Page 33 of To Cuddle A Gremlin

This was the win Isadore was looking for.

CHAPTER 15

Crash: Kazmier, I think… We have to stop this flirting thing.

Kazmier: Oh? Explain.

Crash: I just… I’m not trying to lead you on. I like this other person IRL, and I don’t want any dishonesty between us. You know?

Kazmier: Oh, hun. You are just too sweet. I won’t flirt with you anymore. I swear. Tell me about this guy.

Crash: … Are you sure?

Kazmier: Yup, I want to hear about the person who stole your heart. Talk to me, Goose.

Crash: He’s really nice, and he hears me. He doesn’t let me hide. I feel as though I can trust him to not hurt me.

Kazmier: You’re right. Can’t compete with that. Good luck, friend. I promise I won’t flirt with you anymore… solemn and that shit.

Sebastian touched the screen and smiled. The rhythm of Kazmier’s words was familiar, but he couldn’t place a finger on why. But to have him at his back gave him such a sense of relief. He set his iPad on the coffee table and scratched Tiger behind the ears before standing. He had a date tonight with Charles. Spending time with someone other than Isadore was Isadore’s idea. Sebastian had thought the concept was odd, but Isadore insisted.

Sebastian didn’t know Charles well and just through his grandmother. As he was one of Isadore’s best friends, Sebastian agreed. This plan was to make Isadore happy while he recuperated. Sebastian had his misgivings about everything and how well Isadore was feeling. His leg gave him pains when he walked on tricky sidewalks, but Lord Typhon was sure in time Isadore would be racing up the hiking trails.

Charles suggested the Christmas pantomime, which was a real treat. The local theatre always put on a good show, and Sebastian enjoyed supporting the local actors. Yet going out in public in a massive group gave Sebastian a spike of anxiety.

The phone rang as though it realized Sebastian was having a crisis of faith. Whose harebrained idea was it to go out with someone other than Isadore? This was insane. His bad date karma was itching to blow up because, obviously, he was having an evening out with the wrong fucking person. Oh my God. He was going to break Charles. Isadore should never have suggested this. His leg must have muddled his thoughts to even propose such a scheme. “Hello?”

“Sebastian? This is Charles. I was hoping we could set up some concrete times. Isadore gave me your number.”

“Ah, I see. Yeah, I can chat.” Sebastian ran a hand over his head as he settled back on his couch. Tiger perked up from his spot before snuggling down again. “It was your idea to go to the panto? I went last year, and I had so much fun.”

“Yeah, I helped with set design, so I’m excited to see how the cast does. They always do an interesting twist to traditional stories. This year, a bunch of cryptids volunteered, so we’ve had a lot of fun integrating their legends with our stories. Did you know a lot of their winter solstice stories are in line with ours? So fascinating.” Charles’s excitement was infectious. Sebastian smiled and leaned against the couch cushion. He could see what made Isadore fond of him.

“I did not, so I'm intrigued to see the show. What day were you thinking?” Sebastian scratched Tiger’s back, wishing he was talking with Isadore. His conversation with Kazmier, his epiphany of wanting to be with Isadore, opened his eyes. Maybe everything he thought was a barrier was just him being scared. God, was he that much of a wimp?

“Saturday night. I have free tickets from being a member of the crew. I hope that’s okay?”

Sebastian hesitated. Saturday nights meant larger crowds, more chances to embarrass himself and his date. “Sounds fantastic. I can meet you at the theatre after work.”

“Great. I’ll see you then. Thank you for this. Harry was my other option, and he’s a terrible theatregoer.” Charles hung up the phone, and Sebastian was left alone, worrying this might be a bad idea. Charles was a friend. This was time spent outside his home, which was supposedly healthy. No one was going to get hurt. Sebastian might even enjoy himself.

The phone rang again, startling both Tiger and Sebastian. Two calls in one night? No one ever phoned him. He wasn’t—no,that was a negative thought. Sebastian wasn’t going to rehash anything about karma or bad luck. “Hello?”

“My darling. I miss you. Have you missed me?” Isadore’s whiskey-dark voice smoothed away the rough edges of Sebastian’s nerves.

“I saw you this morning when I was getting coffee.” Sebastian fell back against the soft couch and stared up at the ceiling. Talking to Isadore on the phone was a lot easier this way. The added pressure of being together physically dissipated.

“I know, but it was so short. And you were running late. I didn’t get my fix,” Isadore whined. Even his pathetic tone made Sebastian blush.

“I’m sorry. I just…”

“Nah, don’t apologize. So… I tried calling but got a busy signal,” Isadore trailed off, riding over Sebastian’s stammer.

“Oh, that was Charles. We were confirming details about our… I feel awful sharing this with you. Are you sure this is a good idea?” Sebastian scrunched his hand nervously in Tiger’s fur. He took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. Isadore might be a go for the plan, but Sebastian’s second thoughts were having their own third ones.

“Yes, absolutely. You will see what a wonderful date you are and that not everything can go wrong. It doesn’t hurt that Charles wants to do this. He’s a bit of a loner, and this theatre business makes him happy. Gets him out of the house,” Isadore replied.

Sebastian wrinkled his brow at the statement. “Won’t people think that I’m two-timing you?”

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