Seth Gets a Date #2
We stand in front of Sasha’s door and Seth turns to me. “Does my hair look okay?”
I give him a quick once over. “Seth, you’re hot as hell. Sasha won’t be able to resist your cute goth vibes. I’d date you.”
“You’re dating Jake,” he retorts.
“Exactly, so stop trying to flirt with me and get your man!” I knock loudly on Sasha’s door, since I know Seth is too shy to do it.
“Oh my god,” Seth whispers and looks around like he’s wondering if he has time to disappear before Sasha opens the door. He’s running his hand through his hair again when the door opens.
Sasha is there standing in the doorway, wearing nothing but grey sweatpants that are hanging low on his hips.
Seth and I both stare at the lean muscle of his torso, and the tattoos scattered across his chest and shoulders.
I knew he had the arm tattoos, but I didn’t realize the rest of his body was such a work of art.
“You’re a lucky son of a bitch, Seth,” I say under my breath. He jabs an elbow into my side.
“Ow, Seth!” I yell dramatically. “I thought you were here to ask Sasha on a date!”
Seth blushes bright red, and a look of surprise crosses over Sasha’s face. He softens a little bit, and I’m confused because I’ve never seen Sasha look like that.
“You want to go on date. With me?” he asks Seth.
“Uh, yeah.” He clears his throat. “I thought we really hit it off before. When we… anyway, I was gonna go see that new horror movie, the one with the, um, saws… and was wondering if you wanted to go with me?” I smile as Seth manages to choke out the last bit of his invitation. I pat his back in support.
Sasha looks Seth up and down as he considers. “You look very cute today. What time does this date begin?”
Cheeks blazing, Seth says, “Um, the movie starts at eight thirty, so I thought I’d pick you up around seven thirty so we have time to get there and maybe grab a snack before the movie starts.”
Sasha full on smiles at that, the first smile I have ever seen from him. It makes him look younger. “Okay, I accept. I pick you up at seven thirty.” He gives Seth one more look. “Wear exactly this.” Seth nods dumbly as Sasha closes the door.
“You did it!” I yell and jump up to give him a hug. He hugs me back with a laugh.
“Thanks, bro,” he says and sets me back on the ground.
“I just wish you’d planned for the date to be here. How am I supposed to spy on you if you’re at the movies?”
“You’re not,” Seth says with a playful punch to my arm.
“Boo,” I whine.
***
“Seth has a date tonight. With Sasha,” I gossip to Brandon. He looks up from his computer in surprise. Kayla is doing a video call with her lawyer, so Brandon is back at the reception desk. I know he loves it. I secretly hope Kayla gets locked back up soon.
“Wow, that’s awesome! Good for him. I’m a little surprised Sasha agreed to it though. He seems a little…intense.”
I study him for a minute, trying to determine his true feelings about this. “So, you’re not like, jealous or anything? Of Sasha?”
“Huh?” he asks in confusion. “Why would I be jealous? Seth’s his own man. If he wants to court Sasha, he has my blessing.”
“Hmm. I just thought that maybe you might be interested?” I say and scratch my head. I really thought they had a thing going on.
“Nah, I’m straight. But I love Seth like a brother.”
“But you’ve met his family! Granny Brooks!” I exclaim, like that proves my point.
He looks at me quizzically. “You really thought we were dating?”
“I thought you were fucking!”
Brandon goes red at that. “You’re a bit confused, little dude. We’re platonic soulmates, that’s it. We did kiss once, and it was nice, but I realized quickly that I prefer the ladies.”
“Oh, well, that’s okay. Thanks for telling me. I’m glad you trusted me enough to come out. There’s nothing wrong with liking women.” I’m totally teasing him, but I can’t help it. He shakes his head with a grin. He’s probably the only straight person at this hotel. Besides Kayla, I guess. Oh my god.
“Please don’t fuck Kayla. She’s a murderous psycho who’ll probably end up back in prison soon. You’re too young to be a jailhouse boyfriend. Don’t throw your life away,” I plead.
“Relax,” he drawls. “She’s cute, but I prefer brunettes. We wouldn’t be compatible.”
I gape at him. “That’s the reason you wouldn’t be compatible? It’s not the… I don’t know, MURDER?”
“That too, little dude. That too.”
Just then Jake walks in, dirt smudged across his cheek from the garden. “Hi, babe!” I greet him and give him a cat-call.
“Hey. What’s going on?” he asks, throwing an arm around my shoulders and kissing the top of my head. I preen a little at the attention.
“Seth and Sasha are going on a date tonight,” I inform him. He looks at Brandon, surprised.
“I thought you and Seth had a thing?” he asks.
“Nah, why does everyone think that? I was just explaining to Alex that I like the ladies. Not that it’s anyone’s business.” He pretends to get back to work, but I know we’ve flustered him.
“I’ve informed him that if he fucks Kayla, he’s fired,” I say to Jake.
“Who’s making love to whom?” I’m startled by the sound of my mom’s voice. I turn around to gape at her.
“Mom! When did you get here?”
“Just this afternoon, sweetie. We took a taxi. I wanted to surprise you. Your father and I took a quick walk around the property, we didn’t want to disturb you. I know you’ve been busy with the hotel.”
“You scared the life out of me!” I exclaim. “No one’s fucking!” Brandon leans his elbows against the desk and drops his face into his hands as I run up to my parents and give them a quick hug.
“Oh my god. Can I get back to work please?” he asks, exasperated.
I decide to take pity on him. “Mom, stop harassing my employees. Go get settled in. Come on Jake, let’s go work in the garden until it’s time for your appointment. Leave the shirt.”
***
Jake
“Hey, bro.” I startle as Seth walks into the living room, tearing my gaze away from the window I was staring out of. I have another therapy appointment with Lisa this afternoon that I’m dreading, but I know it’s for the best.
“Hey, Seth. What’s up?” I ask.
He shrugs and looks around the room. I look down at his cast and feel guilty all over again. As much as he says he doesn’t blame me for any of it, I blame myself. I look away from him.
“This living room is bigger than my granny’s house. She’d love it in here, all these books.”
“She’s welcome any time. We have the space.”
“Thanks. Hey, can I talk to you for a sec?” he asks and sits down on the edge of the couch, like he’s not sure I’ll allow him to stay.
“Yeah, what’s on your mind?”
“So, um, I don’t have access to my usual therapist out here. She doesn’t do video or house calls, and I kind of don’t want to leave right now. Would it be cool if we did a group session? Or if I like, went after you?” He looks down at his cast and bites his lip ring, nervous.
“If Lisa’s cool with it, yeah. We can do a group session. You already know most of my issues anyway,” I shrug.
“Cool, cool,” he says and rubs his uninjured hand on his jeans. I’ve noticed that since his attack he doesn’t wear his silk robe anymore.
“You’re not looking like much of a psychic these days,” I tell him. His necklaces are gone, he’s not wearing his rings, the only jewelry that’s left are his piercings. He looks almost normal. Well, normal for a goth guy.
His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard. “Yeah, I’m just not feeling it right now, I guess. I feel less exposed in regular clothes, less noticeable.”
I know exactly how he feels. “Are you nervous for your date tonight?”
He nods his head vigorously. “Very. I know it’s just to see a movie, but what if he expects more, after?”
“Sasha doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy to push when people say no.”
“Yeah, no, I don’t get that vibe, either. I’m just too in my head, I guess. It’s hard to trust myself right now, you know?”
I pat his shoulder, trying to comfort him. “Everything will work out. If it doesn’t, we have a house full of people ready to avenge you.”
“Thanks, man.” We sit in comfortable silence until Lisa shows up.
“Hi, Lisa. Is it okay if my friend Seth joins us for this session? He doesn’t have access to his usual therapist out here.”
She looks between us, pushing her glasses up her nose. “Typically, I would see a patient alone unless they were family or partners… What are you seeing a therapist for, Seth?”
He looks down at the ground, cheeks turning red. “Um, probably the same things Jake is here for…” He holds up his cast, and Lisa’s gaze turns knowing. “The same guy that hurt Jake did this to me.”
“I understand. I can see how a group session could be beneficial. Let’s give that a try today, see how it goes. You both are okay speaking openly today?”
“Yes,” Seth and I say in unison.