Connor pulled at Adonis’s hair, getting his attention. “Be nice to Laurence,” he warned.
“I don’t mind,” Laurence said. “Oh god, this is the coolest thing ever. No wonder you spend so much time in the water.”
Laurence took some time to observe Adonis.
Connor glanced at the empty beach and nodded to Laurence. “Do you want to keep surfing? Are you… comfortable, still?”
“Comfortable? Oh, because… do you have a name?” Laurence asked.
“I’ve been calling him Adonis.”
“Adonis,” Laurence repeated with a grin. “It suits you.”
Adonis raised his chin proudly.
“I’m comfortable,” Laurence said after a moment of thought. “I mean, he’s obviously friendly, and you know him… plus, he did help me just now, didn’t he?”
Connor tugged at Adonis’s arm. “I’m going back out. Can you let go of me?”
Adonis averted his eyes and grunted, tightening his grip on him.
Connor snorted. “Back out toward the water, Adonis.”
Adonis regarded him suspiciously but slowly released him. He sank back in the water, keeping a narrow-eyed look on him like he expected Connor to suddenly make a break for the shore.
“He’s handsome, isn’t he?” Laurence said. He cast a final glance Adonis’s way before he turned his board and paddled. Connor joined Laurence, and Adonis’s expression brightened as they headed away from the beach.
“Yeah,” Connor agreed. Adonis’s looks were otherworldly;handsomeseemed far too simple a word to describe him.
“Do you see his gills? Under his jaw?”
“Yeah.”
“I know I can’t tell anyone—but do you think he’d mind if I drew him?” Laurence asked.
“You didn’t bring a sketchbook, did you?”
“No… but next time, I will.”
Next time. Connor let out an amused breath. “I’m sure he’ll only be happy to be admired. This is the first time I’ve seen him willingly show himself in front of anyone else. He hides from your dad and anyone else that shows up when he’s around.”
“He’s been at ourhouse?” Laurence asked, aghast.
“He’s followed me in the last few days that I’ve been out on the board,” Connor confirmed. A part of him liked that he got to share Adonis with someone else, the wonder of him. And another part was reluctant. The reluctance made him realise helikedbeing the only one who knew about Adonis. It made him feel special.
Laurence attempted a few more waves. Adonis watched, floating next to Connor in the water, and as Laurence waded back out to them, Adonis made a show of snorting, getting their attention. He then splashed his arms in the water before falling dramatically beneath the waves and coming up, splashing his arms about.
Laurence stared at Adonis, mouth open in shock.
“Adonis,” Connor hissed.
“He’s mocking me!”
“He’s not,” Connor said quickly, not wanting Laurence to get upset. But… Adonis clearly had been mocking Laurence. “He mocks me, too, okay? When I’m using the paddle board. He can be an asshole.” He shot Adonis a glare.
Adonis sank until only his eyes were above the water, casting Connor a look of trepidation. Clearly, he remembered that he’d made Connor angry last time because he approached him, cooing an apology as he pressed his cheek to Connor’s knee.
Laurence bit his lip. Connor’s worry dissolved when he realised it was a smile he was fighting, not tears.
