Page 33 of Shaped to Be Yours

“We weren’t in there for long. Guess you must have missed it.”

Whether Whitmore believed me or not, he didn’t press the issue.

A wrap at my door drew my attention up. It was Ricky, fresh from brushing his teeth and getting ready for bed. He was wearing flannel sleep pants and the T-shirt I’d gotten him the year he got me my Shawn Mendes album. The shirt was blue with a design like an element from the periodic table, only the atomic symbol read Wtf, and underneath it said:

THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE!

That got a smile out of me, which I hadn’t been able to muster for hours. It was just a T-shirt, but Ricky looked so good in it.Betterbecause it was something from me.

It was late now, Mom had gone up to bed already, and I’d been chatting through the Monster Match app, waiting for Ricky to come back downstairs. I hadn’t actually said, “Come to my room after,” but we hadn’t said goodnight yet.

I didn’t have any new messages from Cael, but his spider friend, Teracht, had been messaging me. His username was not creative.

Teracht:Jason, what do humans enjoy receiving as Birth Day gifts?

BROmance2021:this for your boy?

Teracht:Yes, for Caleb.

BROmance2021:how soon?

Teracht:It is less than two months away.

BROmance2021:that’s forever from now! u got time

Teracht:I do not wish to be caught unprepared. My species does not give gifts. If we did, it would probably be a nutrient-rich snack wrapped in silk, but that does not seem appropriate.

BROmance2021:dude what are you even talking about? isnt your webbing so strong he wouldn't be able to open a gift wrapped in it anyway? think less perishable too

Teracht:My webbing can be whatever strength I desire, but I think I understand. I have heard that homemade gifts can be appreciated between human mates. Would that be sufficient?

BROmance2021:perfect! make him something out of your webbing he can hang as artwork. something that reminds you of ‘love’ or when youre together or wtv

Teracht:Such as a heart? Or a phallus perhaps?

BROmance2021:stick with the heart

I had just sent that last message when Ricky knocked. I glanced down again and saw that, thankfully, Teracht had responded with:

Teracht:Understood.

He and Cael could be so weird sometimes. Extra formal and, well, alien? Also hilarious! And it made me feel better about my ‘alien’ status whenever I talked to them. Whatever I was, I couldn’t possibly be weirder than them, right?

I set my phone aside and sat up, crossing my legs, as Ricky came in. I was in a T-shirt too, just a ratty old football one from high school and my own loose sleep pants. One of my records was playing. Not the Mendes one but this indie band called Gold Necklace who I’d first misread asPearlNecklace but ended up loving them anyway when I bought their vinyl. Their sort of jazz fusion sound, with only my lamp on beside the bed, made the atmosphere almost romantic.

Ricky sauntering toward me, both of us in sleep clothes, in the dim light, two floors below anyone being able to hear us, made it romantic too.

Or just hot.

“I know this was only our first full day here,” Ricky said, climbing onto the bed to sit mirroring me, “but it feels like we keep getting interrupted to have any alone time. It doesn’t help that the mood keeps getting killed by sad things from the past or freaky things happening around us. Or a government agent showing up who you so clearly think is hot.”

“I just… wait, are you jealous?”

“Maybe.” Ricky glanced at his lap.

Oh, he was too cute. “It just drives me crazy that someone so infuriating is also hot, and apparently gay. But you being jealous is so much hotter than Whitmore could ever be to me. I promise I'll focus on the being infuriated with him part.”

“Thank you. Though maybe shoot for neutral with him so you don't piss him off.”

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