Gin Cat Jive (Hep Cats of Boise #1.5)

Mazarin’s idea of the perfect Valentine’s gift for his beloved Em is restitution from the woman who did Em wrong. Heading into a rival speakeasy for a little romantic revenge isn’t anything Mazarin can’t handle, and besting Em’s ex at a jive contest should be harmless fun. With a plan, plenty of skill cutting a rug, and Reed by his side, he can pull this off.

But there’s something fishy about this wingding. Reed’s crippling anxiety doesn’t make him the best dance partner, and if anyone discovers Mazarin is an AI, it could spell trouble. Problems compound when a surprise new update is installed in Mazarin’s software—without his consent—and he suddenly has much more to contend with than trying to win a Valentine’s rag.

This is a short story in the queer and cozy decopunk series, Hep Cats of Boise. It is best read after Mazarin Blues and before Sable Dark.

Rep: gay, bi/pansexual, gray ace, and non-binary characters; M/M and NBi/NBi romance
Autistic leading character with anxiety/panic disorder

CW:  alcohol use, mild profanity, and mild sexual elements

Length: 29 pages

Publisher and publishing date: Kraken Collective, February 2020