"Was there scheduled maintenance today?"


    "Just an inspection."


    Hugh''s response was brief. As he looked at the floor near Serena''s feet, he said, "There''s a cat here."


    "Oh!"


    Serena looked down just in time to see the little calico cat trotting over and making a beeline for Hugh''s pant leg.


    Ittched on, its tiny ws gripping the fabric as it let out a series of pitiful meows.


    Hugh stepped back, but the kitten followed, clinging to him like it couldn''t bear to


    let him go.


    Serena felt a bit awkward as she quickly crouched down to scoop up the little troublemaker.


    "It must have remembered your scent... Huh?"


    The kitten kept meowing, refusing to let go, tugging at Hugh''s trousers with surprising determination.


    Serena gave a gentle pull, trying to detach it. If she pulled any harder, either the kitten would rip his pants or drag them down entirely.


    Her face heated with embarrassment.


    Hugh stared down in silence for a long moment before speaking. "Why don''t you try calling its name?"


    "I-It doesn''t have one yet."


    Living alone with no other cats or people around, Serena had never needed a name to call it. She usually just made little noises, and the calico cat woulde running straight into her arms.


    Hugh watched her sitting there, frowning in frustration, and couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "Then, why don''t you name it now? It''s so clingy... Let''s see... What about Snuggy?"


    Serena''s eyes lit up. Patting the cat, she asked, "What about its nickname? Snug?"


    At the sound of its new name, the kitten let out a high-pitched meow.


    Serena beamed. "It likes it! Snug!"


    The kitten let out a meow as it kneaded Hugh''s pant leg twice before finallyunching itself into Serena''s arms.


    She caught it easily, and it rubbed against her cheek. "Snuggy, Snug, you''re so adorable! Let Mommy give you a kiss."


    The kitten purred nonstop.


    Hugh remained crouched beside them as he listened to Serena''s yful voice. Something in his chest eased.


    Warmth spread through him, slow and steady, like whiskey sliding down his throat.


    He crouched down beside her and tapped the kitten''s head.


    "Snug, make sure you listen to Mommy."


    Serena suddenly nced up, looking


    at


    Kiugh, who was ying with t


    At that moment, hereg


    pounded wildly.


    Mommy?


    Oh, no! She was so used to talking to her cat like that that the word had slipped


    out before she could stop it.


    Now, Hugh had repeated it.


    She was so embarrassed that her cheeks flushed.


    Hugh looked up, frowning as he noticed the flush on Serena''s face.


    "Are you running a fever?"


    "N-No!" She sprang to her feet, ruffling Snuggy''s fur a little too hard. "I just—"


    Just then, a series of beeps sounded as the fire rm red overhead.


    Thick smoke poured from the stairwell. In seconds, the sprinklers kicked in, drenching them both.


    Hugh''s eyes darkened. He grabbed Serena and pulled her toward the house.


    The fire was downstairs. They had


    no way of knowing how bad it


    bet


    was.


    Taking the stairs or the elevat


    a gamble they couldn''t affor


    was


    ret


    He quickly brought her into the bathroom, yanking off his soaked jacket and wrapping it around her and the startled cat.


    Serena clutched Snuggy, feeling concerned.


    Then, Hugh pulled them both into his embrace and said, "It''ll be fine."


    In the cramped space, with water dripping around them, Serena''s heart pounded even harder.