Page 18 of Mail Order Splash

“I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.” I nodded to Eli for us to go.

“Get her name,” he said under his breath.

“Do you have a name?”

“I do. Don’t most people?” She grinned.

At least she has a sense of humor. Maybe I should give her my name, or is that too pushy? I don’t want her to think I’m hitting on her.

“Do you have a nickname?” I smiled back.

“You mean like ‘Tom and Jerry’?”

“Sorta like that.”

“A few people call me Ariel, like the Little Mermaid, because I’m always in the water.”

“I understood. Do you do human rescues, too, then?”

“Not yet, but if you get outside of this safety ring the pod has given us, you might need a rescue.”

“I’ll remember that for next time.”

I could hear the guy with her saying something on the boat radio, then he called out that they had to leave. I wanted to talk more but, without being super pushy, I had to let her go. But, I knew there would be a next time.

I wonder if the guy is her husband or boyfriend?

Chapter Seven

KLEINE

“Ariel? I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone call you that, except maybe you when that movie came out,” Josh chirped. “Why not give him your real name? He’s attractive and interested in rescues.”

“We don’t know those guys. What are they doing out on the water again in the middle of a workday? And, I might add that they gave me fake names first.”

“Aren’t you being a little judgy?”

“I prefer cautious.”

“You gotta relax a little, Kleine. Not everyone is out to get you or hurt you.”

“I know that.”

“Do you?”

“Drive the boat, Dr Phil. If we see him again, I’ll get his name.”

“And his number. He was practically throwing it at you.”

“He wanted to be called for rescues. You know I can’t do that.”

“He was doing a whole lot of smiling right at you.”

“Maybe he likes to smile.”

“Kleine, we have another one if you’re still out here. Over.” Tony’s voice came through the radio.

“See, what if we need their help now?” Josh said.

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