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She’s going to be so disappointed next week when I tell her it’s over. She may even try to set Kendall up with one of my brothers.

I don’t like that idea at all.

Oh shit. Did I tell Kendall she was too pretty?

If I’m floundering this badly in my head, then I have no idea how idiotic I’ve been acting or what I might have said.

“So, Vanessa,” my mom starts. “Tell me what hobbies you have. Do you work?”

“Absolutely not. And my hobbies are like shopping and buying things online, just whatever pops into my head that day, you know?”

“Well, that’s good that you won’t have to leave a career when you two decide to start a family.”

Kendall looks at me like a deer in headlights. Then she blinks and says, “I don’t want any kids.” She doesn’t want kids? She would be a great mom. She takes care of everyone in the office. “Or at least no more kids,” she adds. “I have a two-year-old son. His name is Mr. Jingles. He’s a rescued Persian.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

“How sweet!” my mom gushes. “Do you have any pictures of him? I adore cats. Did Monty tell you about my cat cafés?”

“Ah, no, he didn’t,” Kendall replies, giving me a pointed look.

“Well, not to brag, but I just opened the fourth one this year.”

“No way! That’s amazing,” Kendall replies. “I would love to visit and help out. Do you have one in Charlotte?”

“Of course! That’s the first one I opened and the biggest.”

Mom takes out her phone, and then the two of them are showing each other photos. Mr. Jingles sleeping. Mr. Jingles licking his ass. My mom’s cat playrooms, the cats available for adoption.

“You should come with Monty some time when he helps on the weekends.”

“So that’s where you disappear to on the weekends? Why didn’t you tell me?” Kendall asks rather than admit that as my fiancée she didn’t know that’s what I was doing.

“It’s not a big deal…”

“You should tell Vanessa,” my mom says with a huff before turning to Kendall. “Monty helps me take some of the cats that haven’t been adopted to nursing homes and children’s hospitals.”

“Oh wow. That’s so sweet!” Kendall exclaims.

“Some even find their forever homes while visiting,” mom brags. “These are some of the current ones we have in Charlotte.”

Kendall gasps as she leans over to look at her phone. “Oh, look at that cutie. I’ve changed my mind. Mr. Jingles may need a brother or sister.”

Before they can set up a get-together in the real world, I clear my throat and say, “I thought Mr. Jingles was put up for adoption because he doesn’t get along with other cats.”

“I…I forgot I told you that,” Kendall says, then deflates. “But you’re right. Wishful thinking on my part…” she trails off then peps up again. “What’s the plan for the rest of the weekend?”

“Well, there’s just dinner tonight, so you two can have time to…settle in,” my mom says with a wink that makes me wish I had another mimosa. “Tomorrow, we’ll get a tour after breakfast, have a cake tasting, and then I booked you two for a couple’s massage.”

“Oh, wow! Those are like all of my favorite things,” Kendall exclaims. “Cake and a massage? Isn’t that exciting, Monty?”

“Filling up on way too much sugar and letting a stranger touch me? Not really.”

“You’re such a grump,” she whispers. “You can get a drink, relax, find that happy buzz again.”

“I’m good. I’ve got some work to do tomorrow, so I may let you taste cake and get the massage on your own.”

“What? No way. Nancy, please tell your son that he’s not allowed to bail on me this weekend to work.”