Page 79 of Alonzo

Alonzo laughs. “A siren? Of course it’s a lie, Tara. Sirens don’t exist.”

“Then what’s the real story?”

“The real story is just as incredible as the fake one. It’s just… a curse. That’s all. For the men born to each girl child in our lineage.”

I frown at him.

“We never marry. Only the daughter ever gets a family. And...” He shrugs up his shoulders. “It’s held for hundreds of years. The boys all go off to do beautifully dangerous things. But they never return.”

“Hmm.” I lie back down and look up at the dark sky. Is he trying to tell me something? Like… This is fun, Tara. But that’s all it will ever be.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Lonnie says.

“What am I thinking?”

“You’re thinking… this is his way of breaking up with me.”

I look straight up at the stars. Do not turn my head one smidge. “Are we even together?”

“We are.”

“So are you breaking up with me?”

“No. It’s just a fucking story.”

I huff out a breath. “Then why did you tell it to me? Why bring me all the way out here in the middle of the night?”

He turns his body now. Props his body up with an elbow on the rock. Leans the side of his head into his palm. “You know why I have mermaids all over my body, Tare?”

I shrug. “You’re fascinated with the idea that your great-great-great-grandmother was a mythological creature?”

“No. Not at all. They scare me.”

I can’t help it. I have to look at him for this part. So I turn my head until I see moonlight shining in his hazel eyes. “Why?”

“Because they remind me that beautiful things are dangerous.”

I close my eyes.

“You can do dangerous things for beautiful reasons or beautiful things for dangerous reasons. But it really all comes down to risk.”

I open my eyes again. “Risk?”

“Yeah. Risk.”

“You’re talking in circles. I don’t really get your point tonight, Lons. But I feel… sad.”

He nods his head and then lies back down. “Me too. But this rock feels good. And kissing you feels good. And I’m glad you’re here. So fucking glad you’re here. I just want you to know that. I really like you, Tara.”

“But…”

“But I come with a lot of baggage, sunshine.”

“Hello? Witness protection program? Dude called Diablo?” He and I both sigh-chuckle at the same time. “Nice to meet you, kettle. My name is pot.”

“Yeah.” He sighs. “I have to admit, learning that you have baggage kinda makes me feel a little bit better.”

I smile. Because he’s not breaking up with me. He’s testing the waters. He lied to me. He knows I hate the lies. But he hasn’t told me everything and now he’s worried about the secrets he’s still keeping.