Page 26 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

“I want you out of this house.”

I whip my head around. “What do you mean you want me out of this house?”

“If you're not going to do as I ask, then you can find your own way. You have ten minutes to pack.”

“Why are you so cruel?” I ask.

“I'm not being cruel. I'm giving you a taste of the real world.”

“Well, I live in Hex, Father. And in Hex, we all help each other.” I stomp all the way into my room with Ferris trailing behind me.

“What's wrong? What happened?”

“Nothing. He just kicked me out.”

“What?” Ferris shrieks. “He can't do that. I need you! Don't leave me. Tears well in his eyes and I pull him close.

“I can still come pick you up and take you to school and drop you off back at home if you want.”

“What if he gets mad at me?” He looks at my ears, then down to my tail.

“You already have a full shift. You have nothing to worry about.”

Tears stream down his cheeks. He shakes his head. “What if it’s not really about your partial shift?” he whispers. “What if it’s because you like boys?”

I squeeze him tighter. “That's never been a problem with him. He may have lived in the human world for as long as he did, but I know he's a Hex citizen at heart and that he doesn't care who I'm attracted to.” Oh… wait.

I pull back to look him in the face. “Ferris? Do you⁠—”

He tries to stop a sob and fails. “I'm like you. I like boys. But I don't want Papa to be mad at me.”

“Oh, Ferris.” I rock him in my arms. “You have nothing to worry about. Papa doesn't care about that. I know for sure.”

“Okay,” he sniffles and wipes his nose with his sleeve. “But I'm sad for you. I don't like that he’s mean to you because you have ears and a tail. I like your ears and tail. Why can't papa?”

“I don’t know.”

I direct Ferris to help me pack my bags. I have three open bags by my side when a shriek rings out.

“You are not sending my boy away!”

Ferris sucks in a breath, and he bolts from my bedroom. I chase him to find Mother standing up to Father, and it’s such a strange sight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mother so upset. She’s poking his chest and speaking in a language that I haven’t heard in years.

“This is your fault, not Sparkle’s. Sparkle is a good son. He’s been a good person his entire life. He never complains. He might give me an attitude every once in a while when he’s overwhelmed and I’ve stressed him out.” Mother starts crying, and she pokes Father’s chest again. “But he’s never once rejected what I’ve asked him to do. You ran away because you’re afraid.”

I can’t tear my eyes away.

Mother’s hand wraps around the pendant Father always wears, and she yanks. For a split second, none of us breathe. And when we do, Father has a fluffy white tail and a pair of ears that are a match for my own.

Mine twitch, and my tail stops.

“He needs to know the truth,” Mother says.

Father growls and turns to me. “You’re like me, and we’re both freaks.”

I blink, trying to take in his appearance. His true appearance. I’d always thought his human ears looked strange, but I never could place why. And now I understand. The glamour in the necklace and pendant hid away his permanent cat features. The ones that he was ashamed of.

Mama turns to me. “We could only afford one pendant, and your father took it. But I’ve always loved both of you the way you are.”