Page 85 of Animal Beats

The silence elongates.

“What did she say?”

He looks away from me. “She asked me for five grand.”

My heart sinks. “That’s awful. Did she say why she needed the money?”

“Something about eviction. I really wasn’t paying attention.”

I get to my feet and join him on the bed. A safe distance away from him, of course. “She called, and that’s what made you spiral on the boat?”

He nods.

The little boy inside of him was crushed yet again. He only wants recognition for his achievements, not an open hand wanting money. Funny thing, though. If they were on good terms, he would’ve sent her the money in a heartbeat.

“I’m sorry.”

He turns toward me. “Me, too. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away. I’m sorry I let her get inside my head. I’m sorry I acted like a fool, got drunk, and fell off the boat.”

Now his actions make sense. Still. “I wish you had told me she called. We might have been able to get to the bottom of it, rather than the bottom of the river.”

He half-chuckles. “That was kinda stupid of me.”

“No argument here.”

“Although, a cute mermaid hauled my ass out of the river.” He nudges my shoulder.

One mystery solved. At least there was a reason for his drinking, instead of he simply felt like it. “You were pretty wasted. Getting you up the ladder was no easy feat.”

“Sorry I didn’t help you up.”

“I managed.”

He sighs. “Hayden, you can’t leave. I’m so much better with you here. I love how you laugh at something silly. You get me.” He beats on the bed. “I’m falling in love with you.”

My breath stills. I’ve never heard these words from a man before, even if they are couched in a qualifier. Still, the truth requires my response. “I can’t stay. Nina fired me.”

“Because of the label. Luke told us.”

I nod. “Yeah. They wanted a pound of flesh, and they got mine.”

Río’s hands encircle my waist. “I’d like to get a piece of yours again.”

We’re at a tipping point. I can pull away, and never experience the unbelievable highs of being with the drummer again. Or, I can give in this one last time.

“Río, I don’t think that’s smart.”

“When was I ever accused to being smart?”

This self-depreciating statement is my undoing. As a kid, he was a pawn in his parents’ divorce, then moved on to being a Guy Friday for his father’s new family. The only way he got any sort of recognition was to act out.

I rub my lips together. “I think you’re smart.”

He utters a mirthless laugh. “Got you snowed, huh, Babysitter?”

“I’m no longer your babysitter,” I correct him. “Nina⁠—”

His hands move to cover mine. “Yeah, yeah, I know. But you’ll always be my personal babysitter. If you’ll have me?”