Her Younger Millionaire

“For me, please?” Aileen had whined the last time they talked, bringing the number of times she had tried to talk him into getting a pet to approximately one gazillion. “Could you please just do it for me? Just so I know you have someone to talk to other than me and Mom and Dylan.”

“A dog?” Aiden had said skeptical. “Aileen, I don’t have time to take care of a dog.”

“All you have is time!” she had yelled, frustrated. “Okay, a cat then. Actually, a cat would be just the thing for you. You could be two antisocial sourpusses together. Too bad Grumpy Cat is taken, you two would make the perfect pair.”

“Ha-ha,” Aiden had deadpanned. Then hung up on her.

Two days later, for some reason, he still found himself standing outside a rescue center. So maybe Aileen was right. Maybe having someone to talk to wouldn’t be such a bad thing. He knew he had this tendency to get annoyed at little things and rant for hours on end, even if he could hardly find a more accommodating listener to rant to than himself, having someone who would listen but not actively talk back (and point out he was being ridiculous, like some of his old girlfriends used to do, back when he was still dating) would probably ease his stress level. So maybe a cat wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Sure it would get hair all over his couch and probably pee in his shoes but at least it would stop Aileen from threatening to hire hookers to come over and have coffee with him. “Because God knows I’d have to pay people to put up with you.”

So, a cat. An adult cat, he definitely wanted it house trained. And not too playful, whatever Aileen implied, he really was a busy man who didn’t have time to run around with a piece of string to keep a kitten entertained. He might not work on a daily basis in the corporation like her but he had deadlines and schedules, just like everyone else.

There was no one sitting behind the counter when he went inside. The place smelled like disinfectants and cat pee and Aiden scrunched his nose. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. Just as he was about to turn around and head out when a woman came through the door leading to the back. As the door swung shut on a loud meow she laughed and yelled, “Yes, yes, love you too.” Then smiled at Aiden and said, “Can I help you?”

He was about to say that no, he had changed his mind, when the door was pushed open and the biggest cat he had ever seen in his life slipped through the crack. Not big like his aunt Mimi’s cat was big, round like a pumpkin with short legs that didn’t even have the strength to jump up on the couch to get pet.

No, this cat was enormous, in height, length… even its tail seemed abnormally long. It was a longhair, its coat shiny and auburn and the paws seemed almost as big as Aiden’s palm.

“Bad kitty,” the woman scolded, even if the smile suggested she was too charmed to mind, “I told you to stay in the back.”

The cat gave her a quick glance then jumped up on the counter where it sat up straight, front paws perfectly aligned and looked Aiden over with eyes that were an unusual shade of hazel. It looked almost regal, like the king of the shelter, come forward to judge whether it deemed Aiden fit for cat ownership or not.

“I’m sorry,” the woman said. “He only came in yesterday and already thinks he owns the place. So, how can I help you?”

“A cat,” Aiden said slowly. The cat was still watching him and Aiden was having a hard time looking away. The cat’s gaze was hypnotic, the eyes seemed to shift color each time they blink. Brown, green, a hint of gold. “I’m looking for a cat.”

“Adult or kitten?”

“Adult. House trained. Preferably lazy.” Aiden swore the cat narrowed its eyes at him. “Or not,” he hastened to add. “Just not too loud and rowdy. I work at home.”

The cat tilted its head. It looked like it was grinning.

“I’m sure we could find someone you could get along with. Or that gets along with you,” the woman said with a smile. “Now, why don’t you come back here with me and we’ll see if someone catches your eye.”

“What about this one?” Aiden heard himself say.

What? He didn’t really want this one, did he? Sure it’s beautiful but it was so huge, it looked too big to even lie on his lap and what’s the point of cats if they couldn’t lie on your lap? And it probably ate enough for two. But for some reason he just couldn’t look away. The cat twitched its whiskers. It looked annoyingly amused.

“Well, sure. But we only just got him. He hasn’t been neutered yet, which was why he’s not in the cage with the other tomcats.” She laughed, blushing slightly. “He seems to have an odd preference in that area, if you catch my drift.”

Aiden blinked. The cat definitely reacted at the word “neutered”. Like, it actually turned its head and stared at the woman with wide eyes and a face that could only be described as horrified. Then it looked back at Aiden and this time it seemed to be pleading with him.

“You neuter all the cats?” he asked. Yes, that was definitely a flinch. The cat even closed its eyes, like it couldn’t stand the thought.

“That’s the policy, yes. The cat population is quite big enough as it is and this fellow would surely add to it vigorously, whatever phase he might be going through now.”

Now it was Aiden’s turn to wince. Phase. That sounded way too familiar.

“But he is available?” he asked to be sure.

“Yes, even if I must say I would be sad to see him go. Such a beautiful animal.”

The cat stared at Aiden. A pink tongue darted out to lick at its nose.

“Yes,” Aiden said dazed. “Very.”

They did the paperwork, Aiden paid and they set a date for him to pick the cat up, sans testicles, a week from that day. The whole time the cat sat there, patiently watching him. Even as Aiden walked out he could feel its gaze on his neck.

Once he was home the doubt started to seep in. He didn’t even go look at the other cats. What if there was one in there that would have been his perfect match? Not that a pet was like a partner but still. That huge cat hadn’t even seemed particularly friendly. Now that Aiden thought about it he realized he didn’t actually ever pet it. What if it didn’t like to be pet and bit him the first time he tried? What if it didn’t even purr?

Aiden ate the fried chicken he bought on the way home then took a beer out to the living room and sat down in front of the TV. Maybe he should call the rescue center tomorrow. Let them know he had changed his mind. Yes, that would be the best. There really was something strange about that cat.