Page 44 of Tis the Season for Tentacles
A strange ache has me rubbing at my chest and frowning. I don’t like seeing Felix so dejected.
“For too long, I’ve made school and then my job my whole life. I’m passionate about caring for animals, but I realize I’ve lost out on other things. And the job can be brutal. There is an incredibly high rate of suicide among professionals in my field.”
I jolt at his words. “Why?”
His melancholy smile makes the ache in my chest even worse. “There’s a lot of pressure and stress. For most of us who went into this profession, we did it because we love animals and always have. But the reality is that typically, when a veterinarian is needed, it’s not for the happier and healthier moments in an animal’s life. It’s more often when they’re injured, ill, or dying. That can get hard to handle, especially when you have very minimal control over such things. It’s incredibly difficult for most of us to see an animal in pain.”
Luna’s eyes glisten with unshed tears, and she reaches out to take hold of Felix’s hand. “Thank you for sharing that with us. I had no idea what all you have to deal with. It all sounds incredibly challenging. I hope you can figure out a happier but still fulfilling path when you go home.”
Felix wipes at his wet eyes. “Me too. Thanks for listening. Not gonna lie, it feels kind of good to get that off my chest. Haven’t really had a lot of people I could talk to about this stuff in a long time.”
I study his profile, my worry mounting. “You have not experienced thoughts of ending your life, have you?”
For a moment I stop breathing as I wait for him to respond.
“Not at all. I just think I need to do something new going forward. Now I have to figure out what that is.”
His words send relief rushing through me.
Luna drains the rest of her ale and gets to her feet. “Well, friends, I’m off to bed. This has been real, but I need my beauty sleep. I’ll catch up with you in the morning.” She gives us a sassy wink. “Enjoy that kinky sex room of yours. I can’t wait to hear all about it tomorrow.”
Felix lets out a nervous laugh, and I scowl at her as she saunters away with a little swing to her hips.
I love Luna, but she is a troublemaker with a capital T.
Felix and I accept the inevitable and quit stalling. We make our way back to our room in the first uncomfortable silence we’ve had together all day.
Damn and blast.
When we get inside the room, I try to ignore the suggestive decor all around us and clear my throat. “Would you like to take a shower before bed?”
Felix’s eyes widen.
“Alone, of course,” I hasten to add.
Felix blushes a little, and it’s charming.
Quit that, I tell myself.
“Oh, uh, yeah. Sounds good.”
“Why don’t you go first? I’ll take my shower after you.”
He goes to the wardrobe and looks inside for a long moment.
I recall the various clothing choices in there and wince.
Finally, he pulls out a warm pair of sleep garments and a fluffy robe then heads into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
The room is pleasantly warm, but I have discovered that humans seem to have a lower natural body temperature and are more sensitive to heat and cold than my kind.
I sit on the end of the bed, which is covered with soft and fluffy pillows and blankets. It’s the most normal thing in the whole room, thank the galactic gods.
Settling my elbows on my knees, I lean forward and rest my head in my hands.
It’s not like I’m going to lose my mind and ravish Felix tonight. Or vice versa.
I rub my temples with the tips of two tentacles and focus on regulating my breathing.
