Page 13 of Fanged Temptation

“Leah,” he said after another long pause, “don’t let the past hinder you from forging new connections. People leave, yes, but sometimes they come back. They’re all just trying to find their way, same as you.”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me, and glanced down at the deck. The algae was gone, but it had left a lingering stain on the rough wood between my knees.

“Thanks, Grandpa,” I said quietly.

“Anytime, kiddo.” I could hear the smile in his voice, the faintcrunchas he ground the peppermint between his teeth. “Now go on. Finish your boat things or whatever it is you’re doing. And call me when you’re not so busy saving the seas.”

I laughed despite myself. “I will. Love you – and no more candy for god’s sake. You’ll rot what's left of your teeth.”

“I’m old, I’ve earned the right to stuff my gob!” His voice softened, like a warm hug through the crackling speakers. “Love you too.”

I ended the call, slumped on my knees, and stared at the water; a swampy green-grey. Silvery fish darted about, riding the ripples that pulsed through the harbor from the cargo ship pulling in on the far side of the docks.

My mind drifted back to a different bay, to a distant memory of two teenagers crouched on the shore. To Maxine gripping my elbow, her nose wrinkled in dismay while I leaned over an injured turtle, hopelessly tangled up in a spool of fishing gut.

“Will he be all right?” she had asked, peering over my shoulder.

“I’ll make sure of it,” had been my steadfast response.

That was the day I finally decided what I wanted to do with my life. Conservation, preserving that big blue body of water that stretched out beyond the horizon – and protecting every slimy, scaled creature that lived there. I had told Maxine exactly that, and she’d smiled.

“That suits you,” she’d said. “I’m not a big fan of slimy, scaled things, but I hope there’s a place for me in that bright future of yours.”

She wanted to stick around, she had told me so. Then she’d up and left anyway. My grandfather’s words ebbed back to me;Maybe she had her reasons. Reasons you don’t know yet.

I lifted my cell, stared at the dim screen, and debated internally.

Maxine had reappeared in my life, sure, but that didn’t mean I had to chase her down like some lost puppy. Still, the sound of her voice had been stuck in my head. That slight lilt of amusement, the way she said my name like it hadn’t been years since she’d last seen me. Like nothing had changed.

Except everything had.

I sighed and tapped the button before I could think too hard about it. The line rang, and I immediately regretted my decision.

One ring. Two rings.

This is stupid. Put down the phone.

Three rings. Four–

“Hello?” Her voice came through, slightly out of breath.

“Uh, hey,” I said, my voice hitching just high enough to make me cringe. “It’s Leah.”

“Leah – ” Maxine repeated, her tone see-sawing between hesitant and thrilled. “Leah! Hi. What’s up?”

I swallowed. “I was just… wondering what you’re up to.”

A pause. Long enough that I wondered if she’d suffered spontaneous combustion and died on me.

“I was about to go shopping,” she said eventually, tentatively like she expected my scorn.

Shopping. Of course. The one thing I actively avoided whenever possible. Malls, fluorescent lights, overpricedeverything, and swarms of people with bags stacked on their arms – it was my idea of hell. But it was a hell I would have to brave if we were to rekindle what we once had.

“Well,” I started, feigning nonchalance, “if you don’t mind the company, I could… tag along.”

Another pause. Even longer this time. I debated jotting down a eulogy.

“Sure,” she said at last, her voice quieter now. “I’d like that a lot.”

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