At first, he touched them gently, checking the sounds. Then, he played a simple melody, getting to know the instrument. I’d watched him play so many times by now, but how he felt the music, and the way his body and tentacles united with the tunes he played was mesmerizing every single time.
The melody transformed into the song we’d played before and my hands itched to join him. Ner’s eyes were closed and when he opened them, he focused on me.
That gaze was like touch and switched the music on inside me.
I strummed the strings with my fingertips, checked the sound against the organ, then pulled a pick from the back pocket of my jeans and hit the first riff. We continued until it became the song we jammed at my house. Playing with Ner was effortless. We bounced off each other, with a look, a nod, a change of tune.
The fingers of my left hand pressed the strings as if by themselves, my right finding the strumming pattern and changing it according to how I’d written it. It might have been my song initially, but it was Ner who truly brought it to life.
Chapter Ten
Rick
Themusicstillechoedin my head when we drew it to a stop. Ner smiled at me and lifted his tentacles in a questioning gesture.
A slow clap joined another as Penny and Paula approached the organ.
“Fantastic, guys, holy shit.” Paula leaned against the heavy instrument and tossed her black hair over her shoulder.
“He’s a keeper, right?” Ner said then grew serious. He looked down at the keys then his tentacles. “I’ll be back in a sec.” He burst out of the room and through the bathroom door which he locked with a soft click.
“Is he okay?” Penny asked, the pink frills of her dress rustling as she approached me.
“I don’t know. He’s usually so happy when we play but then gets sad. He tries to hide it, but something’s wrong.” I wasn’t sure how much Ner told his friends about him taking over the family business or anything else concerning his music. It wasn’t my place to speculate.
“He’d love to play. It was always his dream. But he won’t disappoint his parents.” Penny plopped on a recliner chair and slung her pointy tail over the armrest.
“He told me as much. I can’t say I understand that. My family situation is different.” I set the guitar aside but held onto the pick, rolling it between my fingers.
“But you’re overcoming a block of some kind too, right?” Paula asked, pulling a chair to sit closer.
“Yeah, but it’s all in my head. My parents were fine with me pursuing music. But then my brother left the band. He had a good reason and I understand why he did it, but it still broke me. I could channel that hurt and anger and write songs about it but it was too painful. I realized that only lately. With nothing to balance the negativity with, I couldn’t find my creative side. Ner changed everything for me.” I looked at the organ in the corner. “Since I met him, new songs come to me daily. As if he unlocked my artistic block.”
Paula cleared her throat loudly, and I snapped my gaze to the side.
Ner stood in the doorway, his eyes wide. “It can’t be just me.”
“I was so desperate, I hoped sitting in a cafe and watching people would help. It did, but only when I met you.” I smiled at him tentatively and his face brightened.
“I need some air. Can we use your backyard?” Ner asked, and both twins nodded in unison.
“Sure. Go ahead and we’ll join you later for a swim.”
Ner took my hand and led us through the patio doors and to the chairs. I sat on a cushion and so did he, facing each other.
“Are you okay?” I touched the tentacle that was tapping his thigh.
“Yes. I’m…” He sighed and looked away. “I’m living the dream. Playing, writing songs, spending all this time together. It’s been Rick, sex, and Rock n’ Roll for me and I’ve never been happier. But when I soar so high like I did when we played just now, I forget for a moment that I have two weeks before I have to go home. That’s why I left so abruptly. I’m so happy with you it hurts. Soon all I’ll have left is the pain.”
“Is going back what you really want to do?” I put his tentacle on my lap, stroking my fingers between the suckers.
Ner hesitated. “Yes.” He thrust his chin up. “I made a promise. But it’s also the best thing for me. No one mocks me when I run the restaurant. I can be myself, without hiding my tentacles, or avoiding people’s gaze. Visitors come from all over Europe to dine at my parents’ restaurant, knowing very well who they are. I promised them I’ll take over next year. My brother has three years of culinary school left, but he wants to be a chef, not run the place. So even if my parents could run it alone for a few more years, it wouldn’t change a thing. It’s important for them what food is served and how the logistics are handled so they can’t just hire someone off the street. My trip here is a vacation, an adventure. It’s just so good, I don’t want it to end. But I can’t be selfish like that.”
“You don’t have to explain. It’s your decision.” I kept my voice steady even though I wanted to scream, drop to my knees, and beg him to stay. “Can we enjoy the two weeks we have left together? Let’s live them day by day and not worry about the future.”
Ner nodded, the waves of his teal hair falling over his forehead. “I’d love that. I don’t believe I could be in a long-distance relationship and survive without touching—” He wrapped the tentacle I’d been stroking around my hand. “But we can always text once I leave. I met Penny and Paula online and we’ve been friends for years.”
“Yeah.” I’d miss his body next to mine, but I’d take online friendship and treasure it as the gem it will be for me.
