Page 19 of Every Chance to Stay

Antonio felt terrible ditching Lucky in the middle of their lunch date. A few hours after the rescue concluded, the guilt came to gnaw on his bones. He hadn’t even said goodbye. Why hadn’t he said goodbye? Despite the reassuring words he’d given Lucky after their first date, applying them to himself seemed impossible.

Curled in the bunk, unable to sleep despite the exhaustion burning in his joints, Antonio found himself staring at Lucky’s contact page. His thumb hovered over the call button. Was Lucky eating dinner? Was he watching a movie with his family? Was he out with friends?

Would he be interrupting Lucky’s life?

He was a contradiction. He could take up space, command a unit, manage media and politicians and disgruntled tourists with ease. But when it came to those he cared about, Antonio always resorted to making himself small. No need to pay him too much mind, no he didn’t need anything, he was always absolutely fine. The idea of interrupting Lucky had his mind spiraling. He would never admit the amount of time it had taken him just to ask Lucky out to lunch…

But he wanted this to work. He wanted Lucky. Even now, curled in a cramped bunk trying to forget incompetent tourists and their crying children, Antonio wanted Lucky. He could practically taste his saltwater taffy scent.

With a deep breath, he pressed the call button.

It rang five times. Long enough for Antonio to regret pressing call. Long enough for him to regret ever picking up the phone at all. Then Lucky’s voice came through the line.

“Antonio! Hi, how are you?” There was some background noise, “Hold on, let me step outside.” He heard some voices and Lucky must have pulled the phone away from his ear to talk to someone. Then there was the familiar sound of a sliding door before Lucky’s warm voice returned. “Sorry about that, I’m out on the porch now.”

“Not to worry, I’m the one who should be sorry, am I interrupting?” That familiar icy fear of imposing on someone compounded with the guilt of ditching Lucky mid date.

“No, no, I’m just at a friend’s house. We’re supposed to be studying but to be honest I think we’ve just turned it into a snacks and music night.” Lucky’s laugh was just as sweet over the phone. “We saw you on the news, actually!”

The obligatory interview after the boat crash. Not his favorite activity but it did keep them in the public eye. “Anytime we break out the dive gear, the media gets excited. I was just glad the kids were okay. Not putting them in life jackets could have resulted in far worse fates. They were lucky the sea was calm.”

If it hadn’t been such a beautiful day, the outcome could have been disastrous.

“It’s amazing how people underestimate the sea… And overestimate their nautical skills.” Lucky’s sigh crackled through the phone line. “Anyway, is everything okay otherwise?”

“Yeah, well…” Antonio hesitated, “I just wanted to give you a call to check in. I’m sorry about ditching you like that. Unfortunately, with calls like that, it’s really a matter of seconds counting.”

“You forgot your own words so quickly.” Lucky didn’t sound upset, just amused. Antonio really wished he could see the omega’s face. “You got called in and then you saved like five little kids. How could I possibly be upset about that?”

That’s how it should work. Antonio knew that, and always hoped to meet someone who understood, but rarely did it work out that way. “I know but… Still, I forgot to say goodbye, so I just…”

“Just felt like you needed to apologize?” Lucky finished. There was a moment of silence that seemed answer enough as Lucky sighed again. “I’ll have you know, I ate your skewers. Technically, a friend helped, but I did most of the eating. So I think we can call it even.”

Antonio leaned back against the wall, laughing softly. “Really? Were they all as good as I thought they would be?” Relief finally eased the tension from his shoulders.

“They were. You’ll just have to find a chance to pop in on me again so we can do a take two. Eventually you’ll get to eat all your own skewers, I’m certain.” Lucky teased.

“Eventually.” Antonio’s agreement morphed into a jaw cracking yawn.

“You sound ready for a nap.” Antonio wanted to disagree, but he knew it was the truth. “I’ll let you go but…”

“But?” He pressed gently, rubbing a knuckle into his eye to keep sleep at bay.

“I know our schedules are kind of messy and unpredictable but, well, I do a few mermaid shows each month at the Marine Center. Nothing too fancy but it makes the kids smile and I’ve been told I really look great with a tail. I was thinking, if any of the dates work out for you, maybe you’d like to come see?” Lucky sounded nervous as he extended the invitation, as if he wasn’t certain Antonio would accept.

“I’m almost insulted that you think I wouldn’t want to.” He hummed, smiling as Lucky huffed in response. “Send me the dates, I’ll let you know what day works for me. Hopefully the kids won’t mind me stealing the pretty mermaid away though…”

“Hm… I think they’ll be okay, considering the mermaid invited the charming prince himself.” The flirting came so naturally that Antonio could hardly recall why he’d been so worried. There was a sound in the background, like knocking. “I’m being summoned back to the snack circle. You should get some rest, too.”

“Alright… Have fun with your friends. Buenas noches.” There were other endearments on the tip of his tongue, but it just didn’t feel right. Not yet…

“Buenas noches, Antonio.” Lucky echoed. Antonio was certain the omega was smiling.

This time, he had no trouble falling asleep.

It took two weeks to find time for the mermaid show. Through those days, they texted, called, and even sent pictures. Antonio snapped some shots of the stray cats he fed, and Lucky sent beautiful images of brightly colored reef fish. It wasn’t enough. By the time his day off rolled, he was desperate to see Lucky again.

When Antonio was twelve, his class did a field trip to the Marine Center. Back then, it was still called Paradise Aquarium. The research and rehabilitation facility was still under construction and the building they were allowed in was small, dingy, and dark. Teague Wilde was young then. The man who went on to become an internationally renowned researcher had been quite the upstart. They had only just begun to gain the funding and renown they now held.