Amber

1 year later

I’m waiting for Dev outside because I don’t want Jordan to be suspicious. This might not work out how I want it to.

Dev pulls into our driveway and barely parks before I run to the door and quickly get in the passenger side seat.

“Amber, you look ridiculous.”

I do. I’m wearing black leggings, an athletic sweatshirt with the hoodie tightened around my face, and oversized sunglasses.

“Don’t turn off the car, Dev. Just go,” I say, hitting his arm.

“Amber, I don’t know where we’re going.”

“You do. Just start backing up, and I’ll tell you exactly where to go.”

He reverses the car and drives slowly up the Main Street in our small town away from the coast.

“Go on the freeway and head south.”

Merging, Dev asks, “Okay, so remind me again what we’re doing?”

“It’s almost been a year since Jordan and I eloped and I want to get him an amazing gift this year. He always comes up with the best gifts for my birthday, the holidays, and our dating anniversary, so now I want to win. I mean, I want to spoil him.”

Jordan’s such a good present picker. He’s matched earrings to my eye color, and planted a garden using plants the color of my name. Last year I got really into van life videos and he rented an RV and drove me across the country to watch the seasons change. I love him so much, but gift giving is not my forte. Recently, I bought him a nice lamp and gifted him my favorite book series. The man barely watches thriller movies with me. I don’t know why I thought he’d be into my recent vampire obsession. I swear I give it a lot of thought, but when the time comes to buy him something, a fuse melts in my brain and I end up getting him something in desperation. This year will be different.

“Tell me why I had to block out four hours of my day to do it?” Dev asks.

“Well, I didn’t know how far it would be. I don’t know how long it will take. And I don’t know if it’s still there.”

“Amber, Cassie is at home with the kids, and you know how they get when they outnumber us.”

Ever since Cassie and Jordan welcomed two more babies, the pair of them have been home bodies. They make taking care of twins and a little girl look easy. It’s not, but they make it look that way because they’re such excellent partners. I even got Jordan to help Cassie with the kids because he thinks I’m helping Dev find a gift for her.

“Don’t worry. She supports my plan, and I made sure Tina, Tristan, and Jordan were going over to help her out, too.”

“Thanks. Now tell me what we’re doing.”

“We’re freeing Cinnamon.”

“What?” Dev asks, swerving the car a little.

“Chill out. I’ll be doing anything that may be illegal.”

“Illegal?”

“Don’t worry. It’s fine.”

“Start over. Tell me all the details,” Dev demands.

“You’re driving towards Los Angeles right now. Go straight to Jordan’s old place. His ex took over his rental when they broke up. You’ll knock on her door and give her this box of my clothes and stuff you’ll pretend is hers. Then just distract her while I sneak in from the side and grab Cinnamon.”

“Amber. You’re my best friend’s wife. You’re my wife’s best friend. We’ve become friends over the years, and I love you. So remember that when I say I think you’re out of your fucking mind.”

“Dev. Come on. It’s going to work. It’s got to work. You know Jordan loves Cinnamon. He’s too nice to take what’s his, but Cinnamon belongs with him. With us. His ex is a menace and Cinnamon probably isn’t safe with her. There’s no turning back now.” I keep my eyes on the road ahead.

He’s quiet for a moment, then says, “Fine, but we’ve got to come up with a better plan in the next thirty minutes, because there’s no way that’ll work.”

Half an hour later, we’re pulling up in front of a small craftsman home. It’d be cute if I didn’t know it housed the monster Jordan told me about when we first started dating.

“Let me get this straight. Our new plan is for me to go to the front door and start a conversation with her while you sneak in through the back window. Then you’ll call me on the phone when you’ve got Cinnamon safely in the car and I’ll ditch her.”

“Exactly,” Dev says.

“You’re sure she won’t recognize me or realize I’m a stranger?”

“No way. As long as you act like you know her, she’ll play along because she hates forgetting people. Jordan used to hate that. She was always so fake, pretending to know people she didn’t actually remember. She talks a lot. Just get her going and it’ll be fine.”

“You’re just as unhinged as I am, but I’m in,” I say.

I take off my dark hoodie and wrap it around my waist. No need to hide myself in all black anymore.

“Hi, Meg. I thought you lived in the neighborhood. I was just jogging and wanted to drop by,” I pretend to ask. “Meg, did you get my text? I just moved here. How’s Cinnamon?”

I try a few more, but luckily I don’t have to use any.

Just when I get to the low gate by her house, Cinnamon walks up to me on the sidewalk and purrs at my calves and falls sideways onto my sneakers.

“Hello pretty girl.” I rub her exposed belly.

I scratch under her chin and see a few mosquito bites on her back and has a minor scratch under her eye.

Poor thing looks barely taken care of. Ratty hair, hurt, and stinky. The rage in me builds up even more towards his ex for hurting my sweet man and not taking care of Cinnamon. I feel like a mama bear to this cat already.

Pulling the metal name tag up, Cinnamon’s name and Jordan’s cell phone number are etched into the center, so I pick her up and walk to Jordan’s car.

He looks at me with Cinnamon in my lap and we both start cracking up.

After stopping by a pet store to pickup essentials and get Cinnamon a bath, Dev drops me off at home.

“Amber, he’s going to be so happy. You can include me in your shenanigans anytime.”

I wave to Dev before he drives off and walk up to my front door with a few bags on my arm and a heavy box in my arms.

Taking a deep breath, I open the front door. “Jordan. I have an early gift for you. It’s going to be the best gift you’ve ever received. You’re going to love me forever.”

I put the bags on the floor and keep the boxed surprise in my arms.

A minute later, Jordan walks towards me with the biggest smile and says, “I’m already going to love you forever, Amber.”

When he gets close, Cinnamon purrs within the box and he looks at me and then back at the box.

“What’s that?”

“Your gift.”

“I love you, hon, but I don’t think I can love another cat yet.”

“I think you’ll love this one. Trust me,” I say.

I open the box and Cinnamon stretches out of the top and looks Jordan right in the eyes.

Jordan picks up his cat in disbelief and sits down on the floor and rubs her, crying.

“What’s happening? How is this possible? Is this really Cinnamon?”

“It’s really Cinnamon, hon.”

She purrs louder than ever and lets Jordan hug her tightly.

The way Jordan holds Cinnamon, I immediately get an image in my mind of him being an amazing dad. Just the idea makes my body ache for it. The sudden urge surprises me. We’ve been holding out since the idea of being single and married felt right for us both, but now I think I’m ready for more.

We got married after two years, reclaimed Cinnamon after one more, and now, after seeing him be so sweet with his cat, I think the spark of love for another addition to our family was just formed.

…

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