10. Chapter 10

I let Cory guide me down the path, unsure if I would make it on my own. Silence hung heavy between us, and I could sense Cory hurting as I did. I’d been able to sense it through the connection when my cirri wrapped around him after he pulled me from the ocean.

When we reached the bottom of the path, Cory hesitated instead of leading me directly to his truck. I didn’t really care, not when I felt like my world was crumbling beneath me. He offered for me to stay with him, and though my response had been brief, the offer was huge. Even now, he was protecting and providing for me in the best way he could. There wasn’t anything he could do about my shell, just as I couldn’t. Maybe I did care that we weren't on our way back to his home; it was at least one place that felt safe.

Cory sucked his teeth. “This is really bad timing and I’m sorry to bring it up, but do you think we should pick out a few more outfits for you to wear?”

I inhaled and ran my hands over my white pants and cast a glance back to the cove. There was no telling how long I would be stuck, maybe forever. Though, I’d been hoping to be with my mate forever, just not like this. Still, I probably would need some more clothes. “I suppose that would be wise.”

Cory kissed my cheek and led me down the boardwalk to his shop. We had to stay to one side as people on various wheeled devices zipped past us. It was far more crowded than it had been earlier in the morning. Cory leaned down and whispered the name of each new thing we came across. Surreys, bicycles, skateboards, tandem bikes. Everyone was in a hurry to get places. The human world was very fast. In my current state, I felt slower than ever. I suppose it made sense that they would find ways to move faster, as two legs were rather tedious. The earth did nothing to move people along, unlike the sea, where you could catch a current and it could take you hundreds of miles with no effort at all.

I clung to Cory tightly when a bicyclist zipped by us. “Is it always so busy?”

“A lot of times, yes. It’s one of those places where people like to go to get away from the city and enjoy the fresh air and the view. Right now, many folks are on a break from work and school because of the holidays. Like I said, you were lucky it was early and cold when you walked across the beach earlier.”

“I had to.” The words came out so softly, I wasn’t even sure if I’d said them.

Cory looked down at me. “Why?”

I met his gaze and offered the best smile I could, which, admittedly, wasn’t a strong one at the moment. But Cory… he was the bright spot in all of this. “You.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“I felt you. When your foot was in the water, I knew it was you. I could feel you like I would be able to feel my shell, but I had to be sure.”

Cory’s eyes gleamed. “So it was you, your cirri, that I felt when I put my hand in the water.”

My tight smile grew a little wider and my unfocused eyes became a little clearer. I found my mate. I had to remind myself. I had found my mate . “Yes. It was me.”

“I thought so, but it had been a weird morning, so I wasn’t sure if my mind was playing tricks on me. Now I know more of what your cirri feel like, the little tastes and flick they do to explore.”

If I were in better spirits, I might have said something about them wanting to explore him more, but I wasn’t there yet. Although… thinking about feeling his whole body with each cirrus charting a map of him perked me up… a little .

Cory unlocked the padlock and slid the door open, turning the lights on so we could see. He pressed another kiss to my cheek and gave my arm a light squeeze. “Go pick out whatever you want. I just need to check a couple of things while we’re here.”

I went back to the rack of clothes I’d found earlier, feeling each material to decide if it was something I could tolerate on my skin, and ended up picking out a few sets identical to what I wore in different colors. As I walked across the shop with the bundle of clothes on my arm, a man rolled up to the open door and popped his skateboard up so he could grab the edge of it.

“Hey, man, are you open?”

Cory looked between him and me with hesitation. I knew we’d only stopped in because of me, but I didn’t want to be the reason Cory turned someone away. I gave a nod.

“Yeah, sure. Just give me a minute to get my computer running and I’ll be happy to help you.”

The man headed straight toward the cold drinks along the wall. I went to the counter to stay close to Cory. It was still new and a little unnerving to be so near another human. I supposed I would have to get used to it if I was going to be staying on land. The thought made my stomach sink. Cory was wonderful, and his grandfather seemed kind, but beyond that, I didn’t imagine I would feel comfortable connecting with other people .

Cory patted the seat beside him. “Sorry, I should have closed my door. I wasn’t thinking about how busy it is today. Have a seat here, and we’ll head home as soon as we can.”

“It’s all right. This is your job.”

He squeezed my shoulder and gave me a half-smile. His attention shifted away from me as the man approached the counter.

“Just the soda and chips today?”

“Yes, I was dying and didn’t want to have to buy a whole meal. You’re a lifesaver, thanks, man.” He handed over a plastic card, which Cory tapped on a device.

“No problem. Happy Holidays.” Cory handed the man the card back, and he took it along with the items he’d selected. I sat in silence, watching the exchange. It was surprisingly quick, with an unspoken understanding between the two, and then it was over.

“Thanks, man, you too.” He faced me and gave a little wave, which I mirrored, a little taken aback by the whole thing. Would I be expected to know how to read the words that weren’t spoken? If I were underwater, it would be completely natural, but up here, I couldn’t sense the vibrations or information being shared. I played the short conversation back, surprised Cory didn’t have more of a reaction to the serious statement the man had given.

I grabbed my mate’s arm and spoke in a hushed tone. “You saved his life, Cory. That man…you saved him. ”

Cory smirked and stroked my cheek. “I didn’t, little one. It was a figure of speech, an exaggeration of gratitude. Sometimes, people embellish situations for levity, humor, connection, or as a way to emphasize what they feel. I would say even you have a knack for a little embellishment. I remember you quite clearly saying you would combust if you didn’t come.”

“It wasn’t an embellishment,” I said with a pout. The intensity of the pressure building in my body truly felt like it would undo me.

He chuckled and gave me a light kiss. “I adore you, Nemo.”

I stared at him, feeling warm for the first time since I’d come out of the cave without my shell. The cold water didn’t bother me, but a chill had filled every part of my body; feeling empty without my shell, my home. Except… Cory. His presence and adoration had started filling those empty spaces… a little.

“I adore you, too, Cory.”

Our gazes were locked on the other until we were interrupted by the sound of shuffling feet and mumbled voices. More people had entered Cory’s shop while we weren’t looking.

Cory’s expression changed from awe to apology. “Shit. Sorry. I hate to ask them to leave, so it’ll just be a little longer.”

“It’s okay. I can wait.”

One family turned into a few more who lingered long enough to look through the shop, checking out jewelry, clothes, and what Cory called souvenirs. It was much different from the first man who came in knowing exactly what he wanted. These people hadn’t come with a specific goal, but instead seemed to enjoy their time in Cory’s shop. There was laughter as they tried different things on, or appreciative comments when they found something that interested them. It was fascinating to watch. More than anything, they seemed happy.

We stayed in his shop for another hour, and I closely observed each interaction, trying to study the way people communicated. A few greeted me as I sat beside Cory. Following his example, I even offered a ‘ Happy holidays ’ to some. They all smiled and responded the same. It was… pleasant, surprisingly. Maybe this human thing was easier than I expected.

Once the shop was clear, Cory shut everything down. “Come on, let’s get out of here before anyone else comes.”

With the clothes I’d picked out in a bag, he turned off the lights and locked the door behind us.

“Happy holidays,” I shouted out to a person who rode by on a bicycle. They waved and shouted it back. “I think I’m getting the hang of this human thing.”

Cory huffed out a laugh. “You’re doing great. Thank you for being so patient. I didn’t expect to have so many people stop in.”

“It was nice to watch you with them. You bring a lot of joy to your customers.” As much as I’d used the time to observe interactions, it was Cory who held my attention more than anything. He was a beautiful person with a good heart. Of course, I’d already known that, but it made me feel even more grateful to have him as my mate.

“I try. The beach atmosphere tends to lend to a more cheerful spirit in general. It’s not always so, but I try to keep it chill.”

“I thought the temperature was pleasant,” I said as we reached the truck.

Cory snorted. “Thanks, Nemo.”

He opened my door, and I climbed in, pulling the seatbelt on for myself, and clicked it into place. When Cory got in, he turned to face me. “How are you doing?”

I inhaled deeply. It was easier when I had been distracted and hadn’t had to think about it. I feared if I let my mind dwell on my shell, I would have a harder time coming back up to the surface. “I’m…okay.”

Cory narrowed his eyes, clearing sensing the lie, but he reached across and brushed my hair back. “It’s okay if you’re not.”

My eyes grew warm, threatening to release tears again, which is exactly what I didn’t want, but I couldn’t voice anything, so I simply nodded.

“All right. I’m thinking we pick up some food and head home. I’m not sure I feel like cooking tonight. ”

“Pick up food? Off the ground?”

Cory’s eyes lit with humor. “No, little one. There are restaurants that make food, so you don’t have to. So we can stop at one, place our order, and they’ll make what we request. Then we can take it home to eat in privacy.”

As a scavenger, it was strange to think about having to prepare food. In my nautilus form, I would simply float around and find whatever remnants I could. Though… I wasn’t in my nautilus form. The thought sank in my belly. I would have to get used to finding or making food in this form. I did enjoy the breakfast Cory had made for us. It was a rather exciting experience. Perhaps I would find something as tasty as eggs and toast.

“What food do you like to pick up, Cory? I’d like to try something you enjoy.”

“Yes! Challenge accepted. I’m introducing you to a California food staple. We’re getting tacos.”

“Tacos,” I repeated, loving the way the word sounded. Ta-cos. Tacos .

“I know just the place, too, and it’s on the way home.”

“Home? I thought we were going to get a Christmas tree.”

Cory slid a glance over at me. “Oh. I wasn’t sure you were still wanting to do that. I know it’s been a difficult day.”

“It might be nice to have something to focus on, besides they bring you joy, and I want to make you happy. ”

His hand landed on my leg, giving it a light squeeze. “I’m already happy with you, Nemo, but maybe it’s not a bad idea. Okay, we’ll go to the store, then dinner, and then home.”

Another tiny empty space filled within me. I didn’t think I would ever not feel the ache of my missing shell, but Cory helped, and I would have to focus on it.

We pulled into a large parking lot that was filled with vehicles. Cory sucked his teeth and said, “Ah, fuck. I forgot about how busy it would be so close to Christmas. A lot of folks are looking for last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers.”

As I opened my mouth to ask what stocking stuffers were, Cory continued, “I’ll explain more later, but just know it’s going to be crowded inside, and sometimes a crowded store can create a little tension. So if you like, you can stay in the truck while I run in.”

The thought of being out here all by myself was more than a little terrifying. “No. I don’t want to stay here.”

Cory parked his truck and turned it off. “Just stay close to me, okay?”

Shopping must be scary if he seemed worried. Was his worry about the store, or for me? I didn’t know, but I would climb on top of Cory if I needed to. Would that be close enough?

As soon as we were out of the truck, I raced to his side and I clung to his arm, afraid to let go, like a seahorse anchoring itself to kelp. Cory was my kelp, and he would keep me from drifting away. “Is this close enough?”

He gave a soft laugh and patted my head with his free arm. “It’ll do, but you would be fine if you were simply holding my hand, too.”

I loved holding his hand, but I wasn’t going to let go of him. We walked, attached, to the store, and when the doors whooshed open, the noise inside made my skin prickle. If my cirri were out, the vibrations of the place would be overwhelming. I gripped Cory’s arm tighter. He grabbed what he called a shopping cart, and I realized it would be a challenge to navigate with only one hand, so I was forced to relent one hand from his arm, so we each had one free, and we pushed the cart together.

Expletives burst out from a couple of people as one person turned a corner and crashed into another person’s cart. I watched with wide eyes, my heart racing. In a panic, I called out, “Happy holidays!”

They both looked at me before pulling the carts away from each other and murmured apologies. I sighed with relief that the scene was over, but I scooted as close to Cory as I could, while still allowing us to move.

Cory nudged my shoulder gently. “Well done, little one. This time of year brings mixed emotions. People get really stressed out, especially shopping, but there’s also a lot of joy and hope, too. Sometimes, folks just need a little reminder. ”

I was definitely going to remember that. If a couple of words could turn a situation around, I was prepared to ‘ Happy holidays’ my way through the entire store.

Cory expertly guided us, avoiding any collisions like the one we’d seen, and when we reached the Christmas section, my jaw hung open. It was beautiful. So many lights and bright colors. My head swept from side to side as we walked through the aisles, trying to see everything.

“It’s pretty fun, huh?”

“Yes! It reminds me of the creatures that can create their own light, but nothing like this.”

When we walked into an aisle that had hundreds of tiny baubles hanging from ribbons, Cory stopped. “These are ornaments for the tree. There is also tinsel and garland, which are both glittery decorations to add some sparkle. Pick out whatever you’d like.”

“Anything?”

“Within reason. I’ll let you know if it’s not doable.”

I pushed up on my toes to give him a quick kiss. “Thank you!”

Leaving my Cory anchor, I faced the wall of ornaments. There were so many, it was hard to know where to start. Many had animals or people in funny costumes. A man with a red and white suit was done in a wide variety of styles. Snow, stars, feathers, and long, pointy drops of frozen water. More designs than I thought possible. I scanned up and down carefully as I walked through the aisle until I saw something that made me squeal excitedly.

I took it off the hook and held it in my hands. The details weren’t exact, but the likeness was close enough to see what it was meant to be. I rushed back to show Cory. “Look!”

He was beaming as he watched me, his ocean-blue eyes sparkling as if the setting sun danced across the surface of the water. “A seahorse?”

“Yes! Oh, I love seahorses. I’ve befriended many. They are such delightful, playful creatures. I’ve never seen a rainbow one like this, but I think I would very much like to have this one.” Even in the unrealistic size and coloring, it gave me a tiny glimpse of home. It would be nice to look at, and maybe make me miss the ocean less.

“Of course, little one. I happen to love seahorses, too. I’m a pretty big fan of marine animals.”

“Like nautili?” I asked.

“Mmm. Nautili have always been particularly fascinating to me, more so now.” He gave me a wink, making my belly flutter with excitement.

I placed the seahorse gingerly into the cart. “All right. I’m done.”

Cory snickered. “Typically, a tree has ornaments on all sides. It wouldn’t do to have just one.”

“Oh. I can get more?” I didn’t want to seem like I was taking advantage of Cory’s generosity. He’d already given me clothes that other customers in his shop would have had to pay for. I was beginning to realize everything had a cost, and I came out of the sea with nothing.

Luckily, he didn’t seem bothered, but I would have to inquire more about money later. Cory turned me, and pointed me back at the ornaments. “Let’s get some more.”

I returned to the wall and when I looked near the seahorses, I let out a loud laugh. “Ha! It’s a crab!” I grabbed the bright red creature. It had long eye stalks with eyes that floated around. It was completely ridiculous.

I showed it to Cory. “It is completely unrealistic. Nothing about it makes sense.”

He grinned. “It’s whimsical; it’s not meant to be realistic, just fun.”

I returned several more times, adding more whimsical sea creatures to the cart. “Okay. I think that’s all of them.”

“Perfect. They’re going to look great on our tree.”

Soon we fought our way to the front of the store. I didn’t cling to Cory quite as tightly, but I did continue pushing the cart with him, so we could be as close as possible. A sense of excitement I didn’t expect to feel moved through me, as I thought of putting all the silly portrayals of sea creatures on a tree . I found the irony amusing. I didn't think I would find anything amusing today.