Page 102 of Thug

“What are you doing?” I nodded toward the cats. “Those are my clean clothes.”

“That’s where they were sleeping when I came in.”

“Well by all means,” I said in a snide tone. “That’s where they should stay.”

She kissed me as she walked past. “Don’t be mean.”

Not going out to eat suited me fine. I’d been out with Chin all day, collecting debts. Ten hours in the summer sun had taken its toll on my energy reserve. Retiring early would be a nice change of pace.

While I eagerly changed into something more comfortable, Gray began preparing dinner. She demanded that I stay out of the kitchen, saying that the meal was to be a surprise. Thirty minutes later, the wonderful aroma of garlic, peppers and onions permeated throughout the home.

Incapable of identifying the dish, I wandered into the kitchen.

She lifted a cast iron skillet from the stove. She gestured to the hallway with her free hand. “Out!”

“What do you mean, out?” I asked. “It’s my fucking kitchen.”

“If you come in here nosing around, you’ll ask what it is. Then, I’ll tell you. You’ll ask what’s in it. I’ll tell you. You’ll have an opinion…” She glanced over her shoulder. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“I just want to see it.”

She slid the skillet into the oven. “No.”

“When will it be ready?”

“Ten minutes.” She nodded her head toward the door behind me. “Go adjust your carburetor or fix that brake lever that’s still kinda wonky.”

I gave her a shitty look and meandered to my motorcycle. After retrieving my afternoon’s purchase, I returned to the house through the garage. I pushed the laundry room door open gently and peered inside.

Both cats were curled into one big furry ball. I shook one of the two bags of treats I’d purchased, being careful not to make so much noise that Gray could hear me.

Without bothering to gently bring themselves from their slumber, both cats leaped from the pile of clothes as if they’d seen a mouse run by.

Standing on their hind legs pawing at my thighs, they begged for a taste of the freeze-dried chicken treats.

“Be quiet,” I whispered. “She’ll hear us.”

I gave them each a treat, which they devoured in an instant. “Oh.” I glanced at each of them as I reached into the bag. “You guys are starving, aren’t you?”

I gave them another.

The larger of the two cats was now frantic, leaping toward the bag. I glanced over my shoulder. I could hear Gray in the kitchen, getting dishes out of the cupboard.

I spread a handful of treats onto the floor in two even piles. The larger of the two gobbled down his food and then commenced to stealing from the other cat, which was a far more delicate eater.

“You rotten little prick.” I wagged my finger at him. “That’s grounds for punishment.”

I grabbed another handful of treats, separating then into two uneven piles. I directed the larger cat to the smaller pile.

“What do you think about that, you greedy bastard?” I whispered. “Suits you right after stealing the little man’s goodies.”

“What in the fuck are you doing?” Gray asked in an elevated tone.

I nearly jumped from my skin. With a bag of treats clutched in each hand, I spun around. “What the fuck are you doing, sneaking up on a motherfucker like that?”

She glanced at my hands. “Where did those come from?”

“I had ‘em on my bike.”