Margot grabbed her phone and fired off a quick text to her oldest brother, Cameron.
Margot （5:14 p.m.）： Cats—what do I need to know about them?
As a veterinarian, Cameron had to possess some wisdom worth her while. Tips, tricks, warnings, anything.
Andrew （5:16 p.m.）： why are you asking
Andrew （5:16 p.m.）： you hate cats
She screwed up her face. Great. She’d clicked on the wrong message thread, texting the family group chat instead.
Margot （5:17 p.m.）： Sorry, I meant to just text Cam.
Margot （5:17 p.m.）： And I don’t HATE cats, I have a healthy respect for them.
Andrew （5:18 p.m.）： “respect”
Margot （5:19 p.m.）： ????
Cameron （5:20 p.m.）： What kind of cat are we talking about?
Margot frowned.
Margot （5:21 p.m.）： The kind with black fur, a smushy face, and squat little legs? You’re the expert.
Cameron （5:22 p.m.）： ????
Cameron （5:22 p.m.）： Sounds like a Scottish fold.
Cameron （5:23 p.m.）： Male or female? Spayed/neutered? Age? Indoor or outdoor? Is it a stray? Feral?
Margot’s head spun. Another message appeared before she could type out a response.
Andrew （5:24 p.m.）： you still never answered why you’re asking
Margot （5:25 p.m.）： I’m sorry, did you ask a question? I didn’t see a question mark
She answered Cameron’s questions one by one.
Margot （5:26 p.m.）： Female, idk, idk, indoor now, not anymore, and I sincerely hope not.
Cameron （5:27 p.m.）： ??????
Cameron （5:28 p.m.）： I’m with Andrew on this. Why the sudden interest in cats?
Margot （5:30 p.m.）： I’m thinking about getting one?
Andrew （5:31 p.m.）： was that a question????
Jesus. Brothers.
Margot （5:32 p.m.）： My roommate has a cat.
“No, no, no.” Margot cringed, wishing there was an unsend button she could press. It was too late. The knowledge was out there for her entire immediate family to see.
Andrew （5:33 p.m.）： roommate
Andrew （5:33 p.m.）： ?!
Mom （5:33 p.m.）： I didn’t know you had a new roommate, honey.
Margot palmed her face.
Margot （5:34 p.m.）： Can we please focus on the cat?
Cameron （5:35 p.m.）： What’s their name?
Margot didn’t see why that mattered, but okay.
Margot （5:36 p.m.）： Cat.
Cameron （5:37 p.m.）： No, the roommate.
Andrew （5:38 p.m.）： or the cat
Cameron （5:38 p.m.）： ??
Andrew （5:39 p.m.）： what
Andrew （5:39 p.m.）： excuse me if i want to know the cat’s name too dude
Margot sighed. This conversation was quickly devolving into who’s on first territory.
Margot （5:40 p.m.）： No, the cat’s name IS Cat.
She chewed on her lip.
Margot （5:40 p.m.）： The roommate’s name is Olivia.
Andrew （5:41 p.m.）： who names their cat CAT
Cameron （5:42 p.m.）： Olivia, clearly. Keep up, Andrew.
Margot stared up at her ceiling, regretting her whole life.
Cameron （5:43 p.m.）： Where’d you meet her?
Andrew （5:44 p.m.）： i’m guessing cam means the roommate not the cat ??
Margot （5:45 p.m.）： You know, nvm. All I wanted was to know how to avoid being eaten in my sleep but it’s fine. I’ll be fine. If you don’t hear from me, just assume I died and went on to become dinner.
Andrew （5:46 p.m.）： circle of life ?
Mom （5:47 p.m.）： That reminds me: do you ever hear from Olivia Grant?
Margot swallowed hard. No one, not even her family, knew the specifics of her relationship—or nonrelationship—with Olivia. Mom maybe knew about her crush, but as far everyone else was concerned, she and Olivia had only ever been friends. Best friends. Margot had never seen the point in telling them otherwise. There wasn’t anything worth telling.
Margot （5:49 p.m.）： Funny story actually. My new roommate IS Olivia Grant.
Margot （5:49 p.m.）： Small world, huh?
Andrew （5:50 p.m.）： whoa weird
Cameron （5:51 p.m.）： I thought she was married to Brad Taylor?
Dad （5:52 p.m.）： No, they split up last year.
Margot shut her eyes. Okay, that was enough family time.
Margot （5:53 p.m.）： Sorry got to go! I have plans. Talk soon. ?
Andrew （5:54 p.m.）： “plans”
Cameron （5:54 p.m.）： Avoid petting her stomach and hind area.
Andrew （5:55 p.m.）： what the fuck
Andrew （5:55 p.m.）： boundaries bro
Mom （5:57 p.m.）： I think Cameron was talking about the cat, honey.