Spend A Night with My Crush

I was steaming mad the whole ride home.

At dinner, Jack tried to perk me up with my favorite—braised pork—but I just couldn't stomach it.

"Babe, the lady's almost here. You gotta eat up if you wanna keep up with her," Jack said, furrowing his brow.

At that moment, I seriously considered just dropping dead. Who's got the appetite?

Oh, Sophie, you were dazzled by dollar signs, now you're in too deep!

As Jack wolfed down his meal, I got this twisted idea.

Want both the real lady and the stand-in? When she shows up, I'm blowing the lid off everything and taking her with me!

By 7 PM, a cat's meow announced the door opening.

I stretched my neck but after the secretary cleared out, it was just the cat—no sign of Jack's ex.

"Where's your lady?" I asked.

Stroking the cat, Jack looked up, "She's right here in my arms."

I was rendered speechless.

"This is Lady, she's three and a half," Jack added.

I smirked, biting back a curse.

Lady, the little white cat in Jack's lap, elegantly flicked her tail.

Jack caught my eye with a smug glint as he petted her.

He'd known I'd misunderstood all along and was getting a kick out of it.

"Fine, I don't care, I'm out of here!" I declared, hands on my hips.

Just then, something furry brushed against my foot.

Looking down, there was Lady.

Those big, shiny eyes and tiny paws gently tugging at my pants.

And her sad look was irresistible.

Three seconds later, I found myself on the couch, playing with Lady until I was out of breath, and she still wasn't done with me.

Meanwhile, Jack was buried in his laptop, handling business.

A stomach rumble loud enough to echo through the living room interrupted us.

Jack glanced over, "See? Should've eaten more. Now you're too wiped out to play with Lady."

He put aside his work and stood up, heading for the kitchen.

Was that a hint of affection in his voice just now?

But I'm just a stand-in, a stand-in for a cat, at that!

I remember bragging to my friends when I first took this gig.

[I'm the stand-in for Jack Ray's ex. She must have been quite something. Here I am, Sophie Morris, honored and all!]

Now, holding Lady as she cuddled up to me, I sighed. This wasn't what I'd signed up for.

With Lady back, the house felt livelier, and I found a new delight: cat-cuddling.

When Jack and I duked it out over who got to pet her, rock-paper-scissors decided. I usually won, leaving Jack to the glamorous job of changing kitty litter.

Naturally, Lady grew more attached to me.

She'd bring flowers from the garden or share her toys, making us the best of buddies.

Three days after Lady's return, I went all out and got a bunch of cat toys.

When I got back, I found Jack shirtless, cleaning up a vase Lady had knocked over.

His muscles caught my eye, and I had to swallow hard.

Definitely just back from the gym—that was just plain cheating!

As we locked eyes, I quickly grabbed a trash bin to look busy.

"I'll clean this up, you go shower," I muttered, feeling my cheeks blaze.

Walking around shirtless, was he trying to get me to sin?

Jack nodded and headed off, reminding me to be careful with the glass.

I pretended to focus on cleaning, but as soon as he turned away, my gaze wandered back to his toned shoulders and slim waist.

Man, that waist is a crime scene—wonder who's the lucky gal!

"Meow~"

Lady's call snapped me back to the present, and I quickly tidied up the mess.

Exhausted, I stretched out on the couch, only for Lady to leap up beside me.

I was really too beat to play.

Yet, she meowed insistently and tossed a pair of boxer shorts onto my face.

My goodness!

Picking them up, I suddenly found a second wind.

They were Jack's boxers, of all things!

"Lady, you really shouldn't be giving these to me!"