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Oh my god.
“Really? You have us getting a cat together?” I tried not to smile too big, though the way my heart pinballed happily against my ribs made it difficult. “Good to know.”
He sniffed but his cheeks bloomed a lovely shade of pink. “Maybe. Hypothetically.”
“And pray tell, what would you name our cat? Hypothetically.”
“I’d need to see it first. But probably Professor Meatball.”
I snorted out a laugh. “Okay, well, that’s a very boyish name. What if it’s a girl cat?”
He shrugged. “Professor Spaghetti. I think we’d need two cats.”
I laughed. “Meatball and Spaghetti. That’s actually... perfect.”
He beamed, then looked at the plants we’d collected. “Well, we better get these home.” Then the corner of his mouth pulled down with uncertainty. “Did you still want to come back to my place, or...?”
I didn’t know why he seemed so unsure. “Uh, considering we just named our hypothetical future cats, I think I should, yes.”
His eyes met mine and he pulled his bottom lip between his teeth to rein in his smile. “Seems fair.”
We paid for our new plants, loaded them into a box, and I carried it. He booked us an Uber, and a few minutes later, he was unlocking his front door and holding it open for me.
It was a small unit but very nicely decorated. He had very good taste and everything matched, from the couch to the coffee table and TV stand and bookcase. He had pictures on the walls in frames that matched the furniture.
“Great place,” I said, sliding the box of plants onto his kitchen counter. “You have style and impeccable taste.”
“It’s more a case that I have a flair for knowing what’s on sale and when to buy it,” he replied.
“No, this is stylish. My decoration style is more college-dorm with a splash of op-shop vibe.” I laughed, but I wasn’t kidding. “I really do need someone to take me shopping and tell me what to get.”
He put his hand to his chest. “Like me?”
I met his gaze. “I don’t want you to think of me as work!”
He stepped in close and softly pressed his lips to mine.
It was far too unexpected, far too brief. I leaned in for more, high on the thrill of that kiss... but he pulled back, smiling. Teasing.
“Believe me, I don’t,” he said. “Think of you as work, that is.”
My heart, which I was pretty sure had almost stopped, kick-started with a bang inside my chest. I felt a little dizzy. He, on the other hand, was still smiling and coherent enough to start taking his plants out of the box.
“Oh look, little Sprout, this is your new home,” he said, popping him on the kitchen windowsill. “And Leonardo, my friend, you’re going over here.” He put him on the bookcase near the window. “Will he get enough sunlight here?” he asked me.
I was still stuck on that kiss. “Uh, sure.”
Linden chuckled and brought over a small plate, and I realised it had the two paper flowers on it. He took the one I’d given him today from his pocket and pinched the edges a little. “It got a little squished,” he said.
“You’re really keeping those,” I said.
His gaze shot to mine. “They are the best thing I’ve ever been given. Of course I’m keeping them.”
“Then I’ll make you one every time we meet.”
He walked over and slid the small plate onto the counter, and when his eyes met mine, there was a different light in them. “I really want to kiss you again,” he said.
“I’m still kinda caught up on the last one,” I said. “It was far too brief.”
