Page 18 of Not So Stranded
“Can we contact Eric?” Kit asked. “Let him know we’re coming?”
Hiaka cringed a little. “Yeah, I guess we should. Normally, I’d just show up, but a boat suddenly appearing would have everyone on red alert.”
“I have a satellite phone.” Kit made to stand, and Zenori unwrapped his leg. He dropped a kiss on Zenori’s forehead before heading into the cabin area to grab the phone. “What’s Eric’s number?”
Hiaka rattled off a number, and Kit punched it in. When it started ringing, Kit tried to hand the phone over to Hiaka, but they wouldn’t take it. Waving their hands, eyes wide, they even backed up like the phone was dangerous.
“Hello?” a voice said over the line. “Hello?”
“Take it,” Kit whispered harshly, having no clue why talking to the one person Eric knew would be a bad thing.
Hiaka groaned and took the phone. “Hey, Eric. It’s Hiaka.”
“Hey, kid!” he said so loudly that Kit realized the phone was on speaker. “What are you doing calling? Wait a minute.Howare you calling? Oooo, your dad is gonna freak.”
“Then let’s not tell him,” Hiaka said urgently.
A moment later, there came a rapid-fire series of words in a language Kit didn’t know. If it hadn’t been so biting, it might’ve been kind of beautiful. Now Kit understood why Hiaka didn’t want to be the one to talk to anyone back home. He winced and smiled apologetically when Hiaka sent a withering glare his way.
Hiaka spoke that language back—Hawaiian maybe?—and the conversation seemed to lose heat after a few exchanges. Finally, the man on the other end of the line said, “So say hello to me, since you’re the reason my child is coming home now.”
“Oh,” Kit said when he realized the man meant them. “I’m Kit Tennant. I’m an ecologist helping the University of Hawai’i and NOAA fill in data gaps related to sea turtle nesting sites.”
“We have those here.”
“Sea turtles? Yes, sir, that’s why we thought I could follow Hiaka and not lose my grant.”
He gave a grunt. “And the other one?”
Kit looked to Zenori, who eyed the satellite phone suspiciously. “I am Zenori. Aged seven. Born to Olgefin.”
Biting his bottom lip, Kit tried not to laugh or smile since he wasn’t sure if that was traditionally what cecaelia shared as far as introductions went, or if Zenori also wanted to share their qualifications like Kit had.
“Olgefin? Why do I know that name?”
“We met them,” Hiaka said, “that last time you went to Pacilona Nepthis with us.”
“Ah. Alright.” There was a moment of muffled conversation before he came back. “Show him how to drop you off at the gate before docking by the yacht.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Hiaka said, sounding young and apologetic.
“You know I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Hurry home.” The phone gave a series of beeps signaling that he’d hung up.
“Your dad seems nice,” Kit said with a grin.
Hiaka snorted a laugh and handed the phone back. “I’m sure you can imagine why me using a phone to call home might’ve freaked him out.”
“I can now, yes.”
“He’s glad I’m bringing you home with me at least.”
Kit took the phone back into the cabin, not wanting to put voice to his sudden thought about how they’d explain their relationship once they arrived. A threesome? A couple and their special friend? He hadn’t even done something like this with humans, so he had no reference for what to call it or how to break it to a parent what they were doing.
When he came back out of the cabin, Zenori and Hiaka were kissing and it looked like Hiaka was blushing—they were tinged a little extra purple. Kit sat back down and was going to ask if they wanted breakfast, but what came out of his mouth was, “You know, part of me wishes I could just studyyou.”
