Page 43 of Where the Current Takes Him
The pair lapsed into silence. While Beau had to admit that he enjoyed Loriun’s company, and got little tingly feelings at the idea of having a mate, none of it negated the fact that he’d only known the Mer for a few days.
On the human side of the market, Beau managed to accumulate several bags of items, from fresh bread to handmade candles. He’d even snagged a few of the vegan brownies Fauos had recommended. He doubted Fauos would ask about them the next time they met, but Beau figured it couldn’t hurt.
It wasn’t until they were nearing the end of the boardwalk that Beau stopped dead in his tracks. An unmistakable scent was floating through the air from a small stand, decorated with strings of colorful flags.
“Cuban sandwiches," he gasped. Before Loriun could react, Beau darted through the thinning crowd and slammed his palms on the counter.
The man behind the counter jumped.
“Sorry,” Beau panted. “You have Cuban sandwiches?”
The man let out a chuckle. “Sí, I do. And they’re authentic, I can assure you.”
“I’ll take four.” Beau hesitated. “Uh. Actually, do you have a Mer-safe version?”
“Of course.” The man wiped his sun-darkened brow with a rag. “How many?”
“Two original, two Mer-safe. You’re going to love this,” Beau added to Loriun, who’d just managed to catch up.
“What am I going to love?” the Alpha asked. He handed his card over without waiting for the answer.
“Just wait.” Beau grinned up at him.
When the food was ready, Beau and Loriun strolled across a little stretch of grass beyond the market, where a series of picnic tables had been arranged.
“Mymamáused to make these for me all the time when I was a kid,” Beau said, sliding onto a bench. He pulled out two of the hot, paper-wrapped sandwiches as Loriun arranged their many bags on the unused side of the table.
“They smell good,” Loriun said, accepting one. “But human food does not always align with Mer tastes.”
“Well, not liking Cuban sandwiches is unacceptable, so figure it out.” Beau unwrapped his and took a massive bite. The moan that left his throat was indecent, but at this moment, he didn’t care. “This is incredible.”
Loriun scanned the sandwich components, looking apprehensive. “If I do not like this, you will be upset?”
“Very.”
Loriun sighed and took a bite. All at once, his scarlet fins flared and his eyes went perfectly round. The second mouthful was much larger than the first.
Beau smirked. “Good, right?”
“Delicious,” the Mer mumbled. He swallowed. “I am always somewhat fearful of trying human food. First of all, because it may contain something harmful to me, but also because I never know what to expect. But now that you are here, I expect I will be trying many more human meals to come.”
“Oh, you can count on that.”
Chapter 19
Beau
“Fauos Valhn and Zicoi Koame,” Beau recited. He was pacing a frantic track around the living room while Loriun watched from the pool in amusement. With each step, the impending family dinner ticked closer.
“JaeiandRiue. Fauos Valhn and Zi—” Beau halted in mid stride. “Wait, where did your last name come from? Why are you Kolhn?” His eyes found the stark teal of his Alpha’s. Even distorted by the water’s rippling surface, his scales and fins were striking. Beau was starting to wonder if he would ever get used to it.
“It’s tradition to combine the last names of the parents,” Loriun said, sinking deeper into the waves and flaring his gills. “Usually the first half comes from the Alpha and the second half comes from the Omega. Koame and Valhn: Kolhn.”
Beau furrowed his brows. “How do you keep track of the family lines then? What if you accidentally mate with your cousin?”
Loriun had been drawing in a gulp of seawater, and consequently choked at Beau’s question.
“Ideally, you would know who your cousins are,” he spluttered. His gills and ear fins jerked back and forth, presumably trying to clear his alien respiratory system. “But surely I have a better chance of tracing my family line than you. Your species usually carries the father’s last name only. At least I carry pieces of both.”
