Page 10 of To Cuddle A Gremlin

“What was that, Sammi?” Ms. O’Leary asked, catching some of what Sammi had said. “You were mumbling a bit.”

“I wished him well.” Sammi dimpled, her eyes big and innocent as a child’s. “It’s so exciting to be a part of Sebastian’s dating experience, eh?”

“I like to think every date requires special attention.” Sebastian blushed even more as the ladies giggled at him.

“It’s a shame nobody has snapped you up yet. You are the sweetest thing.” Ms. O’Leary made pinching motions toward Sebastian’s face, and Sebastian backed up and crashed into his desk. Sebastian bit off the swear words and turned the conversation to new releases and favourite authors.

Sniffing, the ladies toddled off once he began asking about book titles they hadn’t read and he wanted them to try out. Once they were gone, the butterflies in his stomach began fluttering violently.

“Can you imagine them at the café when I meet up with Isadore?” Sebastian tried joking to lighten himself up.

Sammi smirked. “They’d go there just to see you in action.”

“Do I look okay? Am I ready?” He shifted on his feet and attempted to run his fingers through the stiffened spikes. “What if?—”

“No what-ifs. It’s going to go great. Lean down a bit.”

Ducking to allow Sammi access to his hair, Sebastian closed his eyes as she slicked back his cowlick and brushed a thumb across his cheekbone.

“Remember to smile. You have a fantastic vocabulary, so use it. And most important, he’s not an evil asshole, and he wants to be there with you.”

Nodding vigorously, Sebastian grinned. “We will do the talking thing. If you insist.”

“I do. I expect a picture with you and him smiling.” Sammi nudged him toward the exit. “Go get ’em, tiger.”

Standing in the entranceway of the café, Sebastian waited for his glasses to unfog so he could see where everyone was seated. Inhaling deeply, he nodded once he spotted Isadore sitting at Sebastian’s usual spot. So far, so good.

“Hi, I made it,” Sebastian said as he approached Isadore. He was on a date.

“You did.” Isadore stood and helped Sebastian with his coat. “I, uh, ordered you a coffee. Becks agreed.”

“Oh, thank you.” Sebastian fumbled while pulling the chair back and tripped into the seat. “Shit. I’m not this clumsy.”

“I get it. I’m hella nervous too.” Isadore bobbed his head before sitting himself. “It’s just lunch. We’re having a chat, getting to know each other.”

“Right. That’s important. I’m Sebastian, and I like coffee?” Sebastian held his hand out. Isadore eyed it with some confusion before grasping it in his warm ones. Sebastian glanced at Isadore’s long, pointed ears and claw-like fingers. “Shit, that was a human greeting. I am so sorry.”

“It’s fine. It's a habit for you. Something I’m getting used to. Will not understanding your human interactions be a problem?” Isadore arched an eyebrow as he leaned in his seat.

“What? Why? No!” Sebastian sucked in air and choked. God, he’d already offended Isadore after being in his presence for a minute. That had to be a record. Gathering himself, Sebastian prepared to apologize, but the light in Isadore’s eyes told him his gaffe wasn’t as bad as he expected. “That sort of stuff never occurred to me. By the way, your eyes are amazing. They’re like the deep layers of glaciers, so bright and still so mysterious.”

“That’s beautiful. Thank you. No one’s ever compared my eyes to ice before.” Isadore’s cheeks pinked up.

“I didn’t mean. Oh my God. I am so sorry. I’m sitting here insulting you, and this is supposed to be a date.” Mortification swept through Sebastian, destroying his mediocre confidence in one motion.What a fool. He'd compared Isadore’s perfect icy blue eyes to glaciers.Fucking glaciers. Slow-moving blobs of snow.

“No. You can’t take my compliment away. I loved it.” Isadore stretched out his hand across the table and beckoned to Sebastian with a wiggle of his claws. Sebastian set his hand down, and Isadore grasped it so Sebastian couldn’t escape. “It was sweet and adorable and completely unexpected. Exactly like you.”

“That’s not me. Geez, I’m not sweet. What gave you that idea?” Sebastian freed his hand and placed it on his hot cheeks. God, he was surprised he hadn’t set off the fire alarms. “I’m very?—”

“Kind? You are the nicest person I’ve met since we came to this town,” Isadore explained as he sipped his water, his eyes never leaving Sebastian.

Sebastian furrowed his brow, sweating under his Vader shirt. “I—I. Maybe this is not a good idea. I can feel the bad luck closing in. Something is going to happen, and it will be my fault.” The butterflies turned to thorny vines in his stomach. Honest compliments were uncommon, so Isadore’s behaviour baffled him.

“Sebastian, shh. Take a deep breath. I’ll stop. I promise. Please don’t leave yet,” Isadore apologized. His demeanour softened as he leaned away from Sebastian. Somehow, those few small inches allowed the vines to rest. Breathing became easier. He was fine. Isadore was perfect. “Thank you for joining me. I enjoy your company. This café is special to me, and it helps me feel at home.”

“Where was your home?” Sebastian asked. He hoped his question wasn’t too invasive. Some cryptids were protective of their former dimensions. They didn’t want their location bandied about because of bad apples.

“It was a cold realm. We stayed in warrens beneath the earth during the long winter season. Coming to this place was eye-opening. And we all discovered new aspects to ourselves.”

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