Page 20 of To Cuddle A Gremlin

The day flew by with queries from patrons and no opportunity to zip out of the library for a snack. No one wassure why the library was busy, but soon enough, five o’clock was there, and Sebastian could go home. His brain buzzed with the interactions from screaming children to older adults needing to fax something. When Isadore popped his head inside the library, Sebastian discovered how quickly his afternoon had disappeared. Isadore’s cheeks were pink and rosy, while his toque covered his pointed ears.

“So I was wondering if I could walk you home?” Isadore leaned on the standing desk and smiled brilliantly at Sebastian. Isadore gave Sebastian a slow glance over, sending a shiver down Sebastian’s spine. Sammi clasped her hands together and swooned. Sebastian blushed at her antics, embarrassed at being caught speechless

“Sure, yes. Let me grab my stuff.” Sebastian led Isadore to the staffroom as he ignored Sammi’s whistles. He refused to meet Isadore’s eyes while Sammi called out her goodbyes. What would Isadore say once he learned they’d been talking about him the whole day? Sebastian wasn’t ready to meet his knowing smile.

Pausing at the touch of Isadore’s hand, he blinked at Isadore, who adjusted Sebastian’s collar and tightened his scarf. “Is Sammi always like that?”

Sebastian’s ears burned at the question. Of course Isadore would ask why Sammi whistled at him. He was a curious fellow, and he had this irritating quality of understanding when the topic was about him. “Most of the time? She likes to cause trouble. She also wanted me to tell you that you’re gorgeous.”

Isadore arched an eyebrow. “Oh, really now? What about you? What’s your opinion?”

Sebastian sucked in air and choked on his spit. Of course, his way of getting back at Sammi would backfire. This was why he never played these games. He was terrible at them. “Yes, maybe? I think so.”

“You’re going with maybe?” Isadore bumped his shoulder against Sebastian’s. “My heart is breaking. It’s lying there, cracking under all that faint praise.”

“Wha–what are you–I didn’t mean–I’m sorry. I mean you are–It’s just–Shit.” Sebastian stopped talking and moving. He hadn’t meant to insult Isadore. Because Isadore was so handsome, especially when he smirked at Sebastian, as he was doing now.

Isadore cupped Sebastian’s head in his hands and tugged down before kissing Sebastian’s forehead. “Breathe there, Bas. I’m teasing.”

The nickname caused the butterflies in Sebastian’s stomach to explode into flight. “You’re always so touchy-feely. Why?” The words out of his mouth were snarly and the exact opposite of what he wanted to say.

“Because it connects me to you, and you lean into it every time. Despite your weak protest, I will continue.” Isadore pecked Sebastian’s lips before cocking his head to the side. “Unless, of course, you are upset. Then I will stop.”

“I–uh, I’m not sure,” Sebastian stuttered. He cursed his inability to string sentences together. And he was sure Isadore was flirting with him. Clearing his throat, Sebastian tried once more to get his point across. “No. Yes, yes, I do. I do. Maybe? Shit.”

“Well, that was clear as mud.” Isadore stepped close enough to brush against Sebastian but not stress him out. It was like he understood Sebastian’s needs more than Sebastian himself. How could he read him so well? “I’ll take that as a win.”

“Someone has to.” Sebastian sighed. He had to stop being so nervous around Isadore, otherwise Isadore would think he was a loser, and honestly, this was the first time Sebastian hoped that he could get beyond the initial hump. With his apartment coming into sight, Sebastian panicked once more. He’d like toinvite Isadore upstairs, but what would they do? What would Isadore expect? Was this an actual date? Did Isadore expect some sort of sex thing? Oh my God, this was why Sebastian never had second or third dates. This lack of clarity would be the death of him. And his indecision or inability to make his own boundaries clear was always a death knell.

“Bas, Bas, you’re worrying way too much.” Gripping Sebastian’s coat, Isadore brushed his cold nose against Sebastian's, shocking him out of his spiralling thoughts. “This was a walk home. Nothing more, nothing less. This was not a date, and it definitely wasn’t what you humans call a 'date three.'”

Sebastian paled at the mention of date three. He knew what that was. He’d read books and consumed enough media to understand date three meant sexual congress. “What? Date three? How? I’m not ready for that!”

“And that’s okay, sweet Bas. We’ve had a few shitty beginnings, so I have no assumptions–”

Sebastian inhaled and stepped away from the comfort of Isadore’s heat and closeness. “How could you say that? I accept dating’s hard, and I tried—” He stumbled, fighting to get his thoughts out. Hurt and humiliated didn’t describe how much under the bus he felt at the casual way Isadore threw the words out into the universe.

“Sebastian, I did not say–” Isadore grabbed a hold of the coat’s belt loops to stop Sebastian from leaving. “Listen to me. I did not say that our–”

“Thank you for walking me home.” Sebastian sniffed and fobbed the main door. He slipped inside before Isadore could get over his shock and continue their conversation. Sebastian walked to the elevator, ignoring the vibrating of his phone.

“I wasn’t done.” Isadore pulled his arm and stopped Sebastian from pressing the elevator button.

“How did you get in here?” Sebastian gasped. He thought he could disappear.

“Gremlin, remember? Good with all electronics.” Isadore shook his head and stared at Sebastian, boring a hole through his skull. “Now. Listen.”

Sebastian swallowed and waited for Isadore to explain why continuing their dalliance was a terrible idea. People hated when Sebastian jumped to too many conclusions. Why was Isadore so nice? He should just cut bait and disappear. Sebastian understood when people ghosted him. He could find a new place to have lunch at. The Mothman’s Tea Shoppe would be an okay spot. It was a few doors down from the library. But the decor was so delicate, and what if Sebastian brought his bad luck mojo there?

“Sebastian, focus.” Sebastian lifted his eyes and met Isadore’s stern ones. He didn’t think he’d ever seen Isadore unhappy. The expression made his stomach queasy. “Sebastian, whatever you’re thinking, stop. Let’s sit on this bench and talk like rational people.”

“I was being rational.”

The glare burnt away all of Sebastian’s pithy comments. “Anyway, let’s try this again. I wasn’t belittling you or saying our miscommunication was your fault. Life happens, and you just tend to get trapped by it. However, going forward, we can do our best to circumvent fate, okay? You with me?”

Sebastian took a deep breath and released the air slowly. “I get you.”

“Good. I wasn’t insulting you or trying to hurt you.” Isadore rubbed the back of Sebastian’s hand in a soothing manner. The touch helped clear some of the jumbled mess masquerading as his mind.

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