“I thought he might stay with Xander. He’s going to sit in the car with you for that long?”

“Yeah, man. It’ll be fine. He’s my cat, not Xander’s, anyway.”

Xander is my soon-to-be ex-roommate and my now ex-boyfriend. We moved in together the summer before we both started our graduate program and have lived together ever since. I was a fucking wreck when we moved in together, and he was there for me when I felt so alone and confused. We officially started dating about six months after, and have been together ever since.

We ended things when I got the job offer. He has zero interest in leaving the state, and long distance isn’t really my cup of tea. Plus, we were more friends with benefits than anything else. We weren’t in love. It was bound to end at some point. May as well be now.

“Are you excited for the job?” Weston asks, pulling me back into the here and now.

“Hell yeah, I am, man. Are you kidding?! This is why I’ve worked my ass off for the last decade.”

“Right on, my man. Does this mean you’re more likely to come visit me now that you’re only a few states away?” The underlying annoyance is clear in his tone. I haven’t been the greatest friend in the last few years. With school and work, and my own issues, I’ve barely been out to see him. He’s been here at least a dozen times since he moved, and I’ve flown out to see him twice… in five years.

“I will, I promise. I’m sorry.”

“Nah, don’t stress it, bro. You’ve had a lot going on. I just miss hanging out with you.”

“I do too. Maybe once I get settled in my new place, I’ll take a weekend trip down to see you.”

“Sounds good. Look, I gotta run. King and I are heading out to dinner with some clients, but let me know tomorrow once you hit the road. Drive safe, man.”

“Will do. Later.” Hanging up, I throw the phone down on my bed, resuming packing. Houston trots into the room, tail rolled like a curly Q.

“Hey, buddy. Ready for our road trip? Probably not, huh? Will be kinda boring for you. My bad, little dude.”

His giant green eyes study me as he sits perched on my pillow. His skin is dark gray, and his nose is all black. He behaves more like a dog than an actual cat.

“I think you’ll like Texas, though, little man. It’s hot as hell there. I see lots of sunbathing in your near future. Thank me later.”

“You’re never going to make friends in Texas if you keep talking to your cat like he’s a person.”