Chapter Twelve

Despite her father dumping a bucket of ice-cold sewer water on the ceremony, Cee still insisted on going out. Allie had fussed over her, but Cee urged her to go back home and slip into something less appropriate. Since it was a safe bet that her father had already changed the codes, I'd offered Cee the meager selection of party clothes from my closet, and she distracted herself by organizing everything in terms of ‘fuck-ability'. I was less subtle about my fussing, giving her space while waiting on standby with warm blankets and a Gossip Girl marathon.

Kai took in my bedroom with interest, from the photos I"d taped to the walls, to the knick knacks on the dresser. I felt awkward watching him examine my swim trophies, pictures of Cee and I from junior year theater club, his fingers tracing the memorabilia. Those fingers had been inside me multiple times, yet I'd never felt more exposed than I did now.

Becca had offered Cee the spare room with no hesitation, and though we'd all been exhausted by the time we got to the house, she still whipped up a plate of comfort cookies and popcorn. Dad had missed the initial exchange with Cee's, but he was lucid enough to understand when we filled him in, and cursed Mr. Morrison with a colorful string of words I didn't know he knew.

"I don't get how Chuck can throw Blair into someone else's arms when he's in love with her!" Cee grumbled around a cookie as she hate-watched the show. Her selections for tonight were hung on the door of my closet. She'd dug out a silver sequined, one-sleeved dress for herself that had barely fit me in high school. It would play peek-a-boo with her thong all night, which was exactly what she wanted. Good thing Allie wasn"t the jealous type, and the fact that Cee had chosen it specifically for her. I'd picked out one of Cee"s own designs, the dress I'd worn to the aquarium, with a pair of strappy sandals. It was quickly becoming my favorite, and not just because it had ended up on the ceiling fan after my first real night with Kai.

"How else would they keep us watching for six seasons?" I shrugged. "Serena and Dan are still dancing around each other."

"Ugh those two!" she rolled her eyes. "If Chuck and Blair had been the main characters, I guarantee the show would have run longer than six seasons."

"You would've gotten bored if there were more."

"It's boring now!" she said, eyes glued to the screen.

"Then how about you help me find something for Kai to wear." I prodded.

Kai looked down at his rumpled suit, and the jacket slung over the arm of my desk chair. "This is not appropriate?"

"It's a bit dressy for where we're going," I admitted. "Not that you don't look edible in that tie." I added in my mind.

A wicked grin teased his lips. "I could wear nothing but this tie…"

"Okay, I'm intervening," Cee announced, pausing the show. She wiggled off the bed, waving for me to follow her. "I know what that look means even without your freaky mind powers. You can strip each other down later."

I blushed, opening my mouth to deny her very accurate assumption, but Kai said, "Works for me."

"I don't, I don't think that's—" I stammered. He walked over, sliding my legs apart so he could stand between them. When I stood, my chest was pressed close to his, and he leaned down to brush his nose against my cheek before placing a gentle kiss to the skin below my ear. He probably would've gone lower had Cee not dragged me from the room, muttering something under her breath about the consequences of her actions.

She stopped when she realized she had no clue where we were going, and I led her to the closet where we kept Dad's unused clothes. She would find a way to grab her things tomorrow, but tonight she didn't want to be anywhere near that house. I couldn't blame her.

"I don't get you," she started as she flicked through hangers.

"What do you mean?" I was suddenly very interested in the sand crusted sides of my shoes.

"You're acting like a blushing virgin when I know for a fact you crossed that particular bridge with Peter Jensen after our junior year homecoming dance. So why the hesitation?" she gasped. "No way. Omigod, I love this for you."

"What?"

"Out of all the trash men you've been with over the years—"

"Your pickings weren't the greatest either." I reminded her.

"But they were human, and prone to human shortcomings. You're seriously telling me you haven't taken that aquatic stallion for a ride yet?!"

"Who the fuck says things like that anymore?!" I laughed. "Cee—"

"He's been staring at you like you invented the ocean!"

"You make it sound like I've committed myself to celibacy. I'm not a nun, we've…" I trailed off, warring with what to tell her. I'd said no details, but she was my best friend, and we'd shared details of our previous sexcapades. At the same time, this was Kai, and it felt like a jinx to talk about us when he wasn't here. Especially when I still didn't know what us meant. "We're taking things slow."

"Snail's pace is more like it! How long are you going to keep him at arm's length? ‘Till he's swimming into the sunset?" She frowned, her expression thoughtful. "That's the problem, isn't it? Him leaving?"

Her uncanny ability to pinpoint the exact cause of my tumultuous moods made me think she would've done just as well in psychology as she had in fashion. "I've tried to tell you, Cee, it's only a matter of time. There's been no strange activity from Reinhardt or the others for weeks. He blended in amongst them perfectly at graduation, and he's been…"

"Been what?"

"He's been missing the ocean," I whispered. "I can see it."

"Well, my dad's kicked me out, so taking the yacht is off the table."

"I've got Juno's keys, remember? Though I don't know if we'll even need them."

"So, Kai is free to leave whenever he chooses." Cee repeated.

A cold shiver raced along my arms and spine, like my back had been pressed against a glacier. "He is."

Cee placed her hands on her hips, giving me an unimpressed glare. "And you're not going to fight for him?"

"The ocean is his home, Cee. No matter how long he can physically stay on land doesn't change that."

"But what if he chooses to stay?" she argued. "That's why you haven't slept with him? Christ, Maren Do you really think if you don't have sex your feelings will just magically vanish? What if he decides not to leave?"

"He doesn't have a choice, Cee. I just said—"

She cut me off. "Yes, he may have to go every now and then, but that wouldn't stop him from coming back, right?"

I didn't know, he made it sound like going back was the end, a final goodbye. Cee was wrong. It was better not knowing, because just the thought of him leaving now was enough to feel like my heart was being shoved into a meat grinder.

She saw the cloud darkening my mood and turned to the rack of clothes, pulling out a pair of beige cargo pants. "I think these will do. Got a white shirt somewhere?"

"Check the drawers. What time is Johnny expecting us?"

"I told him seven," It was currently a quarter to. She pulled out a simple, knit fabric polo with a pressed collar from the bottommost drawer. "But that's like eight in pirate time. Should I tell him to have drinks ready?"

"Maybe for you and Allie. My stomach's feeling queasy." I told her. Some combination of the day's events and the talk of my inevitable heartbreak. I stood, rolling my shoulders to alleviate the tender feeling in my back.

"Can Kai get drunk?" she wondered.

"I don't know, and we're not going to find out." I warned her.

She pouted. "You're no fun."

"What I am is itchy. I'm gonna grab a quick shower."

"Meet you downstairs." she chirped, still rifling through the drawers and hangers.

My skin felt sticky as I stripped off my dress, the fabric clinging to my skin. A few sections were flaky and peeling, mostly around my arms, and a few on the sides of my neck. I groaned. How did I forget sunscreen again? I gently prodded one of the tender pieces of flesh, wincing when it flamed at my touch. It was already hard beneath the surface, a scab forming over the micro wounds. I made sure the water was cool before I stepped in, and sighed in relief as the spray soothed my skin. I was debating if wearing the haltered back was a good idea after all, but when I stepped out of the shower, all that was left was wet, slightly reddened welts that were fading fast.

I went through the motions of drying my hair and slicking on a small amount of makeup. I hadn"t worn any for the photoshoots, Cee wanted a natural look, and I barely wore makeup to begin with considering my job demanded I wear either no makeup, or waterproof makeup that would make me regret the product"s very existence when I removed it. Kai never thought I looked anything short of beautiful, and compliments from a merman who could easily be a movie star heartthrob did wonders for a girl's confidence.

I tousled my wet curls, paired the dress with silver hoops and a long necklace that rested in the deep ‘V' between my breasts, and headed out the door. I stopped at the top of the stairs when I heard Cee speaking in a low, earnest voice.

"...need to make sure we're on the same page."

"When it comes to you, I never know." Kai replied.

Dammit, Cee.I really hoped she wasn't doing what I thought she was.

"Look, she's my best friend, I don't want to see her hurt again. That dickhead already caused enough damage."

Kai snarled, "If it were up to me, that weak bait would no longer be breathing."

"Let's not take it all the way to homicide," Says the girl with a glittery murder plan in her closet, "My point is, she deserves to be happy, don't take advantage of the heart she's given you."

"I assure you, hurting her is the last thing I intend."

I couldn't listen to any more of this. I stomped loudly down the stairs, pasting on a plastic smile. "Pre-game shot anyone?"

"I thought-" Cee stared.

"Great, you can help me pour," I grabbed her by the elbow, nudging Kai in the direction of the couch with the other hand. "Wait right there, we'll be back."

"What gives?" Cee hissed once we got to the kitchen. She shucked out of my hold, rubbing at the spot where I'd grabbed her. "I thought you weren't drinking tonight?"

"I changed my mind, and apparently so did you." I rubbed my temples, trying to quiet the rising headache, and winced when I shocked myself. Stupid static carpets, "I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I"m a grown-ass woman, Cee. I can make my own choices and deal with the consequences."

"I know, I just wanted to cover all your bases."

"Well, you did give me something to cover his bases." I said referring to the foil packets I'd shoved into the back of my nightstand.

"I thought it was just lust, honestly. But the way you look at each other… I've never seen you so happy. Even Dennis was more of a convenience than someone you actually loved. I don't think you've ever said those words, not even to me."

I winced, though she'd said it matter-of-factly. "That doesn't mean I don't love you, Cee."

"I know that." She waved a dismissive hand. "Even if you don't always say what you mean, I still know what you mean. But what about him?"

I hadn't met Kai under the pretense of dating or friendship. If anything, I was worried all of his affection was born from some attempt to show me gratitude for saving his life. Until the other night, when I'd gotten as close as possible to telling him those three words but could only offer a paltry substitution. Kai was different from anyone I'd ever known.

Cee snorted, and I realized I"d said that last bit out loud. "No shit. How many men do you know that can manipulate water? And it's not just his magic. You"re like two nerds are on a studying high of each other, it adds to the already obvious sexual tension."

I scrunched my nose. "You worded that in the weirdest way possible. I just like learning about his world. About him," I shrugged. "Sure, I was completely stumped on the magic, but if anything, it's only made me more curious, even if I'll never fully understand it."

Kai poked his head in to check on us, and the conversation drifted into lighter topics when Cee poured three shots of Becca's favorite tequila and toasted to the night ahead. Kai could not only handle liquor, but held out his shot glass for a refill, blue crackles of light flaring under his skin and seeping into his eyes.

"Take it easy fish boy, you don't want to blow the lights out again. Besides, there's a whole lot more where that came from waiting at the bar!" Cee said, swinging her keys around her finger.

"We're taking a cab!" I told her.

"Whatever!"

I smiled, relieved that her spirits were up, despite the day. Kai noticed too, and we shared a soft glance. I swallowed those words building behind my throat, replacing them with. "Shall we?"