Page 7 of A Roommate for Ronny

“It’s Karma. You just ask for me when you come in.”

“Thanks, I will, Karma.”

I went up, bought the tea she’d suggested, along with two others I heard one of the servers recommend, and fled back to Jones’. I couldn’t wait to tell him the good news. I had both a job and a place to live!

Chapter Five

Ronny

Everything moved fast from the moment I accepted the role.

I’d come within hours of losing it, I learned when I spoke with a casting director the next morning, but fortunately they didn’t ask why I didn’t reply to their first reach out. They seemed to be under the impression that I had never gotten that first text, and I didn’t correct their belief. But they did want me ASAP.

The first place I would be flying was back to Hollywood for fittings and various other preproduction things. As it turned out, I had not been their first choice. When they sent me the offer, it had been after the big name they had originally signed walked away after some sort of an argument with the director.

When I learned the name of the actor I replaced, I wasn’t sure what to think. They’d expressed positive thoughts about my read, but went a much bigger way. And now…when I considered what it would have done if I’d been perceived to ignore the opportunity, it chilled my blood. It was one thing for that star to be “difficult,” but for me, it would have been the kiss of death. Word got around, and I’d never have seen another offer.

Of course, I didn’t know that at the time.

But I should have.

I finished packing my bag and sat down on the bed, patting my lap. Bosco glowered at me from the headboard. “Come on, boy. I’ve explained to you why I have to go. I’ll be back, and Karma has a very special person lined up to keep you company while I’m away.”

He hissed.

“I know. I would take you with me if I could, but you’d have a terrible time. It’s better if you stay here with your friends and your comfy bed”—aka my bed—“and all your toys.”

When he still wouldn’t come to me, I sighed and picked up a pad of sticky notes and a Sharpie. “I’m leaving some notes for your sitter. To make sure they know how to do things the way you like.”

I scribbled on the first one and stuck it on the headboard near where Bosco sat. Bosco likes to sleep on my bed.

The second said, These are Bosco’s sardines. He gets two a day.

His water bottle is in the refrigerator; he likes his water cool.

Toy closet. I bought enough for him to get something new every day. They weren’t big toys, not with that many, but lots of little fluffy things to carry around, balls, and a few treat puzzles. I’d set up the cat wheel already so I could watch him try it out. By the time I finished putting out notes about feeding and litter and play and everything else, the apartment fluttered with little pink notes, and I was almost ready to cancel my plans because my kitten still wanted no part of me.

Slumping on the sofa in the living room, I considered again just staying here and forgetting my aspirations. I couldn’t leave Bosco this unhappy. A knock came on the door and I stood up to answer it. Karma came in as soon as I opened up.

“Where is my friend Bosco?”

Mrrooow.

The kitten came bouncing out of the bedroom and padded over to rub against Karma’s ankle.

“Oh, come here, baby.” She bent to scoop him up. “Worried about your daddy leaving? You don’t have to be. I’m here for you, and I have a wonderful sitter who will be here soon to keep you company and treat you like the royalty you are.”

“He’s mad at me.”

“Aww.” She scratched behind his ears and his purr grew louder. “He’s just going to miss you. Isn’t that right, Bosco?”

“Are you sure it’s all right for me to leave before the sitter gets here? Maybe I should see if I can delay a day or two.”

“See, Bosco? He’s making sure you have the best time while he goes off to work.” Karma gave him another scratch and passed him to me. “There you go. See? He’s fine now.”

He was snuggling close, but that made me feel even worse. “I guess I’d better go. You’re sure you don’t mind?”

“Go.” She took him back. “I’ll distract him while you leave then take him home with me tonight. His sitter will bring him right home as soon as he’s here.”