Page 41 of Ted's Temerity
Chance follows up his second message with an ‘I’m watching you’ GIF of some woman gesturing at her eyes with two fingers and then pointing them at the viewer.
Spencer: No hablo ingles.
He completes the sentiment with a shrugging emoji.
Spencer: @Josh, you didn’t explain what brought the whole harem idea on, anyway.
Josh: I’m checking out Grindr. So many choices, so not enough time.
Charlie: Gentlemen, I give you our city’s tax dollars hard at work protecting our community. & LOL @Spencer. Smooth, my friend. Real smooth.
Josh: Fuck you, Charlie, I’m on my lunch break.
Josh adds a middle finger emoji. Spencer interjects with a GIF of a dog wearing sunglasses.
I shake my head, my spirits buoyed by the ridiculous conversation. It’s good to know that they’re all the same, that the world has kept turning in the two weeks I’ve spent feeling out of sorts. It’s also a sign that I might just be able to drop back into the fold without too much drama.
God only knows the way I overreacted and overthought things was dramatic enough. I’m embarrassed by that more than I can properly explain, which also hasn’t helped with my intentions to ease back into my social circle.
Before I know it, my fingers are tapping out a comment of my own and I’m pressing the little ‘send’ button.
Ted: I didn’t realize the pickings at The Grove had gotten so slim that you needed to turn to Grindr to hook up.
It’s clunky as far as playful ribbing goes, but I hope it shows them that I’m trying and that nothing has to change.
There’s what equates to a stunned silence in the thread before the little notifications that people are typing pop up. I watch the screen with bated breath.
Josh’s reply hits first.
Josh: Ted, man, I tell you…there’s a drought of Daddies right now and it sucks.A series of emojis follow the words. The crying face a few times, the poop emoji, and the angry face.
Josh: If you didn’t have Z, I’d tell you to get your ass down there and have your choice of littles.
I glance at the clock and gauge that Zephyr is probably in the middle of teaching a hip hop class right now. I can only imagine what his reaction to that last message will be. I kind of want to see it. I like it when he gets sassy and territorial. It’s hot.
Chance’s is the next message to pop up, distracting me from those thoughts.
Chance: @Ted You’re honestly surprised by anything Josh says these days, dude? Also @Josh maybe that’s a sign you’ve gone through too many Daddies. Chased ‘em all off.
Spencer follows almost immediately after.
Spencer: Kid’s probably scared all the Daddies away with his bratty-ass ways.
Spencer: @Chance Damn it! You beat me to it!
Chance: Not my fault I’m quicker at typing.
While the note appears to say that Spencer is composing his reply, Ash’s name appears on my screen.
Ash: Welcome back, Uncle Ted. I’ve missed you.
Before I can reply, he posts again.
Ash: Especially ‘cos nobody else can keep this bunch in line as well as you.
Charlie: Hey! What am I, chopped liver?
Ash: Sorry, but you know it’s the truth, Daddy.He sends a GIF of a teddy bear blowing a kiss, either to tease his husband or soften the blow of his words. Potentially both.
