The paint-streaked lawyer put her coffee down and turned toward him.
She pushed her hair back behind her shoulder.“Thanks.Damn pre-pubescent shits.Can’t get them to do anything without their hormones being all over the place.”
A paint-free Peter burst into the break room.“Theodore!”He reached for Theo, wrapping him in his arms before looking at the other lawyer.“Oh, Dina.The children got you.We’ll pay for dry cleaning.”
The lawyer’s face reddened, complementing the paint stains on her clothes.“They’re too young to react much to a succubus’s charm, sir.I apologize.I won’t let it happen again.”
Theo perked up and tried to turn, despite Peter’s arms still being around him.“You’re a succubus?”
“She is,” Peter said.“Dina, please collect the small humans, contact their parents, and hand them off to them.We are not a day care.”
Dina picked up her coffee.“Of course.Should I collect their contact information for a damages claim?”
Peter nodded.“Sure, why not.You may handle all of that.Should be a fun project.Good learning opportunity.”
The lawyer, despite her ruined suit, seemed to like that idea.Theo wasn’t sure whether she was excited about the learning opportunity or the damages claim.She took the pigtailed girl by the wrist and left the three of them alone in the break room.
Mike turned to Peter.“You want me to ask them why they were here?”
Peter let go of Theo but kept his hand on Theo’s back.Peter’s presence was comforting, and something Theo hadn’t been aware he’d missed.Wait, that can’t be right.It’s only been a few hours, and it’s not like I can’t exist without him.I’m just being emotional.
Peter shook his head.“I compelled one of the miscreants already.They were recruited online to play a prank, flash mob style.From the description they gave me, it was one very frustrated vampire who sent them here.”
The blood drained out of Theo’s face.“Bernard sentkidsafter me?Children?How did he even know we were here?”
Peter shrugged.“At this point, I’m expecting him to follow us almost constantly, and I did leave him my card, if you recall.”
Theo did recall.He remembered that day all too well—leaving the library after what had started out as a more or less normal day.And then he was there, looking at me as if he owns me.
Theo wanted to throw up.He felt dizzy.A little over a week ago, his life had been well-ordered, and he’d found a clear trajectory for it and started it along that trajectory.Now?
Theo leaned against Peter’s side.“I’m sorry this is happening, I—”
“Not another word of this, Theodore.May I kiss you?”
Theo glanced at Mike and opened his mouth to say no, but Mike was smiling, all but giving Theo a thumbs-up.Theo nodded, and Peter wasted no time.He wrapped Theo in another hug, pulling him close as if he wanted to crush him, crumble him to dust.He’s just holding me tightly though.He’s…he’s gentle.I like this.
Theo was almost dizzy by the time Peter broke the kiss, his arm around Theo’s middle and turned back to Mike.“I was about to send the gargoyles home.Will you help Theodore get his bag while I do?I believe we are quite done here for the day.”
“Sure.”Mike winked at Theo.“We should really get together for lunch sometime though.Or dinner.You guys do dinner?With a movie or a game and food on the side for those of us who don’t eat people?”He looked back and forth between Peter and Theo.
“Michael, do not be vulgar,” Peter said.“Idrinkpeople.Theodore?”
“What?Oh.”Theo’s head was reeling.He knew this was one of those invitations couples got, something that happened when you settled down with someone and shared friends.It doesn’t feel like me.But both Mike and Peter were looking at him expectantly.“Sure,” Theo said.“Sounds good.”
Peter nodded, satisfied.“Once we have the ex situation sorted, naturally.You know how annoying those can get, Michael.”
Mike nodded.“Do I ever.Not that you need to keep bringing it up, by the way.”
“One must always learn from history, Michael.Theodore, I will see you in a moment.”
Theo nodded, and Mike marched him back to his office, where Theo’s laptop was still showing an article about black-eyed children.Theo closed it and shoved the device into his bag.
Mike picked up his phone from his desk and came over.“Let’s exchange numbers.In case you ever need anything.”
“Oh.Yeah.”
It was awkward adding Mike to his list of contacts.Theo didn’t have a lot of people in there yet, because the semester hadn’t started, and because he hadn’t had the bandwidth to socialize much.
