Miles lives in a bubble. A tiny, lonely bubble. He goes to work, eats dinner, plays video games and goes to sleep. But all that changes on Valentine’s Day, when his typical plans are ruined with the entrance of a cute kitten and his hot neighbor, Tim.
As the months pass and they become closer, Miles begins to wonder if they can turn their friendship into something more.
But is Miles ready for love?
“I guess I’m not the only one having a shit Valentine’s Day,” Miles said with a quirk of his brow.
Not that Tim was looking at him. He was talking to his back. A very angry back, if the way his huge shoulders were rising and falling was anything to go by. If Miles remembered correctly, Tim was a sports coach. What sport, he had no idea, but he was pretty sure he overheard him talking about his day once upon a time.
Tim turned around. Slowly. Like a predator seeking its prey. Miles instinctively took a step back.
“Hey, I didn’t mean anything by it.”
Tim swallowed, shaking his head. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “Yes, a very, very shitty day.”
Miles chewed the inside of his cheek. “Do you ... do you want to talk about it?”
Really? Who was he to offer up advice? Any kind of advice, but least of all love life advice, if that’s what the sudden outburst related to.
Tim’s light eyes found his own, and a shimmer of unshed tears sparkled there.
“Break up.” Tim sniffed. “A nasty one. Caught him cheating. On today of all days!” he scoffed.
Miles frowned. Surely it would suck any day of the week to catch your partner cheating. He wracked his brain for something useful to say. For anything to say, really.
“I’m sorry. That sucks.”
“Yeah, yeah it really does. Especially when I upended my entire life to come to New York for him, left my family and friends ... Oh, I don’t know. Maybe I became too clingy, but can you blame me? Jake was all I had here.”
Tim shook his head suddenly, like he was just realizing where he was and who he was talking to.
“Sorry, I’m Tim. I think we’re neighbors, but we’ve never properly introduced ourselves have we?” He held out his hand and smiled but it looked out of place on his tear-stained face.
Miles took his hand in his own, letting the warmth seep through into his own skin. Jeez, Tim ran hot.
“I know. Well, I know your name. I think I’ve slipped some mail under your door a few times.”
“Ah, I see.”
An awkward silence permeated the air, until a tiny meow caught them off guard.
Saved by the cat.
“Oh, who do we have here?” Tim dropped to his knees and scooped up the kitten into his large hands.
Miles couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. Seeing Tim here, huge and muscular, with bloody knuckles, cradling the kitten like it were a breakable doll, made him see him in a whole new light.
“I found it when --"
Tim lifted the kitten. “Her,” he corrected.
“I found her when I came home from work. I think she’s been abandoned.”
Tim hummed. “She looks skinny. She’s not going to survive the night out here. She’ll have to come inside with us.”
Us?
Tim must’ve seen the bewilderment flash across his face like a bolt of lightning.
“Yes, well, she’s our responsibility now, right?” Tim asked.
“I suppose I can’t argue with you there ... but I don’t know the first thing about cats.”
Tim shrugged his shoulders. “Well, that’s what the internet is for.”
Was this actually happening? How had he managed to acquire a kitten? All he wanted to do was have a quiet night in with his noodles and a beer. Now, he was going to be babysitting a kitten. But Tim was right. They could hardly leave the poor creature outside to die. They would look after her and then find her a home in the morning. There must be loads of animal shelters around here.
“Come to my apartment,” Miles offered. Somehow he didn’t think it would be a good idea for Tim to go back to his place, what with his current situation with his partner. Miles wasn’t even sure where his partner was, if he was still in their apartment or in the building, but it seemed like a good idea to keep them separated right now.
Tim nodded and followed him into the building. They made their way through the clean, white reception area and toward the elevator. Once inside, Miles pressed the button for the third floor. While the elevator ascended, his heart began to hammer against his ribcage. He’d never had anyone over to his apartment before, apart from the maintenance man and he hardly thought that counted as socializing.
Take a deep breath, he schooled himself. You’re fine.
