Page 59 of Shaped to Be Yours

By the time we’d made our reports to the police, taking a trip to the monster realm had been officially postponed. Thankfully, Zinnia and Beck agreed with my contingency plan.

Kai needed a movie night.

RICKY

A literal hate crime involving our friend definitely warranted an early end to the day. I also think Zinnia and Beck were more endeared to Jason than ever. He’d stood up for their son without a second thought. Stupidly and almost to his detriment, but he hadn’t even thought about the consequences before defending a friend. It was one of Jason’s sweeter qualities that I’d always loved about him, even before I knew I could love so much else.

Sandy didn’t mind having a new dinner guest either.

“You’re sure you can eat anything?” she asked Kai.

Burgers were on the menu tonight, which Kai admitted he’d never had before.

“My sister has tried everything and never reported any discomfort,” Kai said. “I am excited to tryham-burgers.”

“Just call them burgers,” Jason said.

Mickey the cat seemed to like Kai too and snuggled right up in his lap after dinner like he knew the poor guy needed some purring and soft texture therapy.

For movies, we decided onThe Shape of Waterfirst, since the monster looked a lot like Kai, but I vetoed Jason’s suggestion to watch the 80sSwamp Thingafterward. The campiness might go over Kai’s head.

“Also,” Jason said as we started the first film, “don't follow the monster’s example when he eats the cat.”

“He is going to eat a cat!” Kai snuggled Mickey even more protectively. “I do not know if I can like this monster.”

“It’s not usually something I could forgive either, but he wins you back over in the end.”

He did—the monster hadn’t known any better, in his defense—and after watching a fellow fish monster get a happy ending with a human, Kai asked, “Do either of you know Agent Whitmore’s given name?”

“Urg,” Jason groaned.

“Sorry, never caught it,” I said.

“Dude, you are not still gushing over him,” Jason accused. “Do you have a hero complex or something? You like the dashing white knight types who come to your rescue?”

Meaning Jason too, I didn’t point out.

“White knight?” Kai tilted his head at us. We had given him the corner of the L-shape, so he could stretch out his legs, giving us the rest of the sofa to snuggle on.

“Figure of speech,” Jason said. “Actually, whatdoeswhite knight mean? No one would have worn white armor. It would have been silver from the metal!”

“Don’t overthink it.” I snickered.

“All I’m saying,” Jason returned to Kai, “is why Whitmore? He’s too old for you.”

“I am a matured adult of my species,” Kai said. “Why should age matter?”

“Sure, but he's gotta be liketwiceyour age. That's a big difference.”

“Not to me. There would always be differences between us. He is human. I am a monster. Surely, you don't take issue with that.” Kai glanced between us.

“No, it's just... urg!” Jason groaned again. “Can't you crush on anyone other than him? Or me. Not Ricky either, obviously. But, um…” He trailed off because, after all, Kai had tried to do that, and it hadn’t turned out well. “Sorry.”

“I promise it is not only because Whitmore rescued us,” Kai said. “He caught my attention the other day too. He is very, um… hot.”

Jason laughed. “He is hot. Can’t deny that.”

“And we cannot choose upon whom wecrush, correct?”

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