28. Cat

28

CAT

Biting my lip, I tried to ignore the teenagers roaming the store and laughing at every other book. It had been days since Bri let the league's funding problem slip and I hadn't been able to get it off my mind.

Coming up with ways to help the rec league from shutting down was a lot harder than I thought. Of course, I could just donate the missing sum myself. But I knew Cleo would never let that happen.

From my spot on the old leather chair in the corner, I watched Cleo at the register. They kept an eye on the teens too, but knew that this was just part of their journey to adulthood.

When they caught my eye, I smiled.

"What?" They furrowed their brow suspiciously.

I shrugged. "Just thinking." It wasn't a lie. I was just thinking about something they didn't need to know about.

But my eye caught on the bulletin board behind Cleo's head. Dozens of posters filled the small cork surface.

Have they ever bothered to advertise the league?

I rubbed my forehead. It wouldn't be difficult to make some on my laptop and post them around town. Surely, a few of LAWSON's rich friends would want to support a local sports league full of queer women.

Before I could finish the thought, Cleo tried to follow my gaze. "Seriously, what are you looking at?"

"The board." I shrugged, hoping they wouldn't ask more.

"What about it?" They pushed.

It was silly of me to think they would suddenly be a less curious person.

Before I could even answer, Cleo shook their head. "Will you drop it please?"

I shrugged. "I'm sorry. I just feel like this has to have an easy fix."

Resting their head on their palms, Cleo glared at me. "Why do you have to solve it? We always find the funding. It's a small league."

"Because I appreciate what they're doing for me. And I appreciate you. I want that space to keep existing for you." I clenched my jaw, knowing that Cleo was going to tell me to drop it again.

With a sigh, Cleo nodded. "I get all of that but…"

A young woman approached the counter and held out a book.

Turning to their customer service, Cleo smiled. "Hey, find what you were looking for?"

"Yeah, I've been looking for this for months."

"Well, we're glad you found it here. Thanks for stopping by." Cleo completed the purchase and waved as the woman left the store.

When the bell chimed at the front, signaling her exit, Cleo turned back to me. "Look, we like how small the league is. It's easy going and the championship is mostly a joke. None of us want to bring too much money into it."

Nodding, I sighed. They were right. Money made everything more complicated. Suddenly, the rec league wouldn't just be a bunch of people coming together and playing softball. It would be about corporate sponsors and winning .

"Okay. If that's what you want." I relented.

Looking around the now-empty store, Cleo came around the counter and sat on my lap. They planted a kiss on my lips. "Thank you."