Ginger was no longer meowing her head off, which George appreciated. Once he reached the landing, Levi met his gaze and smiled. “Hey again.”
“Hi,” George replied. “Uh, please, come inside. Do you have more stuff to get?”
“I do.” Levi put the bag on the floor near the door, then handed the carrier over to George. “But I can manage in one more trip, if you want to get to know a slightly stoned Ginger a bit better.”
He laughed. “Okay.”
Levi disappeared again, and George left the door partly open for him. He peeked in through the wide holes in the cardboard carrier, likely from the emergency vet. Ginger’s hind leg was wrapped up in a white bandage, and the poor kitty did look stoned. A tiny slip of her tongue stuck out between her lips, and that was strangely adorable. “Hello, new roomie.”
She blinked.
“These are your new digs for a while. Welcome.”
Orry wandered in from his bedroom. “Levi gone already?”
George resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “No, he had to go get more stuff. Want to meet Ginger?”
“I guess.” He bent over and looked inside. “Hi, kitty. Don’t cry too loud, okay? I have a hard time sleeping as it is.”
That tidbit surprised George a little. Sure, Orry worked several different jobs that varied hours, but he wasn’t sleeping? Even more reason for George to get his shit together. Maybe he could go out and find his own second, part-time job so Orry didn’t feel like he had to do all the work keeping the rent paid and food in the fridge.
“Why do you have trouble sleeping?” George asked. “For how long?”
“A few months, and I don’t know why. Probably just stress, and I don’t want to take those over the counter drugs. I’m fine.”
George wanted to believe him but Orry always downplayed things when he was sick or stressed out, because he didn’t want to worry George. They were going to address this again, like adults, but not while they had a guest. Levi returned a few minutes later with another bag and a box containing some sort of metal crate meant for small dogs.
“Since I couldn’t bear to leave her in an enclosed carrier for days on end,” Levi said, “I bought this for her. She’ll be able to see a lot more.”
“That’s really cool of you,” George replied. And it really was. “I have spot in my room picked out where she can see out the window.”
Levi beamed. “Show me the way.”
They left Ginger with Orry for now, and George’s stomach wobbled weirdly as another person not his brother entered his bedroom for the first time since he moved in. He pointed out the spot, and Levi immediately set to work building the crate. George watched him, once again impressed by his calm presence now that the crisis had passed. Even if Orry hadn’t been home, George was perfectly safe with Levi.
Levi wasn’t going to get angry, yell at him, and then shove him like Adrian had.
“Hey, you okay?” Levi asked.
“Huh?” George looked up to find Levi watching him with open concern. “Yeah, sorry. I got lost in thought.”
“Not good thoughts, I take it. Are you having second thoughts about keeping Ginger for a while?”
“No, this was totally unrelated. I’ve never had a pet before. I’m kind of looking forward to the experience.”
Something odd flickered in Levi’s eyes. “I look forward to the experience, too. Visiting Ginger every day is a good excuse to explore San Francisco more. Might as well since I’m out here.”
“I’d offer a guided tour but I...haven’t been out much since I came back to the city. I’m sure a lot has changed since I was younger.”
“Probably.” Levi went back to work on the crate. “I bought a small litter pan that will fit inside the crate and still give Ginger room to move around a bit. I know scooping poop every day isn’t all that fun but the litter is flushable.”
“Um, okay.” They made flushable cat litter? Curious, George went to inspect the bag of other items Levi had brought. Orry was sitting on the floor poking his fingers through the holes in Ginger’s carrier, making weird little noises at her. George grinned. Looked like she had a new fan.
Cat food, food and water bowls, litter, a small litter tray, a plastic scoop, some treats, and pill pocket things for medicine. All the basic things they’d need to get through the next few days to a week. Ginger couldn’t exactly play with toys if she was expected to stay as motionless as possible so her hip could heal. George put some food in the bowl, then stored the bag and treats on top of the fridge. Added litter to the pan. He hedged on where to keep the rest of the litter, but in the end chose the bathroom. If he was flushing the pee clumps and poop, might as well refill at the dumpsite. He didn’t want to leave a dirty scoop on the floor, so George found a plastic container with no lid that he could see, and he put the scoop in that near the toilet.
When he returned to the bedroom, Levi had just finished assembling the crate. The spaces between each slim metal bar were wide enough to get three fingers through. Miss Ginger wouldn’t lack for petting.
“Is she a snuggler?” George asked.
“Ginger?” Levi shook his head and began stuffing extra bits of garbage into the box. “Nah. Baby is the snuggler. Ginger likes to be scratched right between her shoulder blades but isn’t much of a lap cat. Mostly, she’s going to hate being confined.”
“I can kind of relate. I used to live for self-isolation and being alone, but lately I’ve been... I don’t know. Craving social interaction in a way I haven’t in a long time. I can definitely relate to poor Ginger’s predicament, but at least she’s alive. She can heal and go back to her life.”
Levi stood and held his gaze for a long moment that made George’s belly wobble again. “Is that what you’re trying to do? Get back to life?”
“Yes. And if having a real life means taking care of a friend’s cat, then that’s what I’ll do.”
“I admire you, George. Not everyone would be brave enough to step this far outside their comfort zone. Especially to help a near-stranger.”
“I don’t think of you as a stranger anymore, Levi. Maybe it’s only been a day but you are my friend. I hope.”
Levi grinned. “We’re friends.” He opened his mouth to say something else, but a loud yowl preceded Orry walking into the small room with Ginger in her carrier.
“She’s tired of me, I guess,” Orry said. He handed the carrier to George. “Here. She’s your guest.” Then he strode out of the room.
George chuckled. “For all my issues, Orry can be a drama queen, too. Do you think Miss Ginger is tired of her box?”