Ash stopped for a moment and stared suspiciously at his sister. "What are you asking me to move in permanently or something?"

Val shrugged. "Maybe. Just... you don't have to. I want you to feel like you could if you wanted, is all. You were saying you had no plans. You could have no plans here. Could be like a little make-pretend family thing."

"And I'd have to be a cat father?"

"Cat step-father, if the full commitment was too much."

"I feel like that's worse. I don't know why, but I feel like it is."

"Well, just think about it." Val leaned over and patter Ash's knee as she...