Definitely progress.
Yay.
"Okay. I'll grab it."
"Thanks," he says, almost under his breath.
Okay.
Thatmakes me stare.
Because Rex just fuckingthankedme.
He really isn't doing well.
I leave him in the car without commenting on it and head for the tower door.
Jamie opens it before I knock, which means he was watching from the window. His cottagecore cardigan today is cream with tiny foxes embroidered along the hem, and I almost don't notice they have chickens in their teeth.
Bloodychickens.
"Bells!" He pulls me into a tight, warm, adorably fluffy hug that makes my spine pop. "Just you today?"
"Rex is in the car," I manage. I'd hug him back if I could move my arms. "Sorry. He's… out of it today."
"Ah." Jamie's face softens. He releases me and steps back, bouncing on his toes. "Well. Come up, come up. Everything's ready. Tea?"
"Sure."
I follow him up the spiral staircase. The workshop is warm and smells like leather oil and incense and tiger, which I'm actually beginning to recognize as a kind of skunky popcorny smell. It's pleasant, and it's a totally useless piece of knowledge considering there isn't an abundance of wild tigers sneaking up on people in Seattle.
Cheeto is in his usual spot on the chaise, his massive head resting on his paws. His ears swivel toward me as I pass, but he doesn't bother to get up.
Cats are cats.
"Where's Orion?" I ask, looking around.
Jamie glances at the hall where the beaded curtain covers the entrance, then flashes me a bright smile that's clearly supposed to be convincing. "Orion is…busy."
I blink. "Did I do something?"
"No!" Jamie says immediately. "No. Not at all. He's just… well… he can be shy."
I raise an eyebrow. "It's not like we're complete strangers."
"Neither are we, and he's avoiding me too," Jamie grumbles, opening the cupboards. I open my mouth to tell him Rex is waiting in the car and I probably shouldn't stay that long, but he's already getting teacups out, so I shut it. "He's had his cock in my ass and it isn't helping any."
A shocked laugh barks out of me before I can stop myself.
Jamie shoots me a look. "Well, it'strue."
"Why is he avoiding you?" I ask, clearing my throat when I manage to compose myself.
"He's been in a dark place since the other night," Jamie says, pouring tea from a teapot with cute forest creatures painted on it. I'm relieved the forest creatures aren't eating each other, considering the cardigan. "When he… you know."
He gestures to his own face.
I know what he's talking about. When Orion removed his mask to demonstrate the stunt mask mechanism for Rex. To make him more comfortable with it, I think.