Page 8 of Fanged Temptation

I let out a shaky laugh, one wary eye on Rachel who snorted behind her bucket.

When she recovered from the salty jumpscare, Maxine shifted her weight, crouching a little more comfortably now, though she still eyed the pup like it might suddenly launch itself at her. “So… what happens to him when he’s better? I mean, you’re not just keeping him here, are you?”

“No, he’s only here for rehab.” I adjusted my crouch and lifted the pup's flipper to continue my inspection. “We treat their injuries, help them regain their strength, and then release them back into the ocean where they belong.”

Maxine tilted her head, curls tumbling out where her hair clips had slipped loose. “And he’ll just… be okay out there? After everything?”

“That’s the goal,” I said, shrugging. “It’s not always a perfect outcome, but we do everything we can to give them a fighting chance. Life in the open ocean can be tough, but these guys are tough too.”

She frowned, her gaze dropping back to the little guy as he lolled rather dramatically under my fingers. “What if he doesn’t want to leave? He seems to like it here.”

I chuckled, gesturing over the pup as he waved his flipper again, clearly enjoying the attention. “He’s just soaking up the spa treatment while he can. Trust me, when he’s ready, he’ll be happy to get back out there. And we’ll make sure he has the best shot at a good life.”

Maxine’s lips pressed together, brows cinching thoughtfully. Then she glanced at me, her expression softening in a way that made my chest tighten. “You really care about this, don’t you?”

“Of course I do.” The words came out a little sharper than I intended and I looked away, focusing on the pup. “It’s not just about the seals. It’s about fixing what we’ve broken, you know? Giving back. Helping, not hurting.”

There was a long pause, and I could feel her eyes on me, but I refused to look up. Finally, she said, “That’s… good. Really good. The world could use more of that.”

I risked a glance at her and was surprised to find her smiling – not her usual polished, preppy smile, but something smoother, almost wistful.

“Thanks,” I murmured, feeling suddenly awkward and keenly aware of the flush in my cheeks.

In the extended silence that followed, Rachel sighed with emphasis, slapping her knees as she hauled herself upright. “Well, my lunch break is coming up so I’ll leave you two to it. Nice meeting you, Maxine.”

I had never pinned Rachel as meddlesome, but the wink she gave me on her way out said otherwise, and I made a note to findher later and reiterate that there wasnothinggoing on between Maxine and me – so she could kindlybutt out.

Maxine watched her go, waving cheerily before turning to me. “She seems nice.”

I sloshed the fish bucket and debated dumping the contents in Rachel’s locker. “She’s a busybody.”

By the time we were done with the inspection the aquarium had quietened down, the school groups and tourists trickling out as the afternoon stretched onward.

Maxine and I found ourselves wandering the chilly halls, trailing past the glowing tanks and their undulating inhabitants. The water cast rippling blue light across the walls, across the high set of her cheekbones, and it was an effort not to stare.

Despite the serene surroundings, tension thickened the air between us. It wasn’t as suffocating as our first meeting had been, our time with the seals had thawed some of the ice, but it was still there, lingering like a storm cloud in the distance. Heavy with everything that had been left unsaid.

I glanced sideways at Maxine. She looked so out of place here, her bright yellow dress, stained and stiff with seawater, standing in stark contrast to the subdued blues and greens of the exhibits. But what struck me most was how unchanged she looked – same flawless skin, same delicate features, same glossy curls.

Her looks had changed on a superficial level – her hair color, her style – but time hadn’t quite touched her. And for some reason, that only made the tangled knot of resentment in my chest coil tighter.

“You know, I didn’t think you’d actually come,” I murmured eventually.

Maxine raised an eyebrow. “Why? You thought I’d be too squeamish for seals?”

“Something like that.” I smiled half-heartedly but it slid off my face a moment later. “You always were a bit… particular.”

She laughed softly and fluffed out her skirt. “Still am, apparently. My dress is going to need a proper burial after today.”

“Your sacrifice is commendable.”

We stopped in front of a large tank, the shimmering fish darting back and forth behind the glass that stretched from floor to ceiling. Maxine folded her arms and tilted her head back, a faraway look in her clouded eyes. I watched her for a moment, the question teetering on the tip of my tongue.

“Why did you come, Maxine?”

She blinked like I’d startled her. “You gave me your number.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

---