Chapter 23

TWENTY-THREE

CHIP

"I can't believe I healed so quickly in the sea." Monroe spoke excitedly as he swam next to me. Sylvester was making a steady recovery and zoomed around us as we moved through the water. "It's amazing what the ocean can do for a siren."

"Isn't it though?" I tried to smile but I wasn't feeling it.

The second Nash gave Monroe the okay to shift back into his human form Monroe was ready to leave. I wasn't sure how I felt about that, but his excitement almost hurt. I thought we had something good happening between us. I thought he was coming to love the sea as I loved the sea. The second he got the clear he hugged Sylvester and was ready to go.

But in his excitement, he swam so quickly I could barely keep up with him. My father and Reese decided to join us for his return. Reese because she didn't trust me to return Monroe safely without hurting him. A few days ago she wouldn't have been wrong. But now things had changed so much for me. I just didn't know if they'd changed for him. My how the tides have turned on me and my feelings.

"It really is." The smile hadn't left Monroe's face. "And now I have time to get back for the events for spooky season."

"It's all very exciting." I tried to muster up something positive to say but I just couldn't. I was going to miss him and I had no idea what to do with that.

"Hey, are you okay?"

My father moved to our side. "Of course she is. Chip was never one to play nursemaid. Though I think it was good for her. I can't recall ever seeing her so content to stay in one place for so long."

Great dad, thanks .

Monroe chuckled. "I'd like to think I had something to do with that. I'm hoping I wasn't bad company."

"No." I shook my head. "Not at all."

Bad company? Had I read the situation wrong? I thought we'd stepped into something between us. There was chemistry, there was heat, there was passion. No, I couldn't have read it wrong. But when he said company it made him sound like a temporary visitor, like everything hadn't changed this week. I hadn't imagined the kiss. Friends didn't kiss – do they? I cursed myself. Down here, kisses meant something romantic always. But perhaps on land there were other customs I wasn't aware of. I needed to ask . . . someone. But I wasn't sure who. Not Pickles, she'd brag about calling it. Not Reese, she'd tease me. Any of my other sisters would either hate the idea of me being on land with a boy after losing both Reese and Pickles to landwalkers. Or they'd lecture me. I didn't want either.

Colette maybe? Her and I have gotten close. I bet I can ask her.

Monroe pointed to the small hut we used to shift into our human forms and put our clothes on. "Look there it is. I can't wait to see Dawson and get back home. Come on Sylvester."

The little seal squealed and swam beside him in little excited hops.

When he glanced at me I plastered a smile on my face to try and show his same excitement. "It'll be great."

"I know. I can already smell a pizza. And a cheeseburger?—"

"And a cheeseburger on pizza?" I smirked, recalling that conversation all those days ago.

He chuckled deep in his throat. "I can't wait to see Connor's face when I order it at Bowlicious."

I was saved from having to say something else when we swaminto the little pool that was covered by our hut. I hopped up on one of the rocks at the base of the hut. "You'll have to describe it for me."

Monroe hopped up on a rock across from me with Sylvester laying at his feet. He looked around at our little place on land. "This is deceptively big."

"Yeah it is."

"Are all the siren huts this big?" He frowned. "I don't remember what they look like or where they are."

"Nah, those are smaller. And they're next to the marina."

Hooks for clothes lined the wood-paneled walls of our hut and there was a bench that ran the length of the back wall and around the two side walls. On the east side of the hut there was a step down that led to a door. Towels hung on the hooks and each of us had our own cubby where we kept our clothing.

"I don't have anything to wear." Monroe glanced around at all my sister's clothing.

I reached up and tossed him a towel. "We'll find you something."

My father swam into the hut next and hopped up beside Monroe. He grabbed a towel off one of the shelves on the side and wrapped it around his hips then used another to start drying himself off. Monroe and I followed suit. Reese was last into the hut but she was so used to being last because she was the youngest I thought she did it subconsciously.

Luckily, these weren't normal towels. Dad had gotten ours spelled by Peggy to dry us in rapid speed so we wouldn't have to sit here forever to wait and dry. Unluckily, once Monroe was dry he leapt to his feet and tiptoed away from the water and moved farther into the hut. I didn't like how fast he was moving. He strolled back and forth testing out his legs with that towel slung very low around his hips.

He lifted his foot and wiggled his toes. "Good as new."

"Yes, look at that." I kept that forced smile on my face.

Reese smacked my shoulder, when I turned toward her she whispered, " what is wrong with you? "

I didn't know how to explain what I was feeling but it was like watching someone slowly walk away from you without a backwards thought. I shrugged and whispered back, " nothing. "

Monroe turned toward Reese. "Can I borrow your rain gear?"

My brows furrowed. "But it's not raining."

"Oh I don't want to siren-out again." He strolled over to one of the cubbies and grabbed a bright yellow raincoat. He slid his arms into it and stood there with them sticking straight out at his sides. He chuckled and shook his head. "I don't think it fits."

"Fat man in a little coat." I sang to myself and he looked at me like I was crazy."It's from an old movie?—"

"Chris Farley and David Spade?" When I nodded he fist pumped the air. But I must've made a face because he watched me as hepulled the coat from his arms. "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm great." I said a little too brightly.

My father moved to his side. "Come this way, Monroe. I should have something that'll fit you."

He motioned for him to walk through a door on the side of the hut that I never used. My father clapped him on the shoulder and guided him through the door. "I get this little closet. My daughters of course have the bigger space. As they should, there's so many of them."

"That there is." Monroe agreed before the door closed behind him.

The second it clicked shut I let that fake smile fall and hurried over to my cubby. I pulled my undergarments on and stepped into my overalls as quickly as I could.

Reese hurried to my side and started to pull her t-shirt over her head. "What is going on with you two?"

" I don't know ," I whisper hissed so he couldn't hear me.

"You looked like you were getting along so well yesterday." She stepped into her rubber boots. Not that she needed them anymore, part of me thought she wore them out of habit.

"Yeah, I thought we were too." I hooked the straps of my overall over my shoulders.

She shoved her arms into her sweater. "So what's changed?"

"I don't know. He just seems so excited to get away from me." I tried not to sound hurt. But I could tell I failed miserably by the way Reese looked at me with sadness on her face.

"Oh Chip. I'm so sorry."

I didn't want her to console me or to even talk about this. I shoved my feet into my purple rainbows and tied the matching coat around my waist. "It's not a big deal. I'm fine really."

She opened her mouth to say something else but the door my father and Monroe went through flew open. Monroe walked in wearing a pair of baggy khaki pants, loafers, a button-down shirt, and a knitted vest over it.

He smoothed his hand over his stomach and looked at me with wide eyes. He held his arms out to his sides. "What do you think? Your dad picked it out."

He looked a grandfather, but I shoved that smile back in place. "I think you look . . . grand."

My father walked out of the room and stood beside him. He tilted his head to the side and looked Monroe up and down. "I think I did a good job if I do say so myself."

I pressed the back of my hand to my mouth to stop from laughing. My father was dressed almost identically to Monroe except his clothing was only a shade lighter. I swallowed down my laughter. "You also look great dad."

Reese began to walk toward the door that would lead out onto the beach. "Twinsies."

"Is that what it's called?" My father clapped Monroe on the shoulder. "I like the twinsies."

Monroe swallowed. "Yes, sir."

Sylvester looked up at him and gave a little squeal and Monroe winked down at him. In that moment I felt a twinge of pity for Monroe. He was a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy and loafers were definitely not his thing. But as he walked toward the door he paused staring at all our rain gear. "Um, Tirian, would you mind if I borrowed a pair of boots?"

"Go right ahead. Whatever you need."

He quickly grabbed a raincoat, hat, and pair of rubber gloves. He quickly put them on the flexed his fingers testing the gloves. He paused at the shoe rack and pointed to a large pair of rubber boots. "May I?"

"Of course." My father chuckled. "Being a tad bit careful are we?"

"I'm going to need a new bracelet from Peggy. Until then I'm going to be extra careful. I don't want to get myself into a situation like I did before." He bent over and took the loafers off trading them for the boots.

God forbid he get stuck under water with me again. His words were like an arrow right to my chest. Reese gave me a sideways glance but all I could do was motion for her to get the hell out of here. I didn't know how much longer I could take his pure joy at leaving me. She hurried toward the door and opened it. I followed Reese out the door and I could feel him step in close behind me as we emerged from the hut. The sun shinned down on us and a cool breeze swept across the shoreline. Holden stood there next to his old truck waiting for Reese. But I was surprised to see Dawson standing there with him waiting.

"Dawson!" Monroe stepped around me and waved to him. "Hey!"

Dawson walked across the sand with a wide smile on his face. When they got close enough they gave each other the typical bro hug. Dawson clapped him hard on the back. "Good to see you on two legs again. And who is this?"

"Yea, you're telling me. And this is my new friend, Sylvester." He motioned toward the tiny seal leaning on his leg. Then he paused and looked up at Dawson with a bit of confusion on his face. "I didn't think you were going to meet me here. Not that I'm bummed, but . . . something up?"

Dawson pulled a phone from his pocket and handed it to Monroe. Without a word, Monroe shoved it into his khakis.

Dawson clapped his hands together and rubbed them back and forth and he smirked at him. "Well I have good news. Not just for you but for all of us."

He motioned to me as well and I knew I looked confused as hell because at this point I was. "What do you mean?"

" Starlight Tours has had a big break. The Vaunteros have a big job for us and since it's related to a previous job Monroe and I have done they want to meet with us right now."

Monroe's face lit up even more, if that was even possible. "Wow, really?"

Dawson nodded still smiling. "Really."

"Do the Vaunteros know we joined teams?" I hated the fear in my voice, the weakness.

"Yeah, I told them all about it. They're super stoked for us. Pickles is waiting to talk to you about our meeting with them and Lex on Saturday, which is why you're not coming with us now. Lexington can be quite demanding when he wants things done. Pickles will tell you." He gave me two thumbs up. "But I told them any future meetings needed to have all four of us so we'd all be on the same page."

I nodded and prayed my smile looked normal. "Thanks, Dawson."

"Well I guess we've got to go." Monroe turned toward Holden. "Would you mind dropping us off on your way?"

Holden motioned toward the truck. "Not at all."

"I'll be home later." Reese kissed her husband on the cheek then passed me a sideways glance. "I have some things to take care of."

"Oh." Holden glanced from me to Reese and back. "Umm okay. Got it. Have fun, call me when you're on your way home please?"

Reese blew him a kiss. "Love you."

Monroe waved to Sylvester. "Come on, buddy."

Sylvester waddled right over to him.

Then Monroe turned back toward me and placed that stupid rubber glove on my shoulder. I hated the way it felt against my skin, like a barrier between us. "This is amazing isn't it?"

"Yeah. . . it's great." I seemed to be saying that too much. But really my words were failing me.

"What a great day. I get to go home and we land a huge opportunity for the company."

I swallowed around the ball of hurt in my throat. "Yea, it's great."

"I'll call you later!" He gave my shoulder a pat and turned for the truck.

I'll call you later? That's all I get? How did we go from maybe a couple back to him being an asshat? He barely spared me a glance as he climbed into that truck and took off down the road.

Reese moved to my side. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I said a little too forcefully.

My father stood next to us and looked down at us. "Is there something I should know about?"

I rolled my eyes. "No dad, everything is all good."

Before either of them said another word a loud bubble popped just off the shoreline. My we all turned at once heading back toward the water.

The message came through loud and clear despite us still standing on the shore. "Um hi, this is Anthony, one of the sirens from Key West. Listen we tried to make our way to you but we got sucked into a current . . . we have no idea where we are. Please send help!"

My father put his hands on his hips, his face deadly serious. "I'll go."

I shook my head. "No dad I can do it. You have so many other things to do. Besides, it's the currents and I'm familiar with those."

"And I'll go with her."Reese stepped up next to me. "As soon as I call Holden."

He gave us a single nod. "Very well. Send me a bubble message as soon as you find them."

"I will." Unable to help myself, I glanced up the road to where Holden's truck was just barely visible driving away from us. I was so relieved to just have something to do so I wouldn't think about the metaphorical stab wound that was just a bit too close to my heart.