Page 63 of Mommy

It’s downright adorable.

I’m so busy tracing each perfect streak of champagne coloured fur, I don’t realize Derek has entered the living room until his sharp voice rips me from my dreams.

“Absolutely not.”

I flinch at his tone, and quickly look around, checking if I missed something.

Maybe I didn’t clean up well enough after Posie ate? Or she might have peed somewhere when I was putting away the dishes?

Scanning the room, I come up short, but when I look back at Derek the way his arms are crossed before his chest, I know he is upset about something.

He’s wearing grey sweats and a loose shirt with white writing on the front.

Lifting with a broken heart.

I’d laugh, but the pissed off look on Derek’s face tells me that wouldn’t be smart.

“What is it?” I ask, truly at a loss of what annoys him. From what I can see, the room is absolutely spotless, and so is the kitchen.

I even hand washed the bowl I used to feed Posie, and put it back where I found it.

Instead of answering, Derek offers me a very pointed look. And it’s aiming at the sweetheart still snoring quietly in my lap.

“What?” I say in an almost whisper, my own annoyance raising like a tide behind my lips as I raise my eyebrows at Derek. “You aren’t being bitchy because I have her on the couch with me, right?”

He must be kidding. This can’t possibly be happening. Only an hour or so ago, we got this baby out of the freezing cold, and now he wants to ban her from the couch?

“You’re kidding.”

He must be.

“That couch cost three thousand dollars.” Derek bites out. “And I know there are lots of people who don’t allow their animals up on the furniture.”

He is really serious.

Snorting, I look him up and down once before carefully pushing Posie’s head from my lap.

She’s startled by me leaving, but makes no attempt to move.

Very carefully to not accidentally hurt her, I squeeze both of my arms under her body, squatting down in front of the couch.

It takes all of my effort and strength, but I actually manage to lift her up. She’s heavy and her round belly hangs down between my arms, which are already on fire. My muscles scream in protest, when I squat down again, and very gently set Posie down onto the fluffy rug.

Without hesitation I flop down on the floor next to her, lean my back against the sofa behind me, and make room on my lap for Posie’s head again.

“What are you doing?” Derek asks from a few feet away as he watches me.

“Well.” I say with the fakest smile anyone has ever smiled. “Since she is not welcome on the couch, I’ll stay here on the floor to comfort her.”

Shaking his head, Derek stares down at me.

Utter disbelief on his face.

“Oh, for fucks sake.” he mutters before walking past the couch and into the kitchen.

I can’t see what he is doing because no matter how much I crane my neck, I can’t see past the backrest of the couch.

When he returns about 10 minutes later, he has two plates in his hands though, so I realize he made dinner.