“That’s not necessary.” I crouched down to pick up the spilled envelopes. Sophie was prone to clumsiness and this wasn’t the first time she’d bumped that table upon entering my apartment. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course. What’s wrong with your cat?”
“He’s fine, other than high-maintenance fur and a stubborn disposition. I can’t get him into his pet carrier and I need to take him to the groomer.”
Sophie put her hands on her hips and eyed Erwin. “He must be faster than he looks if you haven’t been able to catch him.”
“If you’re implying he’s fat, he isn’t. He’s just fluffy.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Okay. Well, what’s the plan?”
“I’ll catch him with a towel, then you help me get him in the carrier and close the door before he can escape.”
“Got it.”
Sophie picked up the carrier and I armed myself with a thick towel.
Erwin eyed me with suspicion as I took careful steps toward him.
“Don’t pay any attention to what I’m doing, Erwin. I’m not going to scoop you up in this towel. I’m just walking toward you. There’s no reason to run—”
He darted into the kitchen.
“Really?”
I followed him with Sophie tiptoeing behind me. She had the carrier ready. For an animal who could barely jump onto the couch—he waited for me to pick him up and set him on the cushion these days—he could be surprisingly agile when evading capture.
Erwin sat next to his food dish, watching me with bright green eyes.
“Ready?” I whispered to Sophie.
“Ready.”
I bounded forward, but Erwin shot past me and ran between Sophie’s legs. She yelped and spun. I tried to chase after my ridiculous cat, but Sophie’s feet got tangled together and she stumbled in front of me. It was all I could do not to crash into her.
“Oops.” She steadied herself against the doorway. “Where did he go?”
“There.” I pointed to the dining table where he was attempting to use the chair legs for cover. “I’ll flush him out. Be ready.”
“Got it.”
I crept toward Erwin, murmuring soft reassurances and promises of cat treats. His flat-nosed face seemed impassive and for a second, I thought he might let me scoop him up in the towel this time.
I was wrong.
He dropped and turned onto his back, ready to defend himself with his claws. I lunged toward him, towel in both hands, but he rolled over and darted between the table legs. Sophie pulled out a chair, trying to make room to catch him, but she yanked too hard and it crashed to the floor. Right in front of me.
I leapt over the obstacle and grabbed for Erwin. He was just out of reach. My glasses slipped down my nose, but I kept up the chase, running after him. He scurried past the couch and I followed with Sophie right behind me.
“Erwin, stop!”
Naturally, he did no such thing. He darted around the perimeter of the room, effectively making a U-turn.
“Take this.” Sophie snatched the towel from my hands and shoved the carrier at me.
She changed directions, ready to cut Erwin off before he could run past. I bobbled the carrier, almost dropping it.
Sophie dove at Erwin, landing flat on her stomach, the towel outstretched. In the blink of an eye, she scooped the towel toward her and curled up around it.
“Carrier!”
I quickly crouched down, holding the carrier door open. She took the bundle of cat and towel and gently shoved Erwin inside. I shut the wire door with a click.
She rolled onto her back and let out a breath. “Phew.”
“Are you injured?”
“No, I’m fine.” She sat up and tilted her head to look at Erwin. “You weren’t kidding about him being stubborn.”
I fixed my glasses, then shook my head at my headstrong cat. He peered at me through the wire door. “Oh, Erwin.”
My eyes met Sophie’s and we both burst out laughing.
“Well, that was an adventure,” she said.
I stood and helped her to her feet. “That was an impressive catch. Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Oh yeah, I’m fine. Do you want me to come with you to the groomer?” She smoothed down her shirt, then lifted the carrier. “Wow, he’s heavy.”
“He’s of average size and weight.”
“Well, it’s not his fur that weighs so much,” she said under her breath.
“Fluffy,” I said decisively. “But thank you again for your help. I’ve been trying to get him to cooperate all morning.”
She smiled. “Anytime.”
“And I appreciate the offer to join us, but he’s learned that getting back in the carrier means going home. I don’t expect I’ll have any trouble.”
“Little stinker.” She handed the carrier to me. “Be a good boy, Erwin.”
“Will I see you for our run later?”
“I’ll be there.”
We said our goodbyes and Sophie left, thankfully without knocking the mail basket onto the floor again. After righting the furniture, I took Erwin to the groomer. True to my prediction, he got back in his carrier willingly once they’d finished.
When we got back to my apartment, I let him out. He immediately went to the kitchen and waited for me to give him more cat treats. I indulged him with another small handful.
“Was that really so bad?”
He ignored me in favor of wandering over to his cat bed and curling up in a fluffy ball.
“Well, of course you’re tired, you naughty thing.” I bent over and ran my hand over his soft fur a few times. “I’m meeting the girls for a run. I’ll be home later.”
He seemed too worn out from his unusually eventful morning to care.
“Hazel, wait up.”
Slowing my stride, I cast a glance over my shoulder at my friends. Why were they lagging so far behind? I stopped and pressed my finger to my neck, checking my pulse. It was higher than usual. I must have inadvertently increased my pace.
I waited with my hands on my hips, taking deep breaths.
“You didn’t say we were sprinting today.” Everly’s voice was slightly breathless. She was dressed in a yellow tank top and gray leggings, her blond hair in a bouncy ponytail.
“We’re not sprinting.”
Nora’s eyebrows lifted. Her dark brown hair was in a thick braid and she wore a pink tank top and black shorts that showed off her long legs. Nora always wore the sort of clothes I knew I never could. “Then what was that about? We’re not being chased.”
“You’re fast when you want to be,” Sophie said. She’d traded her t-shirt and jeans for a tank top that said I run for wine and a pair of black capris.
“I haven’t run that fast since that time in high school when Toby McDaniel’s mom caught us making out in their hot tub,” Nora said.
Everly winced. “Wasn’t Mrs. McDaniel the scary substitute teacher?”
Nora pulled her phone out of her sports bra and swiped the screen. “The very same. She was terrifying.”
“Did you get away?” Sophie asked.
“Of course I did. Mrs. McDaniel was scary, but she wasn’t fast.”