Chapter 1The A-Lister’s Late-Night Tweet: The Stray Cat Brought Me a Nephew

A-List movie star Ethan Hayes tweeted late at night:

[How does my giant nephew just disappear while we’re on a walk?!]

I was just taking a screenshot to text my manager and gossip about it when someone knocked on my door.

I opened it to find the stray cat I always feed, sitting right next to the exact kid from the movie star’s photo.

"Human, do you like tiny humans?"

* * *

Between filming projects, I often feed the stray cats in my apartment complex.

There’s one beautiful tabby with a huge pregnant belly who always meows when she sees me.

Before eating, she always rubs against my legs and gives two little meows to say thank you. Very polite.

After feeding her for a while, she memorized which door was mine and started leaving little trinkets on my welcome mat.

At first, it was dead mice and sparrows. I got jump-scared a few times.

Later, she upgraded to pretty leaves and little flowers.

I couldn’t resist taking a picture and posting it on Twitter.

[Who gets daily flower deliveries from a feline knight? Me, that’s who!]

My fans flooded the comments, praising me for being sweet and the cat for being an angel.

Unexpectedly, the notoriously aloof A-lister Ethan Hayes actually left a comment.

[Human, as long as you like it.]

The internet immediately exploded, and people started shipping us.

[Holy crap! The Ice King Ethan Hayes is actually trolling online? If this isn't true love, what is?!]

[Ahhh, my rare-pair ship is finally sailing! I’ve been shipping them ever since they walked past each other at that awards show!]

[Chloe Bennett is Hollywood’s most wanted girlfriend! Mr. Hayes, you have excellent taste!]

My manager, Sarah, called me immediately, demanding to know what exactly my relationship with Ethan was.

I racked my brain, but the only interaction I could think of was squeezing past his seat at the Oscars and whispering, "Excuse me."

"Does Ethan Hayes have a secret crush on you?"

"How is that possible?! I’ve only been in the industry for three years. Our paths have literally never crossed!"

I rubbed my temples, opening my messages to text Ethan’s manager, trying to figure out the most polite way to handle this.

After all, if the gossip blogs got ahold of this comment and spun a narrative, we’d never be able to wash our hands of the rumors.

I hadn’t even typed two words when my phone started vibrating.

I answered it. A deep, slightly embarrassed male voice came through the speaker.

"Chloe, I am so sorry. My nephew accidentally sent that comment from my phone."