Page 13 of Every Chance to Stay

“Hah, surprisingly not. We’re very aware of how the ecosystem functions. The roles each creature plays, as predator or prey, aren’t something to get emotional about. We save the turtles; in turn the sharks and orcas and seals are able to complete their portion of the cycle.” Lucky paused, “That’s not to say we don’t have favorites though. Favorite species, favorite animals within that group, and even ones we bond with during rehabilitation. My dad likes tiger sharks, mom liked the leatherbacks.”

“Are you working on this project with your mother?” Antonio tried to recall if he knew anything about her…

“No. Well… sort of, actually. Mom was the one who reintroduced the leatherbacks to Tesoro twelve years ago. It was her last project before she passed.” Lucky’s smile turned soft, nostalgic and warm. With a clap of his hands, Lucky brushed the moment away like the sand stuck to his knees. “Come on, let’s get to the second camera.”

They walked closer to the water for a while, leaving footprints in the sand. Antonio searched for something else to ask. Something that hopefully didn’t provoke more of those sad smiles. “You mentioned having a brother?”

“Mhm, Jackie. He’s a photographer, though he’s on hiatus. Normally, he comes with me to do this but he’s working with dad at the center. There is a tour group coming and they have to get everything ready. So, it left me the perfect opportunity to invite you out.” Lucky grinned.

“A reason to thank the tourists then. We get tours to the station sometimes, not that I fully understand why.” Antonio shrugged with a laugh, “I can imagine the amount of work it takes to get the center ready.”

“Who would want to see a bunch of handsome alphas talk about saving the day?” Lucky teased.

Antonio snorted, “Well, when you put it like that…” He pulled Lucky closer, slinging an arm around the omega’s shoulders. “Then perhaps they are going to the marine center to see more than the seals.”

“Mm, you’re not wrong.” Lucky leaned into his with a mischievous gleam in those ocean blue eyes peering over his sunglasses, “They might be coming to see my mermaid show.”

Before he could react to the provocative words, Lucky shoved him away and took off running down the beach with musical laughter. Sirena Reef was named for the long-held superstition that merfolk lived amongst the coral. Antonio didn’t believe in mermaids.

Lucky might change his mind.

9

Lucky

Antonio caught him about the waist, swinging him around with a rumbling laugh that sank beneath his skin. Warmth spread through him. He was wrapped up in the sweet scent of magnolias and oranges, and he tried not to think of the night they spent together.

“You tempt me so, cariño.” Antonio sighed in his ear. Shivers shot down his spine as Antonio’s breath ghosted over his skin.

“I didn’t know our beloved SAR captain was so easily seduced.” Lucky teased.

A kiss was pressed to his temple. “Only by omegas that look crafted by sunlight and that are filled with animal facts.”

Such silly flirting shouldn’t make him smile so much. It was strange to have his habit be described as a boon rather than a flaw. Even the alphas he thought genuinely liked him for other reasons grew tired of his endless animal talk.

“You’ve got strange taste.” He pushed Antonio away with a laugh.

“Anyone who would call finding you fascinating and attractive ‘strange’ needs a little more curiosity in their lives. And their eyes checked.” Antonio shrugged, linking their fingers as he released Lucky.

Lucky liked the way Antonio talked about him. He felt desirable… “Come on, the next camera is up in the dunes here.”

The sun burned hot against his skin. Jack was going to scold him for leaving his hat behind, but in the morning rush, he forgot. Now, he was paying the price. Sweat gathered on his scalp as the humidity made his curls fray and frizz. Despite the heat, even as their palms grew sticky, Lucky held Antonio’s hand as they hiked into the dune grass.

“Is that it?” Antonio pointed, brows furrowed.

Following where he was pointing, Lucky sighed at the broken pole sticking out. “Yeah…”

“Vandalism?” Antonio’s question made Lucky laugh.

“Not by a person.” He released the alpha’s hand to crouch beside the pole. It was bent and the camera was knocked off. “See how the grass here is flattened? And these scratch marks? This was done by a resident iguana.”

It certainly wasn’t the first time the large green lizards had taken out one of his cameras. They liked trying to climb, even when they shouldn’t.

Antonio laughed, raising a hand to his face as if to stifle it. The man’s smile was wide and toothy. “When I was a kid, I used to chase iguanas with my friend, Mateo. One time, a particularly big one tried to charge through the chain-link fence in Mateo’s yard, but it got stuck. We cried to his dad and uncle who came out to free the chunky guy.”

“Jack and I used to chase them too!” Lucky shook his head, breaking down the damaged pole. “Jack was great at catching anoles; he has fast fingers.” He wiggled his fingers at Antonio, “We used to show them off to our parents and pretend we were on one of dad’s shows.”

“That sounds adorable.” Antonio opened up the bag, helping him fit the pieces in.