Page 25 of Abdominal Snowman

Definitely a Date

Soren shook his head at Sage’s conversation with her friend. He had retreated to the garage after their little confrontation at breakfast.

A date? Why would she ask him if it was a date?

Still mystified, he shook his head and turned his attention back to his project at hand.

The table lamp glowed softly in the otherwise dim building, shining down on the miniature wood carving balanced between his hands. It glinted off the small shaving tool he was wielding to start the shape of a squirrel.

On the table before him were many copies of the same kind of item. Tiny wood figurines about the size of his finger. It required concentration and silence.

However, snippets of Sage’s conversation kept intruding on his peace.

“—Dick never deserved you,” the tinny voice of Sage’s friend said.

Soren frowned, his hands stilling as he heard the end of the statement. “—run wild for a bit. You both deserve it.”

What did that mean?

There was a slight pause, and when Sage answered her friend, it was with an emotionally whispered, “Thanks.”

He listened until Sage hung up and shook his head. That conversation hadn’t shed any light about who this… Dick was, and who was running wild. Not that it was any of his business.

“Doesn’t matter,” he told himself.

He reset his shoulders before leaning back over and peering through the standing magnifying glass. With a deep breath, he tried to clear his mind and shaved away pieces of wood until the rough shape of a squirrel took place.

A few hours and several crooked squirrels were all his concentration could handle. With a grumble, he left the garage and entered his cabin, pausing when he shut the door behind him.

More of Sage’s scent was filling the walls every hour that she stayed here. Soren couldn’t exactly remember why that was such a bad thing.

“Hey!” Sage’s voice carried from the living room and Soren straightened before heading toward her location.

“Hey,” he greeted and cleared his throat.

She was a sight, hair still damp from a recent shower, a comfy sweater draping her frame, her phone and a notebook balanced on one knee. But it was the soft, awkward smile that did him in.

“I just need a quick shower and then dinner?” he asked, lifting a hand to rub it over the back of his neck.

“Sure,” Sage agreed, and went back to jotting notes or whatever in her notebook.

He furrowed his brows as she practically ignored him. What was up with that? Wasn’t she super curious about him or something?

What’s wrong with you?

For once, Soren listened to the voice in his head and walked past Sage, her pen scribbling over the paper. What secrets was it holding?

Swallowing his curiosity, he pounded up the stairs and picked a fresh set of lounge clothes before making his way to the bathroom.

There was no reason for him to be thinking about the human this much. It wasn’t like he’d never spoken to one before.

Despite what she might think, he did leave his cabin to go to town.

“What does it matter what she thinks?” he grumbled to himself.

The lukewarm shower did nothing to improve his mood or his sudden curiosity, and he took a deep breath before exiting the bathroom. All he had to do was answer a few of her questions while they cooked and ate dinner, and then it would be done.

He paused. They had made it through the day without her calling in the cavalry, so maybe… maybe he could put a little more trust in this human than he originally thought.