Her lip curves, "No backing out after I tell you what it is."
I plant my palms on my hips, "Try me."
"Last chance," her smile widens.
I draw in a breath, "Do you want me to get it for you or not?"
" A cat."
"What?" I blink.
"A cat." She saunters over to me. "C-A-T, cat. You know, the furry thing that says ‘meow’?"
"I know what a cat is."
"Good." She flicks some imaginary dust off my collar, "Now you can get one for me too. Make sure it’s cute."
I gape as she sashays over to the fabrics and begins to examine them.
"Let me get this right, you want a cat to complete your studio?"
"Do I need to repeat myself?"
What the—!That little thing; she dares to talk that way to me? I take a step forward, then pause. Of everyone I have met, she is the only one who doesn’t take shit from me. It takes some guts to stand up to me too… Especially after everything that we’ve done to each other. But then, Beauty, isn’t just anybody. She’s special. She’s always known which of my buttons to press to get a reaction from me.
I thought I’d surprise her, but yet again, she’s managed to throw me for a loop. A chuckle rumbles up my chest, turns into a full-blown laugh. I throw my head back and guffaw until tears run from my eyes. I wipe them away, then straighten to find her watching me.
"You okay?" she asks, her tone hesitant. "Not coming down with something, are you?"
"No," I shake my head, aware I am still wearing a smile on my face, but fuck, there is no one else here. Only this pint-sized woman who always knows how to put me in my place. "Why do you ask?"
"Never seen you laugh like that before. Hell, I’ve never seen you smile properly, let alone…give in to a full belly laugh like that."
"I’ve never been asked to buy a cat before."
"Never?" Her forehead creases.
"Never."
"Oh," she raises a shoulder, "guess there’s a first time for everything."
She turns back to playing with the fabrics, before reaching for the sheets of paper next to them. She picks up a drawing pad, and a pencil, then turns to glance at me over her shoulder.
"What are you still doing here?" She scowls, "Leave, so I can work."