“That bad, huh?” he said with a smirk. I opened and closed my mouth like a dumb fish, my body frozen in place under his gaze. “Did he already pass out?” He leaned around me to peer through the crack in the door.

“Quiet,” I whispered loudly, shaking my limbs back into action, and pushed him away from the room. “Please don’t wake him up. I have to go.”

I could feel his eyes on me as I marched to the couch where Snickers was.

Or, where she wasn’t.

My eyes widened, and my heart raced. What the hell? She was just right here! I snapped my head around, trying not to let my panic take over. She had to be here somewhere. I was throwing the blankets from their pile to the floor when I heard a tiny “meow” from behind me. I spun back to Zack’s roommate.

Snickers was at his feet, rubbing lazily against his ankles. He bent to pick her up and threw me a knowing grin.

“I guess I better say my goodbyes,” he said as he scratched the cat under the chin, holding her like a baby. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

“W-what?” I stammered, my feet rooted to the rug, “What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

“I had a feeling you were here for her,” he said without taking his eyes off the cat in his arms, now a puddle of purring fluff, “His ex has been here a few times looking for her cat, and every time he makes me hide Snickers in my room. I’ve become quite fond of her,” he let out a small laugh and looked up at me, “But Zack hates her. He’s only keeping her because he’s a dick.”

I let my arms relax at my sides. We were on the same page, at least. Good, I had been about to snatch the animal and run like hell.

“So you’ll let me take her back to Sadie?” I stepped slowly towards him, my arms outstretched. I felt like the guy in Jurassic Park. No sudden movements. He might change his mind if I startle him.

He contemplated me for a long moment, the room silent save for the loud purring from Snickers. I held my breath.

“Fine.” He gently dropped her into my arms and stood to the side, clearing the way to the front door. I went quickly to it and turned to thank him. He held up a hand to stop me and smiled. “But, like I said. I think she’s cute, and I’d like to see her again.”

My mouth snapped shut so hard I’m pretty sure he heard it. Fighting the heat rising to my cheeks, I returned to the door.

“We’ll see,” I said, a little too loudly, and flung the door open with my free hand. Before he could reply, I flew down the hallway, a low laugh following me to the elevator as he closed the apartment door behind me.

Zack pulled me into his lap, drawing my attention away from his furry hostage. I disguised my cringe behind a smile and let my head fall back as he kissed my neck. It wasn’t very stimulating and mostly just made my neck damp with slobber. My arms around his neck, I twisted a finger idly through his hair, his greedy hands roaming every which way as if they couldn’t decide where they wanted to be most: my knee, up the inside of my thighs, tracing the hem of my skirt like a lion pacing its cage.

I guess I’d have to dangle a bit of meat to get him to bite.

“Why don’t we go to your room?” I said with feigned breathlessness. Zack groaned his agreement in my ear as I stood, pulling him to his feet behind me. I walked backwards ahead of him, giving my best impression of bedroom eyes, while his already looked leadened with intoxication. He smiled creepily in return. I suppressed a shudder.

Finally in his room, I pushed him onto the bed where he sat, his arms around my waist, planting wet kisses on my stomach and raising his fingers once more to the hem of my skirt.

I couldn’t believe I’d already slept with this man. Something about him was just repulsive, magnified by being sloppy drunk and needy. I pushed his arms down to his own legs and leaned to his ear.

“I need to use the ladies’ room,” I whispered, watching the little hairs on his neck stand on end. “I’ll be right back.” I pushed him onto his back, where he crossed his hands behind his head and frowned at me.

“Don’t keep me waiting,” he mumbled. His eyes followed me to the door with heavy lids. I gave him one last smile as I closed the door to the hallway behind me.

I straightened my clothes and pulled my phone from the the waistband. Opening the camera, I strode to the armchair where Snickers was still curled into a ball, her eyes wide and her tail twitching at my approach. I snapped a picture of the cat, wincing at the too-loud shutter sound, and gave her a quick scratch behind the eare as I sent the picture to Sadie.

This is Snickers right?

Not even a minute passed before I received her answer. I flinched again as my phone dinged loudly into the empty livingroom.

OMG yes! I knew he had her!!!

That was all I needed. After putting it on silent, like I should have when I got here, I slipped my phone back into place and crept back to Zack’s door, which I had left cracked. Through the opening, I could see him still exactly as I had left him, his eyes closed and mouth hanging open. I backed away and pumped my arms a little in celebration. This would be a piece of cake.

My back hit a wall that hadn’t been there before.

I whirled around, my heart skipping a beat, my hands still in fists, and a gasp escaped my lips. Standing behind me was Zack’s roommate.

At Zack’s door, I straightened my skirt and popped a piece of mint gum in my mouth. I knew he thought it was gross that I smoked, and usually I didn’t give a shit, but tonight needed to go smoothly. I raised my hand and knocked loudly, pasting the most genuine smile I could muster to my face.

Zack didn’t open the door.

Instead, this guy was incredibly good-looking and much taller than who I was expecting. I tipped my head up to face him, the smile freezing in place as I clenched my jaw, the chewing gum probably the only thing keeping my teeth from cracking each other. He stared down at me with striking hazel eyes and a smirk.

“Can I help you?” he asked. I realized a little too late that I hadn’t said anything yet. I cleared my throat and relaxed my jaw, attempting to fix the smile back into place and summon words- any words. Please just say something.

“Hi,” I managed, “is Zack here?”

The man studied me for a moment. I gave him my sweetest smile, hoping he couldn’t hear my heart pounding in my ears. He just raised an eyebrow and leaned on the doorjamb, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Zack, it’s for you,” he said a little louder, making me jump a little, causing him to frown at me as he sauntered away from the door and into the room. “Something wrong?”

I shook my head quickly and smiled at Zack as he came around the corner. He had been expecting me, right? Why didn’t he bother telling me he already had people over?

The stumble in his step would explain it. Fine, if he was drunk, this would be easier. I probably wouldn’t even have to spend the night, let alone sleep with him. But the unexpected company was a hurdle I’d have to finesse. I flashed my teeth in a vaguely threatening smile as I stepped past the guy and into the apartment.

I let out a heavy sigh. I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath. I should have kept it, though, as Zack threw an arm around my shoulder and planted a sloppy, wet kiss on my cheek. The smell of shitty light beer in my nostrils made me grimace in the opposite direction, where the guy who opened the door was still standing. He just shook his head and laughed under his breath before disappearing through a door in the hall.

“You didn’t tell me you had roommates,” I said. A fake laugh and a playful shove got him to release his drunken grasp on my shoulders.

“I didn’t think you’d care,” he grumbled at my chest. He wasn’t even looking at my face. I rolled my eyes.

It definitely would have been nice to know. Maybe I could have connected with his roommate instead. This might have been a lot more enjoyable. Quickly remembering the task at hand, I scanned the living room from my perch on the arm of the couch. My eyes caught on a beige ball of fluff at the peak of a pile of blankets in an armchair.

“Snickers.” I sighed. Bright yellow eyes popped open and looked directly at me.

What’s up?

Zack’s reply came late the next morning while I was still rousing myself out of bed to make coffee. I stared at my phone for a long time, the coffee machine gurgling behind me. I didn’t want to reply too quickly in case he got weirded out, but I really wanted to make this happen as soon as possible.

Oh nothing just wondering what to do tonight

I set my phone upside down on the granite countertop and went to the fridge for coffee cream. I figured I’d have some time to continue thinking through my plan but dreaded any extra time to begin working myself into a corner of self-doubt. Before I had even finished stirring my coffee, my phone chimed loudly, making me jump. That was quick. I took a slow sip, staring at the back of my phone, almost afraid of what the message on my phone said. It probably wouldn’t be so easy. I had not been kind the last time we spoke.

I set down my coffee and took my phone tentatively.

What about me? 😉

I rolled my eyes so hard he probably heard it through the universe. This guy. Gross.

I let out a heavy sigh, relieved that there clearly were no hard feelings on his end. That would make this so much more difficult.

Sounds like a plan 😉

I cringed at the flirting, as fake as it was. I truly didn’t like the guy, but I would do this for a fellow victim.

I spent the rest of the day doing recon in between gag-worthy flirtation and filling Sadie in on my plan. She sent me a link to her online profiles that were teeming with photos of the POW I’d be rescuing. By the time I finally set out to Zack’s apartment, I felt like Snickers was my own pet.

The Uber driver didn’t say two words in the 30-minute drive across town, which was fine with me. I was on a holy quest. I stared at a picture of Snickers, letting my rage build and empower my resolve. She was a fluffy Himalayan with pale cream-colored fur and a dark mask, and bright blue eyes that held no more than half a thought at a time.

I muttered my thanks to the driver when we finally reached the apartment and watched him drive away as I pulled out a cigarette and lit it. I was only a little nervous. What’s the worst that could happen? I truly didn’t care what the guy thought of me. I would do what it took. He had violated Sadie’s personal space and stolen something clearly important to her.

The fact that they had adopted her together was beside the point. She had custody, and he stole the cat. End of story. That in itself would warrant the wrath of a club bathroom full of drunk girls.

I scanned the apartment buzzer panel and jammed the button for number 5, marked Z. Marshall. After a moment, the door unlocked with a loud click, and I flicked my cigarette butt to the ground and put it out with the toe of my boots.

Showtime.

The name bounced around in my head and eventually rang a little bell, like a chime at the door of a convenience store. It sounded familiar as hell, and I quickly realized why.

“Zack Marshall?” I echoed back at Sadie. She nodded.

I remembered him. We hooked up months ago after matching on Tinder. I hoped like hell it wasn’t when he was with Sadie. There wasn’t a cat in his apartment, at least. I decided to keep this to myself, but I had a plan in my head already, and the fact that I already had his number still in my phone would be private information.

“He sounds like a dick.” Another murmur of agreement from the women in attendance.

I glanced around the room and saw too many faces, all scorned as if this were a personal attack on them.

“Let’s get out of here,” I held a hand to Sadie. She took it without hesitation, and together we slid back out of the restroom, through the sweaty, heaving bodies of the club, and out into the brisk autumn air of the sidewalk outside the front door. A bouncer, a brick wall standing guard, glared at us as I flashed him a smile and pulled Sadie to the side. We each pulled out our phones and exchanged necessary information, and from there we departed, her in an Uber and me on foot.

I lived only a few blocks away from the club I frequented, which was great for walking the alcohol out of my system most nights. I used this time to think through my plan and to set it in motion.

Hey

I sent a simple text to Zack. I asked Sadie for his number and let her in on my plan, omitting the fact that I already knew the guy, and already had his number in my phone, along with the one-sided texts from all those months ago. I had ghosted him pretty easily. He was a dick, and terrible in bed. I could understand why Sadie was so much more upset about losing her cat than ending the relationship.

The way back to my apartment was through a few pockets of late-night activity, tiny food stalls selling various fried things that smelled so tempting and greasy. I pulled out a cigarette and stood for a moment to light it.

“Men don’t like women who smoke,” came a voice from a nearby table of guys that looked like they could be my dad. I locked eyes with the one who made the comment, a wry smile in my direction, and raised my middle finger in salute. His smile dropped instantly to a disgusted snarl, and I pocketed my lighter and raised the other one, walking away with both middle fingers over my shoulders.

“I don’t give a shit what men don’t like,” I yelled back to him.