Care and Feeding

By Aster Glenn Gray

An m/m short story. In high school, Gabriel and Dmitri were friends (and maybe more than friends), until Dmitri's family abruptly disappeared. Years later, they reconnect, but they can't figure out how to move from friendship to romance until Gabriel's pet winged dog lends a paw.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aster Glenn Gray
• Release date: Apr 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223391289

Aster Glenn Gray

Aster Glenn Gray writes historical romances and fairy tale retellings. (And maybe other things too. She is still a work in progress.) When she is not writing, she spends much of her time haunting libraries and contemplating whether it is time for another hot chocolate.

Book preview

Gabriel had just removed the shortbread from the oven when he heard Dmitri’s distinctive knock on the door. Moppet, Gabriel’s elderly and generally sedate winged bichon frise, exploded from his favorite spot under the radiator and careened toward the front door, nails clicking and wings flapping.

Gabriel swore. He shoved the shortbread into the refrigerator. Hopefully it would cool down fast, so that Dmitri wouldn’t realize that the moment Dmitri called to say he was coming over, Gabriel had dropped everything to bake Dmitri’s favorite cookie.

Dmitri knocked again. Moppet, barking wildly, hopped up and down in front of the door. He rarely flew these days, but with every leap he propelled himself high enough to peek through the fan-shaped transom window.

Please, Gabriel told the dog, "try to have a little dignity, Moppet."

A forlorn hope, of course. Moppet always seemed to revert to puppyhood when Dmitri came around. 

Moppet scrabbled at the solid wood door with his paws. Gabriel opened the door, and Moppet hurtled out the door at Dmitri.

Fortunately, Dmitri was already flinging himself to his knees on the welcome mat, and caught Moppet’s headlong charge against his coat. "Mopchik! Mopchik! he yelled, as Moppet wriggled and barked and licked him all over his face. Yes, yes, I’ve missed you too, yes I did."

Gabriel leaned against the doorframe, his arms folded, gazing down at Dmitri’s curly dark hair. Nice to see you too, Dmitri, he said wryly.

Gabriel! said Dmitri, beaming up at him. He lifted a hand from Moppet’s fur, and Moppet, wild with excitement, burst out of Dmitri’s arms and began to run back and forth across the wide porch, hopping in the air and taking