup of coffee. “Anyways, let’s get the little princess out, huh? Let her inspect her vacation home.”

“Yes.” Crossbody cleared his throat and crouched, setting the carrier on the floor and reluctantly reaching for the door. “She’s… quite lively. When she’s in a mood. Just to warn you.”

Lady Potato had fallen silent in the carrier. Ominously silent. I quickly grabbed some treats from the bag and dropped them in front of the carrier door, hoping it would distract her.

It didn’t.

Crossbody turned the first latch, and in an instant she was headbutting her way out, making the door burst off. She did scoop a treat into her mouth but didn’t pause to eat it, instead scrambling up my leg and digging her claws in, then leaping onto the kitchen table with a shrill meow. Rob ducked when she launched herself at him, landing directly on the plate of cannoli behind him on the counter.

“My cannoli!” Rob cried as she kicked several off the plate in her rush to scramble across the worktop and jump onto the top of the fridge. Once there, she calmly sat and began licking cannoli filling off her paws, purring loudly.

“I’m so sorry,” Crossbody was stammering, rushing forward to pick up the cannoli she’d kicked onto the floor. “I’ll make you more—”

“Oh, don’t worry about it, son.” Rob waved him off. Nothing ruffled him—that was one of the few ways we were different. “It was just a test batch. She really is a lively one, huh? Reminds me of that mangy old cat who lived under the trailer for a while, eh, Vin?”

“Yeah.” I chuckled. “This one’s a lady, though. Apparently.”

“She’s got good taste, at least.” Rob nodded up at her. “Shame you two can’t try them now, though. Well, I think there are a couple she didn’t touch…”

I shot Crossbody a quick look and gave a subtle shake of my head.

“We should probably get going, Rob,” I hastily said. “Got to pack.”

He sobered, giving Crossbody a sympathetic smile. “Right, right. Vinnie told me a little about what you’re, uh, going through. Sorry, son.”

“I appreciate it.” Crossbody shot him a tiny smile back. “Hopefully it will soon be resolved. I… Vince has been… wonderful,” he added hoarsely, looking at me. “He’s taken care of all of it. I’m extremely grateful.”

“That’s my Vin,” Rob said cheerfully, coming over to clap my shoulder. “You’re a good boy, Vinnie.”

I flushed, casting Crossbody an embarrassed glance. He was still watching me.

“He’s wonderful,” he repeated quietly.

Rob raised his brow at me meaningfully and gave me a tiny smile, hiding the look from Crossbody as he turned to grab our coffee cups. “At least drink these before you go. While you tell me about the little princess’s schedule and whatnot.”

Twenty minutes later, we were climbing back into my car as Rob waved from the front porch, a small scratch on his arm from when he’d tried to pet Lady Potato. He still seemed enthusiastic about looking after her for a few days, though. He’d said his lady friend, Isabella, was coming over for dinner later and bringing some toys she’d bought especially.

“I liked him very much,” Crossbody said as I pulled away from the kerb.

I grinned. “He liked you too.”

He sagged a little in relief, looking over at me. “Did he? Are you sure I wasn’t too… stuffy?”

I chuckled, reaching over to palm his thigh. “No. You were fine.”

He flushed and looked down, threading his fingers through mine. “I know I come across that way at work most of the time, which makes the others not like me.”

I wasn’t sure what to say, because he wasn’t wrong. Eventually, I said, “You’re close with Corey. And you get on well with Carl. And La Dame Blanche,” I added, my tone growing a touch surly.

“Yes. It’s easier to talk to them because we have things in common. La Dame Blanche is a classically trained dancer, and my mother enjoys ballet performances at the palace. And Carl visits Otherworld fairly often.”