Page 19 of Blood of the Sirens
I wasn’t sure how to handle this. There were clearly social cues and hidden meanings being tossed around that I was not privy to.
“I’m just gonna skedaddle and leave you two birds alone. Assuming that’s OK?” Javi sent another one of those meaningful looks to Jesse, who sighed and waved him away.
I couldn’t figure him out. He doted on her, but I smelled that he had no interest in mating with her. It was confusing.
“He’s harmless. Mostly,” Jesse responded, glaring at me. What had I done?
“All right. See you tomorrow.” Javi whistled and walked down the dock toward the noisy city behind us. “Do absolutelyeverythingI would do!”
Jesse gave a frustrated cry.
I turned back to her, eager. We were finally alone.
SIX
Jesse
My night had gonefrom utter terror to rage; to despair and shame, and then circling around to shock and confusion.
I’d half convinced myself I’d dreamed up my inlet man from a few days ago, dreamed up everything from his blond hair down to the lithe muscles covering his body.
Yet, here he stood arguing for me and fighting for me.
No one had done that in … damn, not since I’d lived with my mother a decade ago. Mom had always tried to have my back, even if she wasn’t always the most helpful about it.
Sometimes I missed her. Sometimes I was happy to be without her.
I couldn’t help but stare, lost for words as this man laid into Mike, who was well within his rights to fire me. But he didn’t. He kept me on. And hired the inlet Blondie as well.
Oh, Javi was going to have a field day.
Merrick. His name wasMerrick.
It was different and unique. Like he was.
Javi asked me something about being OK alone with Merrick. I waved his concerns away.
“He’s harmless. Mostly,” I assured him.
Merrick would come with me because I wanted answers, but he would not be getting lucky. Well, not necessarily. I had too many questions, and he was going to answer them. After that? We’d see.
“All right. See you tomorrow.” Javi winked and made his way off the docks and toward his apartment downtown.
Merrick looked far too pleased with himself now that we were alone. I grabbed his hand and yanked him after me as I marched off the dock. His skin still had that cool, smooth texture that was odd to the touch.
“Where are we—”
“What the fuck are you doing? Are you stalking me or something?” I harshly whispered over my shoulder, tugging him down toward the parking lot, toward the pole where my bike was chained up.
Merrick followed me willingly, a wide grin on his face. “Yes, I successfully tracked you here. Where are we going now?”
His honesty was disarming. Refreshing, but I was unprepared for it. I let go of his hand when we reached my bike. With shaking hands, I undid the lock and shoved it into my knapsack.
“How’d you get here? I rode …” I gestured at my bike apologetically. He had to have driven a car or something to get all the way into town; it was ten miles. I flicked on my headlight and put on my reflectors. People drove like maniacs around here.
Merrick looked toward the thriving nightlife behind us. “I will find something and meet you at your … house.”
Well, that was quite forward, wasn’t it?
