Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

            “I think you’re the best,” I say, ruffling the fur around Schrödinger’s ears. “He’s very small.”

            “Runt of the litter.”

            I smile at the perfect beany underside of his paws. “I’ve always loved an underdog. Undercat?”

            “I’m surprised someone who likes cats as much as you doesn’t . . .”

            “Have one?”

            “I was going to say five.”

            I chuckle. “There is Félicette . . .”

            “I was thinking more of existing cats.”

            I glare at him. “I’d love to dedicate my life to embodying the cultural archetype of the crazy cat lady. But it’s a bad idea.”

            “Why?”

            “Because.” I hesitate, and Schrödinger purrs against my fingers. My love for him knows no bounds. “I couldn’t take it.”

            “Couldn’t take what?”

            “When they die.”

            Levi gives me a curious look. “Not for years. Decades, sometimes. And a lot happens between the beginning and the end.”

            “But the end does happen. Unavoidably. All relationships between living beings end somewhere, somehow. That’s just the way it is. One party dies, or is called away by other biological needs. Emotions are transient by nature. They’re temporary states brought on by neurophysiological changes that aren’t meant to be long-lasting. The nervous system must revert back to homeostasis. All relationships associated with affective events are destined to end.”

            He seems unconvinced. “All relationships?”

            “Yup. It’s science.”

            He nods, but then says, “What about prairie voles?”

            “What about them?”

            “They pair-bond for life, don’t they?”

            His eyes glint appraisingly, like he’s observing a fascinating biological phenomenon. We might not be talking about the misery of having to flush a goldfish down the toilet anymore. “Then prairie voles are the exception, because their oxytocin and vasopressin receptors are scattered across their reward systems.”

            “Isn’t that biological proof that emotions and relationships can be long lasting?”

            “Not at all. So you have two cute rodents and they stick together. Amazing. But one night husband vole crosses the highway to catch Ratatouille at the local theater and ends up pancaked by a Ford Mustang owned by a dipshit who’s driving to cheat on his wife with an unknowing college girl. Cue: grieving widow vole. It sucks, but it’s like I told you: one way or another.”

            “And what happens in between doesn’t make it worth it?”

            Have you ever been left behind? I want to ask him. Have you ever lost it all? Do you know how it feels? Because it doesn’t sound like you do. But I don’t want to be cruel. I’m not cruel. I just want to protect myself, and if Levi doesn’t want to do the same . . . he’s stronger than I am.

            “Maybe,” I say, noncommital, and watch Schrödinger gracefully steal to where Levi is standing. “So, what’s the plan for tonight?”

            “What do you want to do?”

            I shrug. “I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

            He smiles at me mischievously. “I thought maybe we could go for a jog.”



* * *



            • • •

            I’D EXPECTED HIM to be reserved about sex.

            Not that I’d thought about it very much, but if someone had held a gun to my head and forced me to guess, I’d have probably told them, “I bet Levi Ward is quiet in bed. Boring. Because he’s such a guarded person out of bed. A few low grunts, maybe. A handful of words, all directives. Faster. Slower. Actually, this other angle is better.” I’d have been wrong. Because there’s nothing reserved in the way he takes his pleasure out of my body. Nothing at all.