by A. M. Arthur
“Ginger is going to be okay?” George asked.
“Yeah, they’re fixing her up. She’s gotta stay in a carrier for a few days or more so that’s not going to be fun. I’ve gotta watch her, make sure she doesn’t mess with the bandages. I’m not looking forward to spending my winter break cooped up inside with one cat and my laptop.”
Levi abhorred the idea of losing his hour-long morning runs. Runs that woke him up and made him feel like part of the wider world. He hated the idea of being stuck inside his tiny home all day long, instead of outside and moving around, reminding himself of why he was sober—so he could live his life in honor of his baby brother. Sure, he could take Ginger’s carrier wherever he went to watch her, but too much jostling would hinder her recovery. Maybe even negatively affect it. But she was his cat, and he didn’t have any other options than to stay home and care for her.
“It’s too bad she isn’t my cat,” George said. “I spend my entire day in my bedroom working. I could watch her easy.”
Levi studied George’s face, the idea striking him hard. George preferred staying indoors, versus going out, and he worked from home. Watching Ginger would be easy enough without hindering his routines. And visiting Ginger every day would be the perfect excuse to spend more time with George. Get to know his new friend better. And it would give Ginger a better environment for her to recover, while also keeping Levi on his own path forward. “Is taking Ginger temporarily something you’d seriously do?”
George blinked at him several times. “I mean... I’ve never owned a cat before but Lucky is fun to play with.”
“Cats are very independent creatures, which I’m sure you know from Lucky. The hardest part is going to be her whining to be let out and keeping the litter box clean, since she’ll be in an enclosed space. But no pressure to do it, I know that was probably an off-the-cuff comment, not you volunteering.”
“You’d really trust me to take care of Ginger? We barely know each other.”
“True, but you strike me as a sincere person. And selfishly, the idea of being inside all the time...” Levi searched for a way to explain that didn’t dump his past all over George, or make himself sound like an ass. “I love my cats, but being outdoors gives me a sense of peace I don’t get from anything else right now. Keeps me centered. As strange and impulsive as it sounds, I think this is a great option for her recovery.” And my continued sobriety.
Determination crept over George’s face. “I’ll do it. I can do this. It’s not as if I really go anywhere. Sure.”
“Yeah?” Something like pride warmed Levi’s chest and, despite knowing how much he’d miss and worry about her, this still felt right. “I really appreciate this. I’ll be over every day to visit her, if that’s okay.”
“Of course, she’s your cat.” His eyes flickered briefly with panic. “Um, so how do we do this?”
“Well, I’d offer to drive you guys home, but I’ll need to swing by Walmart for a carrier, food, and a litter tray. Plus, I bet you’ve come pretty close to your limit of pushing boundaries today. Why don’t you go home with Orry and the others as planned. I’ll be by later with Ginger and the supplies.”
“Okay. Okay, that sounds like a good plan.” George’s shoulders relaxed a bit. “Thank you. I do need to get back to familiar surroundings again. I’ll text you the address.” He did, then made a call. “Hey, brother, we’re going to have an extra roommate for a couple of days to two weeks.”
Orry squawked.
Chapter Four
George had gone into today’s Thanksgiving meal expecting to be exhausted when it was over and needing a nap as soon he got into the car. Instead, he was a ball of nervous energy on the ride back to the house, telling the tale of his cat rescue afternoon to Derrick and Slater while Orry shot him annoyed looks over the new roommate announcement. George was rarely an impulsive person, and while he hadn’t expected Levi to take his offer seriously, he was glad he’d volunteered.
It meant seeing Levi again soon. And often.
He liked his new friend. He liked Levi’s overall positive attitude toward life. His love for his cats. His...well, pretty much everything. He just really liked Levi.
“You might want to do your best to keep Lucky out of your apartment,” Derrick said. “He’s always been king of the house, and he might not like having another cat around.”
“Good idea,” George replied. “But Ginger has to stay in her carrier anyway, so even if he sneaks inside, she’ll have protection.” He’d be careful, though. Levi was entrusting George with his little girl’s care and George couldn’t fuck it up.
“Ginger is an outdoor cat, though, right? She’s not going to like being locked up.”
“I know. Hopefully, she doesn’t yowl loud enough for it to go through the walls to the other apartments. And I apologize ahead of time if it does.” George didn’t want to alienate his new friends with noise but doing this for Levi felt important in a way he couldn’t explain. Not only important to Levi but also for George.
I’ll prove I can take care of another living creature, instead of always being taken care of.
“Don’t worry about it,” Slater said. “You’re doing a really nice thing for Levi by taking in his cat.”
Derrick reached out to squeeze Slater’s shoulder. “Kind of like when I took in you and your busted ankle this summer?”
“Exactly.”
George snorted. “Yeah, well, I’m not allowed to fall in love with Ginger. She has a daddy.” Derrick started laughing but George wasn’t sure why that was funny. Slater punched Derrick in the shoulder. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing, Derrick is being childish,” Slater replied. “So you and Levi hit it off, huh? I don’t really know him but he’s got a long history with Robin. Robin was married to Levi’s brother Xander.”
“Oh wow. Was married? Did they divorce or something?”
“No, Xander died in an accident about...it’ll be four years this Christmas. From the gossip I’ve heard, Levi and Robin lost touch for a while but got back in contact last year when Mack brought up the idea of a big rodeo show to reopen the ghost town.”
“And now they do the trick riding demos together. Huh.” Funny how life randomly brought people together.
“Robin was saying that he and Shawn might have decided on a house. They’ve been looking for a while.”
“Good for them,” Derrick replied. “You think Reyes and Miles will ever move out of cabin row?”
“Doubtful, not while Reyes is head cowboy at the ranch.”
“What’s cabin row?” Orry asked. Neither of the twins had ever been to Clean Slate Ranch, only Bentley Ghost Town, despite both attractions being on the same property.
“It’s the row of two-person cabins behind the main house where the horsemen live. Early last year, when Miles was hired to be head chef at the ghost town saloon, he moved into a cabin with Reyes, and eventually they fell in love. And with both of them still working on Garrett land, it makes sense to keep living there. They seem happy enough.”
“But Robin and Shawn want to move out of their cabin and buy a house?” George asked.
“Yes, because Arthur needs the cabin space, and neither of them work for him now. They work for Mack. Plus, Shawn is teaching Robin how to cook.”
Arthur Garrett was the owner of Clean Slate Ranch, and he owned the land that the ghost town—and his grandson Mack—resided on. George knew that much from studying the websites for both places. He’d heard enough stories by now of people he’d only briefly met that some of them felt like old friends. And maybe he could get to know more people through Levi.
At home, Orry and George each thanked Derrick for driving before going up the private staircase to their apartment. Lucky was nowhere to be seen, which wasn’t unusual when the lobby was quiet. Orry unlocked their door, and as soon as it was shut, said, “You should have a
sked me first.”
“It’s just a cat.” George hung his jacket on the hooks by the door. “And it’s for less than two weeks, just until she doesn’t need to be closely monitored anymore.”
“But why did you have to do it?”
“I didn’t. But I work from home and I have the time to basically look at her every five minutes and make sure she isn’t ripping the bandage off. I don’t get the sense Levi would handle that as well as I can. Being stuck inside all the time.”
Orry crossed his arms. “How do you know? You just met him.”
“We talked a lot.” George crossed into the kitchen to get a soda from the fridge. “He used to live a nomadic life and genuinely seems to love the outdoors. He’s also got this Zen vibe going that’s very...peaceful.”
“So you guys are best friends now?”
George stared at his brother, a little confused by the cold attitude. “No, but we are friends. Come on, Orry, he’s the first new friend I’ve made in years that doesn’t already live in this house.”
“And who’s single.”
“What?” What the hell did Levi being single have to do with anything? “So?”
“So I’m worried about you getting attached to an older, single guy after knowing him for a few hours. You have been in a bubble for years, and I don’t want you to get taken advantage of.”
George scowled, equally grateful that his brother was always watching his back and also annoyed by the same. “Come on, Levi isn’t that guy. We’re friends and I’m helping him take care of his cat. He loves those cats to bits, I could tell the minute he saw how hurt Ginger was.”
“Yeah, I saw it too. His face when you told him on the phone.” Orry uncrossed his arms. “He seems okay.”
“He is okay, and you worry too much. Now if you’re done haranguing me, I have to go clean my room. I’m having a guest.”
“Your room is spotless like the rest of the apartment.”
“I need to know the exact right spot for Ginger’s cage. I might have to rearrange something.” Plus, they were going to have a visitor inside the apartment for the first time in ages, and George wanted everything to look good.
His bedroom didn’t have much in it besides a basic single bed, a flimsy side table, and his desk. Hamper. The closet was tiny, but he didn’t own a lot of clothes because he worked from home. Why not wear the same T-shirt three days in a row as long as it didn’t smell? Saved on laundry, too. His desk was near the room’s only window and there was a bare spot on the floor by the wall to his right. Should be a good spot for Ginger. She’d at least have a small view of the outdoors during her confinement.
The bed was made, because George always made his bed after taking a morning shower. He’d read once that if you accomplished one task first thing, you’d had a successful day already. His grandmother had crocheted the afghan on his bed, and he smoothed a hand over it. She was dealing with a lot, and he really needed to visit. It had been too long. She still crocheted things she occasionally sent back to the apartment with Orry, like winter hats and scarves. Others she sold at craft fairs held by their assisted living center.
With nothing else to do in his room, George grabbed his tablet and opened the last book he’d been reading. Perched on the bed, he let time pass. Maybe an hour went by before the buzzer rang out in the living room. He stood, unsure where Orry was, and left his room. Since Orry wasn’t in sight, George hit the button.
“Hello?”
“It’s Levi and Ginger.”
His pulse jumped. “Okay. Come inside and we’re the staircase on the right.”
“Cool.”
George pushed the button that unlocked the front door for visitors. Every tenant had two keys: one shared to get into the house and a second key unique to each apartment. He opened the apartment door to the pleasant sight of Levi ascending the stairs with a cardboard carrier in his hand and a shopping bag in the other. It only occurred to George then that Levi probably had more stuff in his truck, and that he should have volunteered to help.
Ginger was no longer meowing her head off, which George appreciated. Once he reached the landing, Levi met his gaze and smiled. “Hey again.”
“Hi,” George replied. “Uh, please, come inside. Do you have more stuff to get?”
“I do.” Levi put the bag on the floor near the door, then handed the carrier over to George. “But I can manage in one more trip, if you want to get to know a slightly stoned Ginger a bit better.”
He laughed. “Okay.”
Levi disappeared again, and George left the door partly open for him. He peeked in through the wide holes in the cardboard carrier, likely from the emergency vet. Ginger’s hind leg was wrapped up in a white bandage, and the poor kitty did look stoned. A tiny slip of her tongue stuck out between her lips, and that was strangely adorable. “Hello, new roomie.”
She blinked.
“These are your new digs for a while. Welcome.”
Orry wandered in from his bedroom. “Levi gone already?”
George resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “No, he had to go get more stuff. Want to meet Ginger?”
“I guess.” He bent over and looked inside. “Hi, kitty. Don’t cry too loud, okay? I have a hard time sleeping as it is.”
That tidbit surprised George a little. Sure, Orry worked several different jobs that varied hours, but he wasn’t sleeping? Even more reason for George to get his shit together. Maybe he could go out and find his own second, part-time job so Orry didn’t feel like he had to do all the work keeping the rent paid and food in the fridge.
“Why do you have trouble sleeping?” George asked. “For how long?”
“A few months, and I don’t know why. Probably just stress, and I don’t want to take those over the counter drugs. I’m fine.”
George wanted to believe him but Orry always downplayed things when he was sick or stressed out, because he didn’t want to worry George. They were going to address this again, like adults, but not while they had a guest. Levi returned a few minutes later with another bag and a box containing some sort of metal crate meant for small dogs.
“Since I couldn’t bear to leave her in an enclosed carrier for days on end,” Levi said, “I bought this for her. She’ll be able to see a lot more.”
“That’s really cool of you,” George replied. And it really was. “I have spot in my room picked out where she can see out the window.”
Levi beamed. “Show me the way.”
They left Ginger with Orry for now, and George’s stomach wobbled weirdly as another person not his brother entered his bedroom for the first time since he moved in. He pointed out the spot, and Levi immediately set to work building the crate. George watched him, once again impressed by his calm presence now that the crisis had passed. Even if Orry hadn’t been home, George was perfectly safe with Levi.
Levi wasn’t going to get angry, yell at him, and then shove him like Adrian had.
“Hey, you okay?” Levi asked.
“Huh?” George looked up to find Levi watching him with open concern. “Yeah, sorry. I got lost in thought.”
“Not good thoughts, I take it. Are you having second thoughts about keeping Ginger for a while?”
“No, this was totally unrelated. I’ve never had a pet before. I’m kind of looking forward to the experience.”
Something odd flickered in Levi’s eyes. “I look forward to the experience, too. Visiting Ginger every day is a good excuse to explore San Francisco more. Might as well since I’m out here.”
“I’d offer a guided tour but I...haven’t been out much since I came back to the city. I’m sure a lot has changed since I was younger.”
“Probably.” Levi went back to work on the crate. “I bought a small litter pan that will fit inside the crate and still give Ginger room to move around a bit. I know scooping poop every day isn’t a
ll that fun but the litter is flushable.”
“Um, okay.” They made flushable cat litter? Curious, George went to inspect the bag of other items Levi had brought. Orry was sitting on the floor poking his fingers through the holes in Ginger’s carrier, making weird little noises at her. George grinned. Looked like she had a new fan.
Cat food, food and water bowls, litter, a small litter tray, a plastic scoop, some treats, and pill pocket things for medicine. All the basic things they’d need to get through the next few days to a week. Ginger couldn’t exactly play with toys if she was expected to stay as motionless as possible so her hip could heal. George put some food in the bowl, then stored the bag and treats on top of the fridge. Added litter to the pan. He hedged on where to keep the rest of the litter, but in the end chose the bathroom. If he was flushing the pee clumps and poop, might as well refill at the dumpsite. He didn’t want to leave a dirty scoop on the floor, so George found a plastic container with no lid that he could see, and he put the scoop in that near the toilet.
When he returned to the bedroom, Levi had just finished assembling the crate. The spaces between each slim metal bar were wide enough to get three fingers through. Miss Ginger wouldn’t lack for petting.
“Is she a snuggler?” George asked.
“Ginger?” Levi shook his head and began stuffing extra bits of garbage into the box. “Nah. Baby is the snuggler. Ginger likes to be scratched right between her shoulder blades but isn’t much of a lap cat. Mostly, she’s going to hate being confined.”
“I can kind of relate. I used to live for self-isolation and being alone, but lately I’ve been... I don’t know. Craving social interaction in a way I haven’t in a long time. I can definitely relate to poor Ginger’s predicament, but at least she’s alive. She can heal and go back to her life.”
Levi stood and held his gaze for a long moment that made George’s belly wobble again. “Is that what you’re trying to do? Get back to life?”
“Yes. And if having a real life means taking care of a friend’s cat, then that’s what I’ll do.”