Nikolai sighed.
* * * *
Chapter 2
Frode nursed his second cup of coffee of the day and looked out over his backyard.He loved his house.It was a fifteen-minute drive outside the city limit, and yet it was secluded.Three acres, and while it was open around the house, it was surrounded by trees.Almost as if someone had tried to create a forest wall around the property, and Frode was grateful.
In the winter, he could glimpse light from his closest neighbor's house, but when the leaves came in, he was blocked out from the world.
It was perfect.
The leaves were budding.
His phone beeped, and he groaned.He was not up for readings two days in a row.As long as it didn't ring, he could ignore it.
He'd considered getting a dog.If he had a dog, he couldn't be away from home too often.He'd tried to use Captain Scratch as an excuse once, but Hjalmar had snorted at him.
He had no idea what Captain Scratch's name was.He was a black cat who hunted in his small barn.The poor guy was missing one eye and had a scar running across it.His ears were frost-damaged, but since the eye was forever closed, Frode believed someone had taken him to a vet at some point.He was wearing a collar, but he'd never allowed Frode to touch him, so he hadn't been able to see if there was an address or anything.
Maybe he'd had a home once.Maybe he still did.Or maybe this had been his home, and his owners had moved.It was clear he'd lived outside for a long time.
Sometimes he was gone for days on end, but so far, he'd always come back.
Frode kept a bowl of cat kibble in the barn.Captain Scratch looked healthy enough, but Frode didn't want him to have to hunt to survive.How much did a lost eye affect a cat's ability to hunt?
His phone beeped again, and Frode snarled.
The first text was Hjalmar asking if he wanted to meet up for lunch.No, he didn't.He wanted to stay in his house and never leave.The second text was Hjalmar telling him to be at Nami at twelve.
Frode sighed but sent a thumbs-up in reply.Sushi was nice, and Hjalmar most often paid when he demanded Frode show up somewhere.
He drained the rest of the coffee and headed for the bathroom to take a shower.
At two minutes to twelve, he stepped over the threshold of Nami Kitchen, Hjalmar's favorite sushi restaurant.Frode guessed it was his favorite too since he never went to restaurants unless Hjalmar demanded he attend.
He looked at the corner table and found it occupied by two women in their thirties.Fuck.
"There you are."Hjalmar came up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder.Frode flinched before he could stop himself, but Hjalmar kept his hand where it was, and little by little, he relaxed.
He didn't do touch.Especially not in public places.Had Hjalmar touched his shoulder when they were at home, he most likely wouldn't have flinched.
He could touch people without gloves.It was only objects that flooded him, but he didn't want anyone in his space, and people wore things.They had clothes, watches, rings, and so on.
Hjalmar steered him to the counter where they ordered, and then they moved to an available table.
"How are you feeling today?"He smiled his usual carefree smile, and Frode held in a sigh.He should be grateful he had someone in his life who cared, someone who was looking out for him, but ugh, it was exhausting.
"I'm fine.Yesterday wasn't too bad."
"You were flagging by the time we reached your house."
He had been, but it was normal."I'm fine.I slept, ate some more, talked to Captain Scratch."
"Yeah?Is he letting you touch him yet?"
Frode shook his head."Nah, I don't think he ever will."Which was fine.Frode understood wanting to avoid touch.
"He'll come around."
