Didn’t have to tell us twice.
“We will,” we chorused as we waddle-walked, hissed, honked, and quacked all the way to the play space and right into that kitty pool full of balls while Mr. Dorian settled into his chair with a sketchpad and timer, grinning as he watched us use our wingtips to pick up balls and fling them at one another. He’d wanted us to play, and we played, so much so that we lost track of time and were both stunned and startled when he called time while we were rolling a ball between us with our beaks.
“Did we, um, did we mess up?” I asked because Raleigh just looked perplexed and forlorn about the game being over.
I watched Raleigh stare from the ball to me and back to the ball again and knew he’d been having a blast.
“Not in the slightest,” Mr. Dorian explained. “But all good pet handlers set time limits for playtime for their pets. You guys have been playing for two hours. That’s my time limit for when I feel like there needs to be a pause so you can hydrate and have a snack and touch base about how you’re feeling. I’d have mentioned it before you started playing, but I honestly was so worried about the suits needing modifications that I never considered you’d reach that mark before stopping things for me to make adjustments.”
“Oh, whoa, I didn’t realize we’d been playing so long,” I admitted.
“Neither had I,” Raleigh said.
“Well then, it’s good to know that the breathable material works,” he replied. “Because you guys were going nonstop.”
“I’m warm, but like, it’s a comfy kind of warm, not an itchy, prickly one,” Raleigh explained, “Kind of like being wrapped in a blanket on a cool day. It’s just warm enough.”
“Perfect,” he replied as he started helping us out of the gear. “The lighting and heating in here is set to resemble the clubs I’ve been to, so that is very good to know. When you put these back on, they’ll be reversed, but I thought we’d take a break, get some food and fluids in you, and let you talk about anything you noticed about the gear while you were playing. Since I don’t know your preferences yet, I thought we’d order in; that way I can start to learn what you like and have food and drinks readily available.”
“We’re good with fruit and salad,” I explained. “Neither of us eats much meat unless it’s fish and seafood.
“We love tuna salad, so deli sandwiches are always good,” Raleigh added.
“Very good to know. I’m glad I didn’t go with a charcuterie platter like I was considering; there wouldn’t have been a single meat on there that you would have enjoyed. How does tuna salad sandwiches with a side of grilled pineapple sound?”
“Absolutely perfect and light enough that we’re not gonna feel overly full and disgusting when we start playing again,” I said while Raleigh nodded.
“Perfect, I’ll get our order put in, then I’m afraid I’ll need to excuse myself to pump; I can already feel the need coming on,” he said, a slight flush spreading out over the bridge of his nose.
“Mmmm,” Raleigh hummed before flushing too.
“Umm… we…” I started to stammer out an offer to help, but I feared that it would be crossing a line and make us seem unprofessional.
We just stood there for several moments, staring at one another, as the memory of what we’d done for him at the club flashed through my head. I wasn’t opposed to a repeat, but he was our boss now, and I wasn’t sure how not to make it awkward by offering.
“We’re on break now, right?” Raleigh asked.
“We are,” Mr. Dorian said, each word slow and measured, like he was trying to figure out where Raleigh was headed.
Truthfully, so was I.
“So, like, when we’re on break at the club, that’s our time and we can do whatever we want with it, even make out with each otherif we’re all riled up,” Raleigh admitted, that flush of his growing a bit bright. “If this is our time and we’re okay with it, which we are, couldn’t we help you out with that, so you didn’t have to pump?”
Thank you, Raleigh!
I almost blurted that out loud. Instead, I flashed him a grin, which he returned, looking rather pleased with himself.
“I’d never ask you guys to do that for me,” Mr. Dorian replied.
“But you’re not asking,” Raleigh said. “We’re offering, and that’s different. Right? I mean…”
He blew out a breath, eyebrows drawing in until he was practically scowling as he worked out how to put his words together. Mr. Dorian proved to be just as patient as I was in these moments and waited silently until he finished his thoughts.
“I can see it maybe being inappropriate if you’d asked or expected us to help because of what we did at the club,” Raleigh said. “But even then, we saw your shirt dampening and offered to help you out while you tried to lean back away from Murry so he wouldn’t notice or feel it on his skin.”
“You noticed that?”
Raleigh nodded. “We offered then the way we are offering now. Your friend’s birthday wasn’t our first trip to the club; we’ve nursed many times before, and we like it. So, if you’re okay with it, we’d be happy to help you.”
