Page 20 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

I should have said yes. Now I'm looking at an entire shopping cart full of groceries and a walk all the way home without help. I could have asked Lucien to teleport me home at the very least, but I can't allow him to do everything for me. I don’t need people doing things for me. I'm capable. I can do what I've always done my entire life.

My phone rings yet again. Mother's ring tone, and I take a breath before answering.

“Oh, sweetie, can you also go to Renaud’s? And pick up some flea bath for Ferris. I just got a call from the school, and apparently he has a problem. I also need you to⁠—”

“Um, it's gonna be awhile. I just checked out.”

“I really need you to do this.”

“I understand that, but⁠—”

“Just pick up the flea powder on your way home. It’s only a block out of the way.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I can’t argue with her. She’s right and it won’t take much extra time.

“Then you can help me put away the groceries, deliver the cloak, pick up Ferris. Give him the flea bath⁠—”

“I'll be home as soon as I can.”

“See you soon, sweetheart. And thank you. Don't forget to grab yourself a treat.” And she hangs up.

I always forget that she wants me to grab a treat, but I never do. On my way out, I wave at Randy, the manager of Hex Grocer. “I'll bring it back. I just really need to borrow it.”

He chuckles and his wolf ears twitch. “It's fine. You do what you gotta do.” He’s always so chill and I envy that.

It’s a ten-minute walk to Renaud’s before I backtrack to get home.

For the entire walk, the shopping cart gets caught on the grooves of the sidewalk every once in a while, and I want to scream and shout and shake myself for being so stubborn.

Lucien offered to help. I could have had help, but no, I am a stubborn, stubborn cat, which is fine. No one usually wants to help. That's a complete lie.

My friends, they're always ready to help, and I can't thank them enough. In fact, a lot of times I'm embarrassed when they help because I feel like a burden, and I don't want them to think that all I want from them is their labor.

No, I want everyone to know that I appreciate them. That's why I help. I just want them to know how much I love them.

Soon I'm finally home, and mom has the entire kitchen table covered in new projects, and my heart sinks. I have half the shopping cart unloaded to the kitchen floor before she even notices me.

“There you are, Sparkle. I'm happy to see you. So we'll get the groceries put away. Then you should have time to make the delivery before picking up Ferris. And don’t forget I need you to help him with the flea bath. We can’t have fleas in the house, so please take care of that outside.”

I shiver involuntarily. “The water is going to be freezing.”

Mama starts putting away the cold food while I work on filling the pantry. Thankfully, it really doesn’t take us long to put everything away.

“Pick up a heat spell while you’re out. Can’t have either of you getting sick. Oh, while you’re grabbing the heat spell, get yourselves a little treat, too.”

That means going back to Renaud’s or asking a Hawthorn witch for the heat spell and they don’t usually have any sitting around.

“Before you deliver the cloak, can you start a pot of water for the pasta?” Mom asks as she goes back to her tasks at the kitchen table.

I sigh, but do as she asks. She reminds me of which Coven house to drop the cloak off and sends me on my way. With each step, my tail shakes. I'm not sure I’m gonna get to Ferris in time. So I pull my phone out, and I send a text to the friend group.

Sparkle: SOS. Save our Sparkle. Can anyone do me a favor and go by Renaud's and grab a heat spell, and a couple of treats for Ferris?

And send. I continue walking. My tail calms a bit and I can breathe.

My phone rings, mama's ringtone again.

“I'm sorry, darling. I forgot something on the list. Can you pick up another heat spell for the bedroom? I should have told you to grab two. It just slipped my mind.”