Page 31 of Storm and Sea

Atreus bit his tongue when Nyel took way too long to answer, eyes wide.

Shit. He’s freaking out.

“Yeah, I am,” Atreus said when Nyel showed no signs of speaking. “Sorry, he’s a little nervous.”

“No need,” Giovanni said, extending a hand, “Giovanni Marcello. It’s nice to meet a friend of Atreus’s.”

Atreus had to shove Nyel in the shoulder to get him to respond. The sireno extended the wrong hand and pinched Giovanni’s fingers before jerking his hand back like he’d touched a moray eel.

“Your name,” Atreus said from the side of his mouth.

“Oh, I’m Nyel Viritani. N-nice to meet you too.”

Giovanni looked between the two; his mustache pressed into a hard line. “What brings you here, Nyel?” He finally asked.

“I… uh… I wanted to see Atreus at work,” Nyel said, then looked to him for approval.

“I’m afraid today is slow, given the rain. We will likely finish early, and you can return home.”

“Where?” Nyel asked.

Atreus stomped on his foot as casually as he could and spoke over him. “Yes. Your house on the far side of the island. The one your parents rent for the summer.”

“Oh— yes. That house.” Nyel agreed with pained tears welling in the corners of his eyes.

For the second time that day, Atreus was spared from more impossible questions when the front door opened. This time, Thomasso, Leo’s father, limped in with his walking stick.

“They have him at the hospital right now,” he said, shaking the water from his cap. “Dr. Romano is with him. It doesn’t look too terrible.” His gravelly voice was a reminder of years spent smoking on the open sea, each word carrying the rough edge, as though the salt and smoke had permeated his lungs.

“And the boat?” Giovanni asked.

Thomasso’s already slumped shoulders sagged even more. “Gone. Probably sitting on the sandbank by now.”

“Le porgo le mie più sentite condoglianze. I am sorry my friend.”

Thomasso waved him off. “Boats can be replaced. It’s more important that my son is okay.”

Atreus’s brain spun like a broken compass.

Leo. His best friend. His best friend was missing in a storm. How could he forget so easily? Nyel’s arrival completely threw all worry for Leo out of his mind. Those worries came rushing back to him now.

“What happened? Is Leo hurt?” Atreus asked, stepping forward.

“Oh, Atreus, it’s good to see you, son,” Thomasso said, squinting to see him better. “He has a big bump on his head and was cold as ice when we found him on the beach. Dr. Romano said he will be okay. He’ll be by to visit you tomorrow, I’m sure.”

Atreus relaxed. “Good.”

“I better get back to the house. Emelia is with Leo, and I don’t want the little ones alone for too long.” Thomasso turned to leave, his walking stick clanking on the wood boards, when Giovanni stopped him.

“Wait.” He reached for the freshly wrapped yellowfin and placed ten pounds of it in a satchel. It was half their entire stock. “Take this.”

Thomasso’s watery eyes narrowed.

“For Leo,” Giovanni added. “The red meat will be good for his recovery.”

When the old man made no move to take it, Atreus raised his voice. “The docks will be busy this week. When Leo feels up to it, can you send him to us? I could really use the help.”

Thomasso sighed, then nodded, accepting the satchel of food. “I’ll pass the message to him.”