“Not yet,” Ernest agreed trying not to imagine Toby pulling his clothes on over those sexy limbs.“I imagine… you know… when we get to the claiming side of things, we’ll have a mind link then, and you could talk to me in your bird form.Have you got the clothes on yet?Are you having a few problems in that area?”I know I am.
Toby giggled, and Ernest had to check he hadn’t said the last thought out loud.Toby came up behind him and seconds later, his hand was wrapped around Ernest’s elbow.“A coffee would be lovely, and we should use that time to plan a date, don’t you think?”
Date?Ernest nodded.Toby couldn’t know that he was frantically trying to remember the last time he ever went out on a date at all.It wasn’t like he and Pierre dated much.The damn man moved in before they’d barely spoken to each other.
Well, okay, Pierre said it was two dates, but when Ernest thought back, it was effectively takeout from a food truck both times, then back to the house for some things he really wouldn’t be talking or thinking about while he was with his precious Toby.
“What sort of things do you like to do on dates?”Just asking sent another alarming thought through his overworked brain.Making sure Toby was comfortable in a chair at his kitchen table, he went over to the coffee machine.Rick was probably outside in the sheds somewhere, and that was fine.He knew how to make his own coffee.
“Er… Remy mentioned that your balloon ride on Saturday was the second one you’d done?”Ernest hoped his voice didn’t squeak.Please don’t let Toby be one of those adventure tourism types.
“Yes,” Toby said.“Although my bird wasn’t a fan.It’s something I’ve always dreamed of doing.When my bird flies, I can see through its eyes, but I wanted to experience the same thing in my human form.Suspended in the basket, seeing all the paddocks and towns all laid out like a picture.It would be something that would be very romantic to do with a partner.”
Oh, no.That’s not happening.Not in this town.
Ernest quickly poured two coffees into the cups and took them over, putting one in front of Toby and then sitting down next to him.“Toby,” he said firmly but kindly.“Dearest mate, you have to listen to me.I realize you may think the idea of hot air ballooning is very romantic.In any other town, it probably is.But I’m trying to get that guy’s business shut down.So, can we think of something else for a first date?”
“Shut down?Is that because of what happened to me?”Toby’s eyes were so wide.So pretty.Ernest just wanted to fall into them, and then he realized what Toby had said and mentally winced.“It wasn’t about you exactly, although that was definitely part of it.”Shit, I’m going to have to explain.“Pierre and I,” he coughed.It was like his elephant’s foot was lodged in his throat.“Pierre…”Damn it.He couldn’t get his words out.
“Oh, I think I get it.”Maybe Toby was a bit of a mind reader because he added, “Pierre is very free with his favors, isn’t he?”
“They’re not free, but that’s one way of putting it,” Ernest said.“In my defense, I’d been on my own a long time at that stage and didn’t realize what he was saying to me, he was probably saying to a dozen other people at the same time.He moved in barely, got bored quickly, moved out rapidly and took my car with him.
“And yeah, I am really, really embarrassed about it all.It was just… never mind, you don’t need to know about all of that.The bottom line is that Pierre had no right to be on my land on Saturday.There is and was a trespass order out against him.He was not allowed to land in my fields, and that is a matter for the police and the lawyers and everything else, that’s got nothing to do with you, sweet Toby.
“Although I was very annoyed that he was trying to sleaze up to me when you were still lying hurt in the field.Yeah, I’m not gonna forget that in a hurry.But the moment I saw you, you became my only concern.”
“You’ve really got your feathers ruffled, haven’t you?”Toby’s hand was stroking down Ernest’s bicep.
“I don’t have feathers.”Ernest wanted to lean into that gentle touch and feel it all over.“I’m an elephant.”
“Oh, that is so special!”Toby’s hand left his arm because apparently that news needed clapping.Ernest couldn’t be upset about it.Toby’s grin was so wide.“I bet you look magnificent in your shifted form.Oh, we’re going to have to see it one day real soon.”
Soon would be good.Ernest’s elephant was definitely on board for that, but Ernest had to focus.“So what sort of things do you like to do on dates?”he asked again.“I haven’t had a lot of recent experience, but I’m willing to be guided by your hand—ideas.I meant to say ideas.What would you like to do?What would feel special for you on our first date?”
Toby scrunched up his nose, clearly thinking.“Most of the dates I’ve had have involved clubbing or going out for a meal.Don’t get me wrong, I really love eating, and I absolutely adore food I don’t have to cook myself.I work in a café, you know.”
Ernest didn’t know that, but he was lapping up every detail.Toby seemed really animated.“My two friends and I—we own the bakery-café together.They’re Morty and Niall, and I’m telling you that because I will talk about thema lot.Morty recently found his mate at the very first Bucket List Buddies event.”
Ah, that must’ve been one of the men Remy was talking about.Ernest nodded.
“I also have a new apartment in the basement underneath the café because Morty’s mate bought thewholebuilding and had it renovated for us.”
Well, if that’s what it takes to impress, where did someone find a spare building for sale?Then Ernest glanced around his kitchen.He really liked his home, so maybe Toby wouldn’t think buying a building was really necessary to prove how good a mate he could be.“Did they go on a date?”he asked, trying to keep things focused.
“Hmm.”Toby was scrunching his nose again.“Well, yes, I think they went on one date, and then Morty got them kicked out and then I think they were going to go on another date, and yeah,” he shook his head, “I don’t think they made it to that one.Hector ordered a limo and everything, but I think they got hot and flustered around each other and ended up claiming each other in Morty’s bedroom.Just, I believe having dates is important for the getting to know each other part of a relationship, don’t you?”
Ernest nodded again.If Toby thought dating was important to build a relationship, then so did Ernest.It was that simple.
“So we could try something simple like a dinner out at a restaurant,” Toby said with a warm smile, “or we could try something a little different.”
Do I want to know what that is?Ernest couldn’t take his eyes off Toby’s face.
“Like, for example, we could go bowling—you know, the tenpin kind.That could be fun.”
Ernest had to think for a minute what that was.“Do they have a bowling alley in town?”
“Yes!”Toby wiggled in his seat.“Definitely.It will be so much fun.We could play a few games, and then grab some fast food.Perhaps go for a walk through town, being all romantic, window shopping, and things like that.That could be a lot of fun, couldn’t it?”
