Connor released a slow breath. “Hello,” he whispered.
His eyes jumped to Connor’s mouth. His hand lifted from the deck’s side, hesitantly rising toward Connor. An image of getting dragged into the water flashed in Connor’s mind, but he held still. The merman’s fingers hovered beneath Connor’s mouth.
Connor swallowed, and those dark eyes jumped to his throat to watch the movement.
“Are you curious about me?” Connor asked.
The gills at the creature’s neck flared out.
“Do you follow me out here?” Connor asked. “Spot me on the boat?”
The merman’s expression changed, his eyes darting over Connor’s face. There seemed to be some agitation in his energy now. He moved, laying on his back so that his body floated on the water’s surface.
Connor’s gaze darted to the length of his tail. The scales were blue and black, and then red where the shine of the boat’s hull reflected on him. The merman touched his scales. The line where his skin transformed from human to fish. He made a sound in his throat, a light purr, almost, that Connor thought was friendly.
Connor examined his face to be sure. He found a haughty look in the merman’s eyes; he repeated the sound, splashing the water by his midsection so that it would draw Connor’s attention there. Connor grinned. “Oh, that’s pride, alright,” he said.
Connor’s fingers were in the water still, next to the merman’s side. Unable to help himself, he reached. The tips of his fingers touched the merman’s scales. And when he didn’t try to rip off Connor’s arm, he got braver and dragged his touch over a line of scales. They were soft. Warm. The path brought Connor’s hand level with the merman’s.
Holding his breath, he brushed his thumb against the back of the merman’s hand. That too, was soft and warm. The merman twitched. Connor’s gaze jumped to his face. The merman stared at him, his eyes wide.
A hard grip seized Connor’s wrist.
Connor sucked in a sharp breath.
The merman thrust Connor’s hand down, digging Connor’s palm against the scales. The merman made that soft sound in his throat again, like the gentle call of a cat, as he guided Connor’s touch over his tail.
Carefully, Connor reached down with his other hand. He held his breath as he gently tugged at the merman’s fingers, trying to pry free without provoking the merman. The merman released him, splashing his tail in the water as he did, sending up sea spray. He touched his own scales and glanced down the length of his body with a frown.
The merman’s tail dipped beneath the waterline, becoming a black shadow in the water. He levelled a final look at Connor before vanishing beneath the waves. Connor stared at the water for a long time, his palm tingling like it had been lit on fire. He rubbed it over and over, feeling the ghost touch of the warm, textured scales.
It was midnight when they arrived back at the docks.
Connor climbed off the ship, feeling an odd jitter in his legs to now be standing on something solid and unmoving. It felt unnatural to him, as if his natural place was the ocean rather than land. Nothing bad ever happened to him on sea, only on land.
“Think about the job,” Dave called after him.
Connor waved at him as he left, following the lamp lights toward the car park. He passed lonely ships, smelled the pungent fish from someone’s boat, and cocked his head to the side at a persistent rustling.
“What are you doing?”
Connor stopped. The voice came from his left. Sam stood on his boat with a look of utter disapproval. He’d obviously seen whose boat Connor came from.
“Walking,” Connor replied.
Sam hopped off his boat, scowling. “Is that who you’re going to spend the summer with?”
“They’re good company.”
“Jesus, Connor. Why are you trying to hang yourself?” Sam asked, voice packed with frustration. He glared at Connor, no hint of that softness from the cafe.
Connor stared back. He was a pro at dealing with glares and disappointment. “Enjoy your cleaning, Sam,” he said. And heknewthat nothing was more infuriating than—Sam grabbed his elbow as he continued on—walking away.
“I’ll drive you home,” Sam said, bite in his voice. He couldn’t seem to bring himself to look at Connor straight on.
“I brought Dad’s jeep.”
“You’re not driving anywhere after drinking with them,” Sam snapped. “You’ll end up wrapped around a tree or in the ocean.”
