Imagine Carl was one of the people Grace never explained he was a little to before regressing around him for the first time. Like the first time he regressed around him he just crawled into his lap for a cuddle and Carl was just like damn ig this is what Grace is doing today.
Grace had like, meant to tell Carl but, hey, when you're trying to figure out astrophage you sorta, forget to mention that...and just initiate the "I'm very small right now and your lap is more comfortable than the dumb lab floor"
Carl is definitely surprised when Grace just gets all cozy on his lap but, at this point, the suns dying, Stratt has a middle school teacher name the energy dots and now said middle school teacher is on his lap, playing with his tie...well Carl is just going with the flow xD
Stratt probably calls him because Grace isn't answering and is like, "where is Dr. Grace?? I've been trying to call him for the last 5 minutes."
Carl glances down at the sleepy Grace who, for the last five minutes has been babbling to Carl about why cherry twizzlers were superior to strawberry twizzlers.
"He’s uh...taking a break."
There's a soft huff over the phone.
"Hi Miss Stratt! Did you know that Carl thinks strawberry twizzlers are better than cherry?? What's your favourite?" Grace ask, bouncing a little bit on Carl's lap.
"...cherry does tend to have a less artificial flavour."
Grace grins, "see?? That's what I was tellin' him!!"
Carl clears his throat as he holds the phone back to his ear.
"So...Grace will call you bac-"
"Tomorrow, he will call me tomorrow."