Brenna

"I'm confused," KJ says. "You're buying a pet. Mel and I won't be taking care of it. What role do we play in picking one out?"

"Damage control," Shea jokes.

KJ points at Shea. "That's not a fucking answer."

I bite my lip, preventing a chuckle from escaping. KJ is right to be suspicious. We're bringing him along because Shea and I have already picked out a pet. We put the down payment on a three-month-old rescue kitten. He's black and short-haired, and the cutest thing ever. Shea and I fell in love with him the moment we saw him. We have yet to decide on a name.

The best part: KJ is not a cat person. He prefers dogs, and having him tag along is an ode to the argument we had back in high school. We'll be FaceTiming Jayden, too.

Our shoes scuff against the pavement as we walk up the stairs to the SPCA. The parking lot is spacious, especially in the Vancouver area, and the weather is favourable this morning. Sunshine shines down on us, enhancing the promise of summer. It smells like salty sea air and oil used for deep frying, no thanks to the food truck parked out front. There's an adoption event occurring today. We came early to avoid sizeable crowds and KJ and Shea being mauled by fans.

On cue, Shea adjusts his ball cap. It's not backwards today, which makes me sad. He looks ten times hotter with the visor backwards.

"I spoke words that were strung into a sentence," Shea says. "I believe I answered you."

KJ shoots Shea a menacing glare. "Want to know what I think?"

Shea shrugs. "Not really."

"Too fucking bad. I'm talking, so you better listen. You're rubbing this in. Mel and I have been discussing a pet, despite not being allowed pets in our apartment. You're flexing your house-power."

Shea wrinkles his nose. "House-power?"

Gnawing on his bottom lip, KJ flashes daggers at Shea. "Yeah. You think you're all that because you have a house to live in. Instead of a stuffy apartment in the middle of a big city."

"Maybe that'll change when you're traded," I comment.

"I sense jealousy," Shea says at the same time.

Rolling his eyes, KJ reaches out and ruffles my hair. "Fat chance. I'm too expensive for Vancouver."

Shea snorts. "My team has plenty of money to spend. We could afford you."

KJ returns the snort. "Money-wise, maybe. Ego-wise? Not so much. We'd destroy the team, Smith."

Shea and KJ continue their banter, allowing for Melody and I to fall behind them. Melody had an appointment early yesterday morning for her annual check-up. Everything came back clean, which was a relief. Every time Melody goes in for check-ups, tension and stress are unavoidable. She beat cancer once, but it's likely she won't make it if recurrence occurs.

"We're still on for tonight, right?" I ask.

Ella, Abbey, and I planned a night out for the girls. We're heading to Melody's favourite vegan restaurant in downtown Vancouver. Then we're going to a club and dancing until dawn. Kaleb and Shea have something more homebody planned.

Melody's smile is brighter than the sun. She's always so optimistic, and she never lets something bad ruin her day. If I were her, I'd be curled up on the couch eating ice cream and crying in relief. Instead of planning nights out with my best friends and discussing the relief and emotions that came with the appointment.

Melody is stronger than anyone I've ever met. She's fearless and kind. Amazing. No wonder Kaleb's madly in love with her. I can't imagine the turmoil he went through when Melody was diagnosed, and when she was going through treatment.

"Of course!" Her smile doesn't fade. "We have to go out and celebrate. Not only that, but we haven't seen each other for weeks, Brenna." Her gaze turns to KJ and Shea ahead. Laughing, KJ gives Shea a playful shove. "KJ needs time with Shea, too. The trade rumours are getting to him. He wants them to be true. Whenever he discusses them with me, I can sense the longing in his tone. He tells me stories about how he and Shea used to dream of playing in the NHL together, on the same team. He wants to win the Stanley Cup with Shea."

"What about you?" I ask. Melody's information about KJ warms my heart. When we were teenagers, I was sometimes involved in those conversations. I always said Shea and KJ would be unstoppable in the NHL together. "You were born and raised in Montréal. It would be difficult to pack up your life and move, wouldn't it?"

"It will be difficult, but I know what I signed up for. Just like you do. Part of the relationship is the willingness for change. Hockey players aren't guaranteed to spend their entire career with one team. I knew that when I agreed to commit to a relationship with Kal. Would you break up with Shea if he went to Carolina or Seattle?"

I shake my head without hesitation. Living a life without Shea in it... it's impossible.

"Exactly," Melody replies. "Home isn't where you live or where you're born. It's where your heart feels whole and happy. Kal is my home. Wherever he goes, I'll go. As long as it means we're together. Kal feels the same way."

Truer words have never been spoken. I'd do the same for Shea. Just like he'd do the same for me.

"What time are we meeting with Ella and Abbey again?" Melody asks.

"Five. We have reservations for that vegan restaurant you love."

Melody closes her eyes and groans. "You don't understand how much I've been longing for their ranchero bowl. The way they cook their tofu? Ugh."

I have to agree with Melody. Their food is delicious. However, before I can make a comment, Melody and I are at the top of the stairs, where KJ and Shea are waiting for us.

Shea smiles at me and wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me close. Then he presses a kiss on my temple. "Ready for our first kid?"

"Kid with paws," I snort.

He kisses me again, and I don't fail to notice the stink-eye from KJ. He makes a fake gagging motion. I flip him the bird. If he doesn't like subtle PDA, he can turn his gaze elsewhere. This is a big moment for Shea and me, adopting a pet. Pets are like kids.

Stepping ahead of KJ and Melody, we push through the entryway. Inside, the air is cool, and it smells of something musky, like damp hay. The man from behind the desk—a middle-aged man with peppery streaks in his hair and beard—glances up from his computer. The clicking of the keyboard stops. There are several other people in the main foyer, some browsing the merchandise and some relaxing in the seating area with their phones.

The man behind the desk flashes us a smile. "Welcome to the SPCA. What can I do for you?"

Shea's arm tightens around my shoulders. "We're here to pick up our cat. Our appointment is under the name Smith."

Behind me, I hear KJ groan. Melody shushes him.

From behind his glasses, the man squints at us. Shea's hat doesn't do much to prevent him from realizing who we are, and that's my fault. While I could contribute to staying hidden from the public, I don't like to. Whenever we're out, I'll take the brunt of the attention and make sure people know Shea's not interested in discussing hockey with them. He'll sign autographs and take photos, but that's reserved for little kids. Kids that resemble where he was at one point in his life: dreaming about playing in the NHL.

The man rubs his jaw. "I thought there was something familiar about that name." He stands and collects his clipboard. "The room is just down the hallway. You're welcome to go visit for a while." He gestures to an office across the hallway. "Caitlin is just finishing adoption papers with another couple. She'll meet you in the room. Your cat is wearing the red collar."

"Thanks," I smile, tugging Shea down the hallway. Melody and KJ are close behind us.

The room we're looking for is the third door on the right. Through the glass, we can see several cats, including the one we're adopting. We step through the door, making sure it's shut behind us. We don't want any cats running around the SPCA.

Some cats scatter to their hiding spots, but the others stare at us with curiosity. Or act indifferent by staying asleep.

Ours is one of the curious ones. I hope recognition is a factor, too. We're already met the kitten. Last time, though, he was in rough shape after being left beside a dumpster in the sweltering heat. He was also extremely skinny and patchy. Whoever owned him prior to the SPCA did not take proper care of him and the rest of the litter.

Now, he's packed on some pounds and his coat is sleek.

Cocking his head to the side, he saunters over to us. His tail flicks as he rubs against my legs, then KJ's.

KJ tilts his nose to the sky, snorting. "You're wasting your time with a cat. Dogs are better. Back me up on this, Mel."

Melody taps her chin. "I don't like the division between animals. There are pros and cons to both species. They both make great pets and provide the same outcome: comfort and love. Factors like lifestyle and cost can play a large role, too. Besides, Brenna and Shea aren't saying they hate dogs. They just prefer cats, and if you look at their schedules, they need an animal that is more independent. Maybe a dog will be better down the line. Right now, a cat is the more appealing option."

KJ glares at his girlfriend in disbelief. He groans. "Babe. You're supposed to back me up. Not play neutral."

Melody shrugs. "It's the truth, Kal. There are pros and cons, and the decision depends on how much time you can spend with the animal. Would you buy a dog if you weren't home enough to play with it? To feed it and keep it company?"

KJ gnaws on his bottom lip.

Several seconds pass, and then he sighs. "Fine. But cats are not my first choice. They're evil. They scratch and bite." He glances at Shea, who's trying to get ahold of Jayden. "What the hell are you doing?"

Shea ignores KJ and dials Jayden's number. Once it's ringing, Shea makes eye contact with KJ and shrugs while holding his phone up.

"Shea!" Jayden's voice is fuzzy. "Man, long time no talk. What's going on?"

Shea taps the phone and flips the camera around. Melody and I wave and say hi to Jayden. KJ flips him the bird.

"Fuck you, too, Jones," Jayden laughs. "What the hell happened to Jones today? Did he take a shot of lemon juice this morning?"

I snort. After the wedding ceremony, I heard all about KJ's stunt with the lemon juice shots. He called Shea a plethora of names that were framed around Shea being a lightweight drinker. It was hilarious.

"No," I reply. "He's pissed because Shea and I are adopting that kitten we told you about."

"That's right," Jayden says. "He's in a room filled with cat people."

"For the record," Melody says. "I'm neutral. Both animals have their benefits. Last time I'll repeat myself." She kneels down to pet one of the brave cats. It's orange and fluffy with dark-green eyes, and it rubs against Melody's hand, purring loud.

"Neutral or not, KJ is still outnumbered. Love to see it."

"Asshole," KJ mutters.

Jayden ignores his comment and continues on. "Let's see the kitten. I need to determine whether it's cuter than Otis."

Otis is Jayden's boyfriend's cat. He's a grey, white, and brown mackerel tabby. On his forehead, he has the trademark "M," white on his chest and lower half of his face and his paws, and the greenest eyes I've ever seen. Shea and I met Otis a few months ago, and saying he didn't play a role in us adopting a kitten would be a lie.

Kneeling down, Shea holds his hand out. The kitten comes bounding up to him. He rubs his face against Shea's hand.

"Here he is," Shea says.

Jayden groans. "I love kittens."

Beside me, KJ rolls his eyes. "I'm getting congested with all this hair. Can we go now?"

Melody squeezes his arm. "Kal, sweetie. You're not allergic to cats. You're just aggravated because you've been singled out."

KJ rolls his eyes.

Shea gives the kitten another pet before it saunters back over to me, windings its way between my ankles. He tilts his head back and looks at me, a soft meow escaping from his mouth. Leaning down, I pick him up.

Shea snaps his fingers. "I know what we can name the cat!"

We shoot him questionable looks.

"What?" Jayden asks.

With a devious smile, he says, "Kaleb Junior."

KJ's mouth falls open. "No. Fuck no. Smith. My name is far too superior for a fucking cat."

The black cat in my arms mewls and begins to pur, rubbing its face against my chin. My heart squeezes because he's so cute. Reaching up, I scratch his chin and nod. "That's a good name. What do you think, Jayden?"

He's wheezing with laughter over the line. "Yes. Please. Oh my god, Brenna. Name the cat that. He can be called Kaleb Junior or KJ for short."

Melody presses a hand over her mouth, fighting off a smile. "I never thought about it that way! It's perfect!"

"Melody," KJ whines. "You're supposed to love me."

She smiles and pats KJ on the shoulder. "I love you. Very much so."

He makes a pouty face. "Then why are you supporting them?"

"Be a good sport, Kal. They're pushing your buttons."

Shea blinks several times. "No, I'm not. Kaleb Junior meowed when I suggest his name. The decision's been solidified. Don't blame me. Blame the cat."

I glance down at Kaleb Junior. He's asleep in my arms, purring with his head tucked against my chest. One paw is stretched across my forearm. A claw is snagged in my sweatshirts, but I don't mind. He's too cute to disturb.

"KJ is such a cute name," Melody says. She reaches over and tickles the kitten's chin. "It sounds so noble."

"Thank you," KJ says. He huffs with indifference. "At least someone likes the name. Thinks it's more appropriate for a human than a cat."

Melody shoots him a quizzical look. "Kal, I was talking about the cat."

KJ's face falls again, which only furthers the laughter coming from Shea and Jayden. I exchange an amused glance with Melody, noting the glimmer of mischief in her eyes.

"Sometimes," she whispers. "Kal just makes it too easy."

I toss my head back and laugh, careful not to disturb Kaleb Junior. After all these years of relentless teasing, it's a wonder KJ still sticks around.

He rubs the heel of his hand across his forehead. "Sometimes, I really hate you guys."

Shea snorts, climbing back to his feet. He reaches over and pets Kaleb Junior. "That's a lie. You love us—or else you would've left long ago."

The corner of KJ's mouth twitches. He sighs. "Quit being right. I don't like it when you're right."

Giving KJ's shoulder a playful punch, Shea says, "Love you, too, Jones."