But then the tram was pulling away, and Rusty faded into the distance, one paw raised in farewell.
When Gem got home, he took a long, hot shower, smoothed a conditioning mask into his hair, then secured his silk bonnet. He collapsed into bed a little after one in the morning and plugged his phone in to charge. A text was waiting for him.
[Rusty] You get home safe?
Gem snapped a selfie from his bed and sent it.
In bed safe and sound.
Good. Get some sleep.
You too, Care Bear.
A selfie came through of Rusty in bed, fur damp like he’d also showered, and he was flipping Gem his middle finger.
Fuck me? Name the time and place, baby.
Go to sleep.
With a yawn, Gem blacked out his screen and snuggled into his pillow, a smile on his face as he fell asleep.
The next morning, Gem hit Snooze several times before forcing himself out of bed. Two nights in a row of little sleep had him dragging his feet, but the thought of seeing Rusty and subtly flirting with him all day while everyone else was none the wiser added a spring to his step. It was exciting, having something all their own, a secret only they knew.
Not that Gem wanted to keep their relationship a secret, but he didn’t want to rush anything or put unnecessary pressure on either of them. He hadn’t dated often and never anything long-term or committed. And Rusty had never dated, period! Keeping things “chill” while they figured this out—whateverthiseven was—seemed like the right choice.
On the train to Purgatory, he admired the good morning text Rusty had sent him, every organ in his body turning to mush. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a simple good morning, accompanied by a digital doodle of a highlandcow that Gem knew Rusty had drawn on his tablet. It made him ache all over in the best way.
Good morning. Thank you for the cow. I love her with both my hearts.
Rusty hadn’t read the text yet, probably because the morning rush was still underway, so Gem added two heart emojis before he could psyche himself out—though he chose the chillest ones, of course. Then he ordered more pillows online so Rusty could build a pillow nest in his bed anytime he wanted. Lastly, he bought several new lingerie outfits, all in white, because he knew Rusty liked when he wore white.
His credit card bill was going to be incredibly depressing at the end of the month, but he’d leave that for Future Gem to worry about.
At work, Gem was the chillest he had ever been in his life. He was so chill he expected everyone around him to start putting on sweaters to keep themselves warm. Sure, he couldn’t help but smile at Rusty whenever he had the opportunity, and yes, he touched Rusty’s butt as much as he could subtly—and legally—get away with, but he wasso chill.
As Rusty clocked out that afternoon, Gem asked super-duper casually, “See you later?”
Rusty hooked his thumbs in the straps of his knapsack and nodded. “See you later.”
“See you later, man,” Oliver called out with a wave from his spot making a smoothie.
“He has no idea,” Gem whispered, winking obnoxiously as Rusty rolled his eyes.
Later still, as Gem was restocking the mood syrups, Toni hopped up on the counter beside him, shitkicker boots swinging. “So, what are we doingThursday for your hatchday? Dinner at mine? Jude’ll be there, but that’s okay, right?”
“Oh, um, actually”—Gem placed the now full bottle ofgratitudeback on the shelf—“I have plans Thursday. Can we do dinner Wednesday instead?”
Toni’s indigo brows furrowed. “What plans?”
Well, technically, Gem hadn’t made the plans yet, but he’d been banking on spending his hatchday with Rusty. Not that he could tell Toni that without it turning into a whole debacle, so to avoid that, he hedged. “I just have a thing.”
“What thing?” Toni demanded.
“A date-thing,” Gem said before he’d truly considered the wisdom of such a claim.
“You have a date? On your hatchday?” Toni asked, and Gem winced.
“Kind of?” Facing the espresso machine, Gem started taking it apart to give his hands something to do. “I, uh, have a kind of date-like-thing.”
