I’m not a cat person, but maybe Diogee would like someone to hang out with while I’m at the shop all day. Looks like biker box kitten is coming home with me to stay.

“Holy shit, you’re turning into Dr. Doolittle,” Tesla says when I pull the kitten out of my jacket and tell her how I found it in a box.

“Well, I couldn’t just leave him there.” I hand the kitten over to my sister so I can take all my gear off. “Call Mom and ask her if she can come over and check it out for me and bring me whatever I need. I’ve never had a cat before.”

“You’re keeping it?” she asks in surprise.

“Why not? I thought the dog would like the company.” Sitting on the couch, I take off my jacket, belt, and my boots. My entire body is aching.

Tessie lays the kitten on the couch between us as she calls our mom, and Diogee sniffs the newcomer with interest, gently nudging it with his nose, and the kitten rubs against his face.

“Nice…” I say, petting Diogee’s head. His tail wags as the kitten continues to rub on his nose and rolls over on his back, purring. I think they’re going to be fine together.

“You sure you want a kitten, Toren? This is just a baby,” Tesla says when she gets off the phone. “And this dog is clingy, too. They’re both going to want a lot of attention from you.”

I lay the kitten on my chest and stare into its amber eyes. “Good. I need some distractions in my life.”

“Why? What’s going on? Is that bitch screwing with your head again?”

Tesla isn’t a fan of Sydni and has never even attempted to hide her feelings about it. Today is no exception.

“Nah, she and I are done. I just have a lot on my mind lately.”

“Good. You should have kicked her to the curb years ago.” She disappears down the hall and comes back with her overnight bag. “Mom said she’ll be here in about an hour. I should get going. The dog was good while you were gone. I wouldn’t mind watching him again for you if you need me. I went grocery shopping for you, too. You can’t just live on protein powder and fruit, Toren. You have to eat real food.”

“Thanks, Tess. I appreciate you coming over here at the last minute. And I do eat, I just ran out of food.”

“Anytime,” she says, then frowns at me with concern “Are you okay? You seem off.”

I pet the kitten with one hand and the dog with the other. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“If you want to talk, you’re always welcome to stop by. I feel like I never see you. Tanner, Taran and Tris come over all the time, and you’ve never even been to my new apartment. You’re turning into a recluse like Ty.”

My gaze switches up to my sister. Her natural hair color is blonde, but today it’s dark auburn and has grown out a few inches past her shoulders. She’s changed and matured a lot in the past year, moving out of mom’s house to get her own place after landing a job as a hair and makeup artist. And she’s right, I don’t see her nearly enough because I all do lately is work, do what I have to for Devils’ Wolves, and then go home. Other than the bonfires and the occasional rides with Asher, I don’t really socialize.

“You’re right. We’ll hang out soon.”

“Good luck with this zoo you’re acquiring,” she teases, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Call me or stop by. I mean it.”

“I will.”

My mom shows up about an hour later armed with kitten food, a cat bed, litter box, dishes, some toys, and gives me a course in Kittens 101.

“You’re filling a void,” she observes as she eyes me on the couch, with the kitten on my chest and the dog laying with its head in my lap.

“What are you talking about, Ma? I’m tired. Sleep is the only void I want to fill right now.”

“Taking off for a weekend to the middle of nowhere? Keeping the pets you’ve rescued? You’ve been doing this for years, Honey, and you’ve never wanted to bring any home,” she says. “Now look at you.”

I shrug. “So what? I like these two. They’re different.”

“You’re lonely, Toren.”

Scoffing, I lean back against the couch and close my eyes. “I’m tired is what I am, Ma. Nothing else.”

“That’s probably true, since all you do is work. Latching onto these animals is your heart’s way of telling you that you want to love and be loved back. You’re trying to put together a little family.”

Opening my eyes, I look at her like she’s nuts as she’s standing over me near the couch, analyzing me like moms do. “You been smokin’ Tanner’s weed, Ma?”