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Sinclair was right, I decided It would be stupid not to enjoy the e to have hie The place was houtand rehabbing stuff from thrift stores, yard sales, and, yes, even Du in vain for Mogwai, I gave Sinclair the tour--living room, kitchen, screened porch, bedroom, and bath--then left him to poke around while I found a bud vase for le- roo otten around to digitizing "Thanks," he said absently when I handed hilass "So you really do like the blues, huh?"

I’d told him that on our first date "Why would I make that up?"

"Yeah, well" He looked airls say to impress a brother Which is funny, because I know fuck-all about the blues But you’ve got quite a collection"

"Yeah" I took a sip of scotch "It belonged to a guy my mom dated for a while A jazz bass player He left it to me"

"He took off?"

"No" I shook my head "He was killed in a car accident It’s okay," I added, forestalling his syo He was a good guy It turns out the blues calure it out"

"Must have been a good guy to recognize this would ? One of your favorites?"

Feeling self-conscious, I fussed over my choice Of course, now that he’dout of the pop cultureBlues," that would establish irl, and if Sinclair really knew fuck-all about the blues, there was no point, so I ith sos swelled in a si the way for Etta Ja with impassioned tenderness about how her lonely days were over now that her love had coht about the io, Daise

"Ahdon’t read too much into it," I said hurriedly "It’s a classic, that’s all You know, she just passed away a couple of years ago Etta Jalass on a bookshelf "It’s okay It’s just a song"

Out of habit, I tucked ht as his hands curved around my waist and pulled h school dance I’d attended, at every nightclub I’d ever danced in And it , but it was a moment of pure bliss to realize I didn’t have to

I unfurledup at hiether He lowered his head to kiss ed with a faint hint of chocolate, while Etta sang in the background

Hands down,ever Way better than a funky satyr booty call Although that had had itsabout it, I felt oing to be the one to make the first move I’d wait for Sinclair to do it

I didn’t have to wait long

The song ended, and Sinclair tilted his head toward the bedroo look "Shall we adjourn?"

I smiled up at him "Love to"

Eleven

"What the holy hell?"

"What?" Jolted awake, I sat upright, looking frantically for r, orI don’t knohat "What?"

"Thisthing!" Sinclair was lying flat on his back beside h on his chest, paws neatly tucked, purring contentedly as he gazed down at Sinclair with slitted eyes

I laughed out loud "I told you I had a cat!"

"That’s a cat?" He took a sharp breath, Mogwai rising obliviously with his chest "More like a duppy"

"A what?"

"Nothing" He let out his breath in a sigh "S’okay Is he your fawai off Sinclair’s chest and set hi cat, eighteen pounds and none of it fat, and according to the vet, enetic rarity Other than that, he seeuess He likes you"