Serendipity

Go sniff him

"I'm bisexual."

Once those words left my mouth, I found that, especially when actually saying them to someone that isn't just my dogs, they're incredibly freeing. Kinda makes me want to say them again.

Sydney's dumbfounded expression is definitely worth any awkwardness that might come afterwards.

"Really?" He says, meeting my eyes and blinking slowly.

"Yeah," I grin. My heart thumps loudly in my chest. What now?

"That's..." Sydney searches for words for a moment, then smiles. "That's great!" Then he frowns. "Wait, am I the first person you told?"

I nod. "Mhm."

He covers his mouth with one hand. I see his eyes crinkle with his smile. "Oh my god, Timothy, that- thank you."

My grin widens, but I don't say anything else.

His eyes cloud over slightly as he thinks, and I quickly scan the upcoming sidewalk so I know whether or not I'll have to catch him again. Not that I minded, but I'd rather not be risking his pretty face just so I can be a bit of a hero (and have an excuse to hold him).

My feelings for him haven't gotten any clearer, but at least I'm not having a gay-panic and identity crisis every time he smiles.

After a few minutes he starts to say something else, but by then we've already arrived at my house and Loki's excited bark interrupts him. Kiki joins in a second later, alerted but not particularly alarmed. She knows a threat when she sees one- and Sydney apparently doesn't worry her much.

"Which one is that?" He asks quietly, leaning close and pointing at Loki in the window, who wriggles and barks again when he sees us. Good thing they don't do this at night.

"Loki," I pull him towards the door, speaking quickly while I give him a general rundown of my dogs. "If he jumps on you just push him down. Kiki shouldn't bother you much, but she might lick you if you pet her. She's twelve, but she's as sharp as a thorn. Loki only likes people she likes, so be nice."

"Dang, this is harder than meeting your parents," He jokes. "I gotta impress your dogs."

"Pretty much," I agree, fumbling with the handle. Finally I push though, and Loki is there to greet us, Kiki a few feet behind.

Her tail wags slightly when she sees me, which is basically the equivalent of Loki's mad jumping and sniffing.

"Oh. My. God," Sydney whispers, completely forgetting me and falling to his knees so he can pet Loki. "You guys are adorable."

"Kiki! C'mere girl," I pat my thigh and she huffs before slowly walking over. I give her a couple pats on the head, then point at Sydney. "Go sniff him."

She glances at me, then steps towards Sydney and gives him a few good sniffs.

"Hi, Kiki!" Sydney grins. He's clearly having the time of his life right now, surrounded by big fluffy dogs. "Oh, look at the gray on your little snoot!"

I nod, sliding over and sitting next to him. "She's my favorite."

Loki glances at me, sneezes on my hand, then turns back to Sydney for more pets. Loki is definitely also enjoying the new company.

We both laugh, and I wipe my hand on the carpet beneath me.

"I think he heard you," Sydney chuckles, ruffling Loki's ears.

Kiki turns, puts her paw on my knee, looks me dead in the eyes...

And sneezes in my face.

"Ahg!" I wipe my face on my sleeve while Sydney gasps and uses Loki as support while he laughs. "Kiki?! You too?!"

She trots away, her tail swaying tauntingly and her ears not even turned in my direction. I guess that's her way of approving Sydney.

"What's the verdict?" He asks once he stops laughing. Loki sniffs Sydney's hand as he absentmindedly strokes his head. "Am I alright?"

Running my sleeve over my mouth and eyes again, I nod.

"You're 'alright' enough for her to completely ignore us," I agree. "Which is a very high complement coming from Miss Kiksta."

He grins, then pushes himself up, much to Loki's dismay.

"I'm assuming you didn't invite me here to sit in front of your door and play with the dogs all day," He smiles at Kiki, who's tail thumps slowly as she lays curled up on the couch, her back facing us. "Although I definitely wouldn't mind if that's all we did."

"Yeah," I nod, taking Sydney's offered hand and standing up. "I actually had some vague idea of what we could do today, although I allotted some time for dog petting."

"Did you now?" He smirks and pats my arm, but there's only playfulness in his gaze. I grin and grab his hand, then tug him upstairs.

I leave him to sit on the beanbag chair in the corner of my room while I turn on my Xbox and close the door. I snatch two controllers off the tv table and toss one to him, which he catches deftly.

"What're we playing?" He asks.

I plomp down next to him on the beanbag, trying to ignore our proximity. I would get another beanbag, but the only other one I know of is my older brother's, and I don't want to touch his stuff, even if he isn't home. And while my carpet might be soft, I don't wanna sit on it.

"I have Mario Kart," I say, rolling down the list slowly by holding down the joystick. "Uh, a horror game....Minecraft...." I pause and glance at him. "You pick."

"Let's start with Mario Kart," Sydney says decisively. "And after I beat you we can do something else."

"Wow," I nudge him playfully. "And who says you're gonna win?"