Chapter 111: Plushie Wars
Rhys
’’We should get something for Starlight too,’’ I murmured against his ear after staring at the sharks for a while. ’’A souvenir from our first trip as a couple.’’
Kayden’s face lit up at the mention of our Maine Coon. ’’You are right. We shouldn’t forget our baby who I haven’t seen in a week.’’
I nodded and took his hand as we made our way to the luxury Store at the end of the exhibit. It was quiet here, quite different from when we were near the tanks.
Kayden let go of my hand and was already scanning the shelves with a mission in his eyes as he took on his role as a kitten dad.
I just smiled as I watched him.
’’We should check on Starlight first,’’ Kayden suggested, pulling out his phone. ’’The vet said she was doing great with the sitter but I need to see her. It’s been a week or more I believe.’’
I leaned against a display case and nodded in response. Starlight was currently staying with a specialized vet sitter who focused on socialization.
Kayden hit the dial for a video call and within seconds, the screen flickered to life.
’’Look at her!’’ Kayden hissed excitedly, turning the phone so I could see.
The sitter was in a sun-drenched room filled with climbing structures. Starlight, who was already significantly fluffier than when we’d left, was currently engaged in a high-stakes wrestling match with a tabby kitten half her size.
She looked healthy, energetic, and completely unbothered by our presence even when the sitter pointed the camera at her face.
’’She is making friends,’’ I murmured, leaning in close to Kayden so I could see the screen.
’’Look at the way she’s using her paws. She’s definitely going to be a big girl.’’
’’She’s a natural born defender,’’ Kayden joked, waving at the screen as the sitter called her name and she paused her pouncing to stare curiously at the phone. ’’Hey, girl! We are getting you something special, okay? Be good for the sitter.’’
Starlight just stared at the screen with her big emerald eyes.
Kayden and I exchanged looks and smiled, then we hung up.
’’Glad to see her having fun,’’ Kayden said and then turned toward the high-end pet section of the boutique. ’’Okay, now we shop,’’ he said excitedly.
’’I am thinking of buying her an aquarium plushie,’’ Kayden said as he looked through the high shelves of the store, his eyes scanning every row full of high-end soft stuffed sea creatures. ’’Since she loves to pound and pound on things, she needs something durable but soft.’’
I watched as he picked up a plushie of a fat round seal and squeezed it, testing the resistance.
A small smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. ’’She’ll probably have the stuffing out of that in ten minutes, Kayden. She has the temperament of a defenseman.’’
Kayden scoffed. ’’Guess who she got it from?’’ he asked.
I gave him a questioning look and then he pointed towards me. ’’Me? I don’t have any...’’
’’We will get her two,’’ Kayden cut me off as he grabbed a large vibrant blue octopus with long braided tentacles perfect for a Maine Coon kitten to wrestle with. ’’This is it. She is going to love this.’’
’’Actually, wait,’’ I said as a rare mischievous glint caught my eyes.
I reached for a particularly grumpy-looking sea turtle with a slightly oversized shell and a very judgmental expression. I held it up right next to his face, looking back and forth between the two. ’’OMG! Look what I found? Another Kayden!’’
Kayden rolled his eyes, scoffed, and pointed a finger at the plushie and himself. ’’Me? I don’t have any...’’
’’The resemblance is uncanny,’’ I interrupted, my voice deadpan as I wiggled the turtle’s flipper. ’’It has that exact ’I’m always grumpy’ vibe.’’
’’I do not look like a grumpy turtle, Rhys!’’ Kayden snapped, though the twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed him. He made a lunging grab for it but I was faster.
I darted around a display of coral-themed mugs, the plushie tucked under my arm like a football. ’’It’s coming with us. Starlight needs to know what her other dad looks like when he’s being stubborn.’’
’’Get back here!’’ Kayden hissed, half-laughing and half-offended as he started chasing me around the aisles of the store.
We moved around high-end displays, even startled a few tourists, but we didn’t care as we were enjoying the moment.
Then Kayden suddenly stopped walking toward one of the shelves until he found a particularly jagged-looking angry deep-sea anglerfish plushie with a permanent scowl and mismatched eyes.
As I approached him, he shoved it toward my chest with a smirk.
’’Fine, if that turtle is me then I’m just getting this one because it looks exactly like you,’’ Kayden countered, his obsidian eyes dancing with mischief. ’’Ugly and angry looking. It’s basically your twin when someone misses a defensive assignment.’’
I let out a loud, genuine laugh that echoed through the store, shaking my head as I looked at the hideous fish. ’’Oh come on, baby,’’ I said, flashing him a smirk. ’’This...’’ I pointed to myself. ’’Is anything but ugly.’’
’’Keep telling yourself that, Captain,’’ he muttered.
I laughed again.
We ended up buying both the grumpy turtle and the ugly fish, along with the blue octopus for Starlight. By the time we reached the car, the adrenaline from our little chase through the aisles had faded into a warm buzzing comfort.
We placed the plushies in the back seat and climbed into the front.
’’I hate you,’’ Kayden shouted, rolling his eyes as I started the engine.
’’I doubt that, Softie,’’ I said, deliberately using his nickname. He scoffed and pointed a finger at me but said nothing.
’’Baby,’’ I grabbed his hand and pulled him into my arms, kissing his lips. ’’Don’t be mad at me, love,’’ I murmured as I pulled away, winking at him. ’’Now, are you ready for the second half of the surprise?’’