Page 32 of Expecting in Oceans

The idea of a baby’s head poking out of me made my head spin. It’d shocked me when I first learned that was how humans were born, and it shocked me now. And hadn’t Ari said that sea dragons develop faster than other dragons?

“At least give me some time to figure this out,” I said, and then sighed. “You can’t hear me. Why am I talking to you? I hope you’re comfortable in there, swimming around.” I poked my stomach.

“Istil? Are you alright? Who are you talking to?”

Ari’s voice behind me almost sent me tumbling off the rock into the water. Lost in my weird headspace, I hadn’t heard him stepping out from the trees.

“I’m fine,” I said, frantically wiping my face. “You have to stop coming up behind me like that.”

“Hm. I thought you enjoyed me coming up behind you.” He smiled slightly.

My jaw dropped, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, now you’re teasing me. I can’t believe it. How did you find me?”

Ari tapped his nose. “It wasn’t very difficult.”

“You can’t be serious.” I sniffed my arm. His nose was that strong?

“I’m serious.” He crouched next to me. “Are you okay?”

“No,” I admitted. “No, I’m not. I’m terrified by this whole thing. Do you know how hard it is to frighten me? It’s not easy.”

“I apologize. And I know I didn’t help back there, with the mu’ukade.”

“You made me feel like shit,” I said. “If doing this together means you’re going to be breathing down my neck, then forget it. I’d rather be on my own. I’m not one of your patients.”

“I know. This is uncharted waters for me, too.” Ari sat down and looked into the water, and his reflection appeared next to mine. For a moment, the severe mask lifted away and I could see he was just as frightened as I was. “I’m sorry,” he said.

“Thank you,” I told him. “So, if we’re going to be living together… How will this work?”

“How do you mean?”

“We can’t keep this a secret forever. How long will it be before it starts to show?”

“From this point? Two weeks. Maybe less.”

That was so soon. “And how long before the baby comes?”

“For a sea dragon, another three months. But since you’re not, I don’t know how that will change things. We’ll have to find out together.”

Three months. I felt dizzy.

“Well, I guess we have three months to get to know each other,” I said lightly and then stood. “I hope you know I’m not walking back.”

“I took the horse,” he said.

“I’m not riding a horse. You’re welcome to ride me, though.” I gave him a little smirk. “Or not, since you’re afraid of flying.”

I turned to leave, and Ari grabbed my hand.

“Wait,” he said, and my pulse leaped along with my imagination, which conjured an infinite host of lewd scenarios that were instantly extinguished. “I’ll fly.”

“Oh,” I said.

He gave me a look. “Is that it? You’re not going to give me shit about changing my mind?”

Why was I so fucking horny?

“For a second, I thought you were going to take me up on a different offer,” I said.

---