“Yes.”
A surprised laugh bursts out of me. I don’t know what to make of Blue’s answer, but at least it’s honest.
“Why?” I ask.
“Because I was worried about you.”
Before I’ve had time to process that, he has strode forward and closed the distance between us. Now he is standing over me, offering his hand. I take it and he pulls me to my feet as if I weigh nothing. He is clearly far stronger than he looks.
He snatches his hand back quickly, but we are still standing awfully close. His eyes are beautiful.
Blue saved me. He chose to rescue me from an asshole customer. This boy who cowered in my room from workmen, fought his terror and his trauma and his angst for me. He was brave. For me.
“Are you alright?” he asks.
I nod. My nausea has vanished. Gone as quickly as it came. And having jerks pull my hair is no biggy. I’ve dealt with much worse.
“We have to stop rescuing each other,” I say and my voice sounds all breathy and strange.
Blue shakes his head. “I needed to help. It’s my fault you can’t work.”
“What?” I hear myself say. What on earth is he on about?
Blue’s eyes widen and his cheeks flush pink. The intense way he was looking at me a heartbeat ago has gone, and I miss it.
“I…er…was feeling sick earlier. I should have stayed away from you.”
I stare at him. Oh right. Yeah. Stomach bug. That had to be why I nearly threw up everywhere. It’s the only rational explanation.
But I am surprised that sirens can get regular old tummy bugs. I would have thought paranormal, powerful beings were above such things.
Blue coughs. “I brought a car. I can drive you home.”
Home. What a lovely word. The most magical word in the English language. I hope I will have a place to call home one day. For now, I’m staying at the house with Blue and I know that’s where he means.
And since I’m sick, I guess I might as well call it quits for the night.
I nod and blindly follow him out of the alley. One of the cars the boys share is parked half on the pavement. Dazedly, I climb into the passenger seat.
“Seatbelt,” says Blue softly.
I oblige, and we pull away.
“I didn’t know you could drive,” I say, and it sounds like a nice, normal topic of conversation. One that nice, normal people would have.
Blue shrugs, keeping his eyes firmly on the road. Should have guessed he’d be a careful driver.
“I left the ocean and spent a few years living as a human before I was captured,” he says.
That’s surprising. And I don’t know why. Perhaps because he acted like he had never been in a cheap burger place before. And I can imagine him being happy in the sea.
“Why?” I ask. It’s probably nosy, but I can’t help myself.
A rueful smile teases at the corner of his lips. “I had this great idea of becoming a popstar and being worshiped by humans.”
I laugh. “How did that work out?”
“I had barely begun the journey, but it was going great. But then Ritchie caught me for his harem.”
