It’s such a little gesture in the grand scheme of things, but the fact that he’d think to do something like this for my cat—whom I love to death—means a lot to me. And I don’t even think that’s why he did it. He seems genuinely interested in Ralph, which gets to me even more. She’s not exactly the easiest cat to love.

“This is so sweet,” I murmur. “But honestly… I don’t think I’m ever going to get it on her head. She’ll probably rip my hands off just for trying.”

Declan makes a face. “Ouch. Then maybe you’d better let me do it. I’ve got thicker skin.”

“Hey, if you want to risk losing a few fingers, I won’t stop you. But don’t say I didn’t warn you if you end up bloody.”

He flashes a confident grin. “Nah, she likes me in her own way. She won’t hurt me.”

I raise my eyebrows skeptically. “If you say so,” I tell him and pass him the hat.

As if she knew we were talking about her, Ralph suddenly leaps onto the bed, startling me. Declan takes the hat from my hands and tentatively holds it out to Ralph as she creeps toward us. Her little nose plucks at the air around the hat for a few seconds before she presses it into the fabric, and Declan reaches out with his free hand to pet her head.

She pulls back at first, moving to sniff his hand, but eventually she relents and starts rubbing her face on the hat while Declan scratches her head between her ears. This is probably the fastest I’ve ever seen her warm up to someone, and it’s especially surprising because she seems to distrust men the most.

Given how messy and off-limits this thing with Declan is, I don’t know if that’s a good sign—but it’s hard to see it any other way as I watch her blink her eyes shut at him and start rubbing her head on him.

“See? I told you, she likes me,” Declan says with a smile as he keeps petting her, scratching her favorite spots on the sides of her chin.

She isn’t purring yet, but if he keeps it up, I’m sure she will be. While she’s distracted, Declan gets the hat ready, making sure it’s turned right side out. I bite my lip as I watch him start to lower the hat toward her head because I really am worried that she’s going to shred his hand as soon as he tries to put it on her, but she barely even reacts as he slips it on her and pulls her ears through.