"New friends"

Seeing Nova so happy does something to me. It's a feeling I don't think I've ever felt before. I can't really explain it either. Shaking my head I head towards the back to get Axel.

I don't see him in the office or the pantry so I check outside. I open the back door and see him asleep in a chair on the patio. I kick his shoe and instantly he wakes up.

"Time to come back in. I don't want Nova overwhelmed." Axel jumps up and heads for the door when I stop him. "Axel wait." He turns slowly and has a worried look on his face.

"I just wanted to thank you for all you do for Nova. I know she appreciates it and so do I. I see a cut in your future." He stands frozen not knowing what to say.

"Well go inside and get back to work. Keep doing what you're doing okay." He nods and runs for the door. I'm really starting to like that kid and I can only hope the rest of the club does as well.

My phone rings and I see that it's my mother calling. I answer on the first ring. "Hello?"

"Hi Madz. How's Nova and Axel doing? My friends stopped by to tell me all about the shop." I can hear Eleanor in the background telling me hi.

"Tell Eleanor I said hi back. Things seem to be going well. She's had a busy day but with the both of them they seemed to have figured out a way to handle everyone." Eleanor seems to be chatting to my mom but I can't hear her.

"Eleanor wants you to bring her some cookies and a muffin if there is any left." I laugh knowing she is probably jumping all around mom right now.

"I'll set aside something for her." Silence filled the line. "Hello? Mom?" I hear a sniff and I wonder what upset her. "Mom, are you okay?"

"Everything is okay. I'm just so happy for you. To have found Nova. She is such a sweet girl and Eleanor seems hooked on her as well. She must have some magic spell going on." I chuckle.

"No, that's just how Nova works. She's perfect. I feel so good around her. She really makes me happy." I hear more sniffing over the line. "Mom, you gotta stop the tears."

"Sweetheart I can't. I'm so happy you've found your one. Your forever. It was different with your sister. We all knew she wasn't ready but you are." I place my hand on my chest and rub.

"Yeah, she's my forever mom. I'm glad you can see that. I'm even happier that everyone else seems to like her as well." With that I hear my mom sniff a few more times.

"Okay enough worrying about me. You go back and help Nova now. I love you Madz. I'll see you later tonight." I tell her I love her back and we hang up.

I'm about to go unlock the door when I hear a scuffle by the trash can. Then I hear a cry. Walking over I see a kitten stuck in a box in the trash can. Poor little guy.

"Come here buddy." I pull the box out carefully and remove the kitten. It lets out a little hiss. It's so damn cute. I can't just leave him outside.

I pull out my phone and call Beau, one of the prospects. "Hey prez what's up?"

"I need you to go to the pet store and pick up some things for a kitten. Food, litter box shit like that. Also, some shampoo this thing stinks. He tells me 'okay' and we hang up.

I head for the door and walk to Nova's apartment. I can't let the guy run around down here. I grab a blanket off the couch and walk towards the bathroom. Setting the blanket down I place the kitten in the blanket and it just looks at me.

Looks like we've got a kitten now. I don't think Nova is going to want to get rid of this kitten. I don't even know if it's a boy or girl. I'll find out later. "I'll be right back, little dude."

I head for the kitchen to get some water and wash up. Bringing the kitten some water I lock it in the bathroom for now till Beau gets here. He shouldn't take long since the pet store is on the way here from the club.

I feel my phone vibrate and I pull it from my cut. 'Madz where did you go? Everything okay?. Nova must be worried since I didn't come back from finding Axel. I place my phone back in my cut and head down into the shop.

"Sorry about that, I found a little surprise outside." I smile and Nova tilts her head to the side.

"What did you find?" I nudge her back towards the counter.

"I'll show you later, baby. Let's get back to work." We fall back into a pace that works for the both of us until we close up. Nova wipes some invisible sweat off her forehead and looks around.

"Boy what a day. I can say it was one of the best days I've ever had. Thank you Axel so much for being here with me all day. Madz thanks for stopping by as well." Axel walks over from the front with plates in his hands.

"I'll wash these up and then leave you two for the night. That works for you." Nova nod's and thanks him.

"Make sure you lock up behind you Axel. I'm taking Nova up to the apartment for a little while." I pull her by her hand and slowly we walk up the steps.

"Why are we going so slow Madz." She asked.

"Because I found something and I'm not sure if you will be happy or not. I think you'll be alright but I don't want to sound like an ass." We finally got into the apartment and we heard a clunk.

"Damn it." Nova heads for the bathroom.

"What was that?" She slowly opens the door and the kitten jumps out from behind it. "Holy cow Madz, it's a kitten! Oh my goodness, it's so cute. Where did you find it? What's its name?"

"Slow down sweetheart. I found it out back in the dumpster. I wasn't going to leave it outside. I'm sorry for not asking." She snuggles into her face and makes little baby noises. "Don't do that, Nova, it's dirty."

"I don't care. I love it." She lifts the kitten up and checks it. I think it's a girl. Oh my gosh we have a kitten now! What are we going to name her?" She continues to love all over the kitten and it doesn't seem to care.

Little fucker hissed at me but sure everyone seems to love Nova. I smile at that. "Why don't you name her." She seems to think on that.

"Hmmm. I think since she was found near my bakery I should name her shortcake! How is that for a name?" She would pick a silly name for it but I think it works out well.

"That sounds perfect baby. Shortcake will love it here. I sent Beau to pick up some items for it. He should be here soon." Nova sits the kitten on the floor and plops down next to it. Shortcake finds a hair tie and starts to chase it around.

Nova laughs and starts to play fetch with the kitten. What kind of cat is this? My phone rings and I see its Beau calling. He must be here already. "I'll be right back, Beau is here."

She doesn't even reply, just gives me a wide smile. With that I leave her and Shortcake alone in the bathroom. Heading towards the door I hear a knock up front.

Beau is parked right out front of the shop and has the back of his truck open with loads of cat supplies. "I wasn't sure what to get so I asked the worker what a new kitten would need.

He's bought a litter box, food, flea medication, bowls and a cat tree. That should be enough till Nova gets a handle on this. I know shit about cats so I sure hope Nova does.

"Thanks man, how much was it?" He waves me off and hops back in the truck.

"It was nothing man. Have fun with your new cat prez." He closes the bed of his truck and drives away. Leaving me with all this shit. I stack everything carefully into the litter box and lock up.

I get inside the apartment and see Nova still on the floor with the kitten. She is asleep in her arms and I can feel butterflies in my stomach. Butterflies dude. I'm gone for this girl and I think I always will be.

"This is all Beau bought. Let me set this up while you cuddle with Shortcake." She nods and strokes the kitten's fur. "We'll give it a bath and flea medicine tonight and I'll have someone take it to the vet tomorrow to give it a check up."

"Thank you Madz. This is the best day ever. I've always wanted a kitten." I kiss the top of her head and get to work. I set up the bowls first and once the food hits it the kitten comes running towards me.

"Damn little guy. Poor thing must be starving." I pet Shortcake and he lets out a little growl. "Okay okay. I'll leave you be. Nova helps me set up the rest and once we're done the kitten is done eating.

"I guess it's time for a bath now right?" I start the bath water and check the temp. Seems to be warm enough for me. I grab Shortcake and lower her into the water which she doesn't seem to mind.

She starts splashing around and it's adorable. Eleanor is going to shit when she finds out we got a cat. She is never going to want to leave here. We wash the kitten up and let her air dry.

Once done, I apply the flea medication and the kitten doesn't squirm around at all. It seems to be a good cat. Nova walks in with a clean blanket and chucks the other one into a bag just in case anything got onto it.

I set up the rest of the cat while Nova plays with a toy with her. Getting her to sleep through the night will probably be rough. Even more so since we will leave her in her for the first few nights.

My best friend had a cat and I remember when they moved they introduced new rooms to it throughout the week. Once they were done the cat ran the home.

Shortcake seems to settle into the blanket that's on the cake tree and Nova leaves her be. "Thank you for everything today Madz. I love it."

We end up in a tangle of kisses and that's how my night ended with someone I think I've fallen for. Hell, I think I was gone the first time I saw her.