The door finally opened.
They got out together. Smiling at each other.
How cute... They are planning their next date.
It was time to interrupt. "Excuse me, doctor. Is the kitten alright?"
"Yeah, yeah, he's fine," Luca said.
"I didn't ask you!" Noelle said angrily, looking at him frowning. He didn't say anything. He just blinked.
"Of course, Miss. The kitten is fine. I did a thorough check. No injuries, no infections. I will go to the other room to check his ears and give him some flea medication, and you'll be ready to go," Doctor Hart said.
She was so friendly and professional. That took the edge off Noelle's anger.
"Thank you, doctor. But go where? Can't you keep him here for a while?" What was she supposed to do with it? Finding a foster family was difficult, she knew that well.
"I'm afraid no. There are some facilities for stray animals that I can propose, but I was under the impression you would keep it. Mr. West told me how long you have been waiting, and how difficult it was to get it out of the engine," Doctor Hart said.
Wait a minute... He didn't brag about how he did all by himself, but told her the actual facts? Was he trying to impress her with his honesty? She looked at him, but Luca was avoiding her.
"It's not that I don't want to, but I will be leaving in a couple of months," Noelle explained.
"I see. And Mr. West is allergic," Doctor Hart said. She knew that already. "Let us see your options when I get back."
Noelle was now alone with him. In just two hours, he managed to completely confuse her.
"Why are you so aggressive all of a sudden?" Luca dared to ask.
"When was I not aggressive?" she attacked.
"You're just a little bit more now."
"I'm just angry that I can't go home, because my bag is in your car! You can be the kitten hero all by yourself," she said.
"Heartless... You would leave us alone? Me and the kitten?"
A pair of puppy eyes looked at her, leaving her out of breath.
"You don't need me!"
"I need you!" Luca said, and for a second she felt strange, electrified. "We have to give another ride to our little friend! To his new home," he added, smiling.
"Where's that?" she asked.
"I'll tell you in a minute," he said and grabbed his phone. "Hey, it's me! Is Jason there? Let me talk to him!" he said to a familiar female voice. "Hello Jason! Tell me, do you want a kitten? Yes? Great! I'll bring you one tonight! Yes, really!"
"Luca! No, no, no!" The female voice was heard loudly now.
"Don't worry! I'll be bringing you food!" Luca said, smiling and hung up the phone.
"You'll give it to Chloe?" Noelle asked.
"To her son," he said.
"She didn't sound very excited."
"She'll be fine. I'm going to the bathroom for a second."
While he was away, Doctor Hart returned. "He's in great condition! So, have you decided what to do with it?"
"We've probably found a place for him," Noelle replied.
And then she dared: "Have we met before?"
Doctor Hart looked at the kitten before answering.
"No. I'm sure I would remember."
Noelle was smart. She got the hint.
Luca returned at that moment. "Ready to go?" he asked the kitten and took the kitten from the vet.
"I heard you found a place. That's great. He doesn't need any bottle feeding, but he needs proper liquid food. I'll give you some. Any other questions?" she asked.
"No, I think we are OK. Thank you for taking care of him… Andrea." He said her name slowly, dragging the syllables. It sounded foreign on his lips.
Doctor Hart froze. Her professional smile faltered for a second. "Anytime," she replied. "Now, you know where to find me."
Luca looked at her for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. "I don't think I will be saving any other kittens soon."
"I understand. This can't be a full time job. Let's go to the reception," Doctor Hart said.
Everything was done in a few minutes and they were back in the car, driving to Chloe's house. Noelle sat silently through the whole ride, petting the kitten who was already feeling much more comfortable, and was sleeping.
Luca parked under Chloe's apartment. He quickly opened the outside door, and they went up to the fifth floor. He rang the doorbell to her apartment. When the door opened, a defeated Chloe appeared.
"I only opened the door because I want to understand what the two of you are doing together," she said.
"We saved the kitten. What else?" Luca said. "Jason! Where are you?" he shouted, taking the kitten from Noelle.
A cute little seven-year-old boy came running to see his new pet. "Wow! It's perfect!" he said while stroking its head. "Mom... We'll keep it, right?"
"Only for tonight," Chloe said. Noelle knew that one night was doomed to become forever when coming to baby animals.
"Oh, hello miss! Are you Luca's friend?" Jason asked politely, after seeing her.
"Hello Jason! Nice to meet you! I work with your mom." They definitely weren't friends.
"Nice to meet you too!" he replied and turned to Luca: "Can I hold it?"
"Of course! It's yours!"
"Luca, I don't know if we can keep it. Don't say such things," Chloe said. "But I'm dying. What is Noelle doing with you?"
He started saying everything that had happened since their encounter.
"Noelle, you haven't said a thing. Is that all true?" Chloe asked, surprised, when he finished.
"Yes, it is. But he forgot to say how he boasted to the ladies that he had done it all by himself. I wonder why he hadn't lied to you too," Noelle pointed out.
"Are you serious? I said that for the video," Luca said. "Now, Jason, come! Let's play a little bit with him! We have to give him a name, right?" They went together to the living room.
"Come, let me treat you to some iced tea," Chloe said and Noelle followed her to her kitchen.
Noelle was watching Luca play with Chloe's son. "So do they spend time together?" she asked Chloe.
"Those two? Sure, whenever they can. Luca has known him since day one. He drove me to the hospital when my water broke. Jason's father was on a business trip and he arrived two days later. Luca waited during the labour, and he was by my side when I was alone in the room with that newborn, totally afraid that I would drop him! He helped me a lot, even with his clumsiness. You know, I watch them grow up together," Chloe said with a nostalgic look on her face.
"You sound like a mother to him," Noelle said, laughing.
"You are right. There are moments I feel he's my firstborn. He sees me as an older sister. And my son treats him as a brother. We have a really complicated family tree," Chloe said, laughing also.
She seemed more relaxed when she was at home.
"You consider him family?" Noelle asked as she couldn't wait to hear more.
"After everything, what else could we be? He visits frequently, he even baby-sits occasionally. And now he brought me an animal! I was expecting that! He is crazy about animals, and he always wanted a cat. He had tried to foster one as a child, but it was then that his parents found out he was allergic," Chloe said as she was giving a glass to Noelle.
Luca saw that. "Don't I get some iced tea?" he asked.
"You know where the kitchen is. Come and take it," Chloe said.
He made a disapproving grimace and continued playing with Jason. Noelle was enjoying seeing him being so playful and carefree.
Chloe probably noticed. "You are seeing a different side of him today."
"Lucky me!"
"I'm sure he's seen a different side of you as well."
"I don't think that he'll change his mind over me," Noelle said feeling disappointed.
"I understand why he's reacting the way he does. Forgive him for not being mature, but he's been through a lot," Chloe said.
A lot? Chloe understood? That was so confusing. Maybe more confusing from what was going on inside her head. All the time she spent tonight with him was shifting her feelings - again. She wasn't looking forward to leaving, and she was already thinking when she would see him again.
She knew she would hate him again.
Just not tonight.
In any case, she hadn't taken her bag from the car - a semi-conscious decision.
Chloe went to join them, while Noelle was sipping her tea. However, she felt that she was again invading a private moment. It was time to go. "Sorry, I must be going. I have to work on my thesis..." she said as she stood up.
"You must be tired. Luca, make sure she gets home safely," Chloe said.
What? No, she had enough of him for a day!
No more Luca - or she would change her mind and heart.
"No, please..." she started saying.
"Nonsense. Will you take her home?" Chloe asked him directly.
He let out a sigh of reluctance before nodding. "Of course."
"I will..." Noelle started saying again.
"Miss Noelle, trust Luca. He's a good driver," Jason said.
There was nothing she could say about that. She went by the door, waiting. Luca brought her the kitten. "You wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, right?"
"Of course not!" she said and grabbed the little kitten. "Bye little one. You're lucky you know! I hope to see you again," and she left it on the ground, running to Jason. They were bonding already.
"Much better. Now we can go. Jason, add Lucky to the list of names. It fits well!" Luca said and waved. Did he just consider something she said?
Chloe stood next to them. "You brought me trouble, Luca... You'll pay for that! But you're off the hook, as you found a way to work with Noelle. I hope I'll be able to see you two working together from now on."
"No way. A kitten is a kitten and business is business," he responded. He was completely insensitive. Or insane?
"That's OK, Ms Brown. Thank you for the tea. Good night Jason!" Noelle said and opened the door. She should have taken her bag after all.
Luca joined her in a bit, since Chloe was probably lecturing him. They entered the elevator and began their way downstairs.
Somewhere in the middle of the descent she saw Luca's head turning to face her. And then she heard his voice. "So, do you want to get something to eat? I am buying."
Noelle was looking straight ahead, at the elevator door. She was feeling many parts of her brain twitching. The only thing she wanted to do now was throw him down on the floor and start punching his face.
Or maybe kiss it?