The deep brown of his eyes could lure me into the pits of hell and I’d follow. Rick’s hand sweated in mine and matched the sheen on his neck. Fuck, I wanted to lick it, to lickhim, and wrap my tentacles around him, leaving sucker marks all over his body.
I cleared my throat. “I don’t think I can help you with your music.”
“That’s bullshit. Because you’re amazing.” Rick shook his head and sighed. “Sorry. We don’t have to keep playing. But please, tell me more. I wanna hear all about you and your music.” Rick directed me to the couch and let go of my hand.
“Pizza,” I said.
“What?”
“You can order pizza, then.”
Rick laughed and pulled out his phone. “Toppings?”
“Double cheese and double olives.” I sat back, my brain whirring from the comments section under my videos. “To answer your question, I teach music in a youth center in my hometown.”
“I love that! How did you come up with the idea?” Rick leaned forward, genuine interest wafting off of him. It was so refreshing. Since I wasn’t paid for teaching, my family saw it as a waste of my time.
“I learned on my own skin how hard it is to follow your dreams if your kind is not what people expect in a certain area. That included music. So, my lessons are for everyone, all preternaturals welcome. We’re actually holding a concert in our town square this New Year’s Eve. Well, at noon. We started practicing months ago and now they continue with me on video chat. I’m going back for the concert, though.”
“Right. You’re leaving in four weeks.” Rick inspected the thick carpet under his feet, his hair falling forward. It looked so soft I wanted to stroke it.
Even though we’d only just met, I would miss him. The pull I had towards him was getting stronger with every minute spent with him. I had to snap out of it or I’d hurt myself wanting someone who was out of my reach.
“Yeah, that’s my deal with the restaurant and I get to see Winter at the Beach Festival before I go. Thank fuck I can work in the USA.” I snapped my tentacles in the air.
“What do you mean? You’re not on a student visa or something?” Rick shook his head. “Sorry, I don’t know much about these things. Whenever the band has to travel, the manager deals with visas and stuff for everyone.”
“I was born here, so I’m a citizen.”
“But you said your family is in Greece.”
“Yeah. My dad is from Florida, but he fell in love with an international student when she came to Pensacola. They got married and had me but finally settled in Greece since my mom’s family was there and my dad didn’t have anyone left here.”
“How exciting to meet someone who was supposed to cross your life for a fleeting moment, but stay with them forever.” Rick’s voice sounded deep, as if he was murmuring a song, or writing lyrics.
“Yeah…” My stomach flip-flopped. Would he want me to stay? I closed my eyes and shook my head. My decision had been made. “How did you get into playing?” I asked, grasping for a change of subject.
A small smile appeared on Rick’s face as he leaned back on the chair. He was usually so serious, on the verge of grumpiness, but whenever he played or talked about music, his demeanor transformed and his eyes sparkled. I knew that feeling. Music had the power to make even the most awful day better, to help a bullied, tentacled boy drift away into the lyrics and melody and forget the world outside. Or let a teenager pour his sadness into a creative outlet on guitar or keyboard.
“It was just me, my brother, and music,” Rick said, then looked towards the closed door in the corridor.
“Tell me about your brother. I have two younger ones. They were a menace when they were little—well, they still are.” I laughed, but Rick’s face fell and his lips became a thin line. Shit. I fucked up the mood somehow.
We both startled when a doorbell rang.
“That must be the pizza.” Rick shot to his feet like his ass was on fire and I followed him.
I made a note to ask about his brother even if it killed me, so I could find out how to comfort Rick. I placed three twenties on the kitchen counter as he was on his way to pick up the food. It was less than he left me in tips lately, anyway.
“Where’s the bathroom?” I asked, needing to refresh myself before eating.
“Down the corridor, third door.” Rick carried the pizza boxes over to the living room.
I washed my face in the bathroom and ran my wet fingers through my hair. It bounced back and stuck out in random places. On my way back, I passed a half-opened door and did a double take as surely, I was seeing things. I peeked into the room that had an old record player on the shelf next to a selection of vinyls, an enormous bed in the middle and on it…a dildo.
A tentacle-shaped one. Right there on the pillowcase.
“Rick?” My voice trembled. I wasn’t sure what to think.
