“Cheer up,joka,” Reed says. “Skyler here sounds like a terrific resource. He’s clearly a valuable guy.”
I turn to him and feel warmth flood my cheeks. If this hot dude isn’t into me, he’s certainly leading me on. Honestly, I don’t even mind; he’s that pretty.
I’m pathetic.
When I turn back to Aisen, he’s already studying the two of us. I mentally chastise myself.Ix-nay on the irting-flay. I don’t want to make the kid uncomfortable when we haven’t even started research with him. Whatever’s going on with Reed and me has to be an after-hours thing.
Before I can be professional for Aisen, a sound by the podium draws our attention. Karlo taps the mic and says, “We will now have a short tour for anyone who wants to see some of our established exhibits. Feel free to join our resident eel shifter, Ardsley Allen.” Karlo points to a far hallway where our third amigo, Ardsley, waves his hand. “He’ll be guiding anyone who’s interested to the general exhibits as well as the children’s portion. So, if anyone wants to get in on that sweet, touch-tank action, now’s your chance.”
The crowd laughs, and several folks get in line for the tour. When I glance at Aisen, he’s still studying his uncle and me. “Hey, now’s your chance to see the aquarium,” I say.
“How about it, Aisen?” Reed asks.
The kid looks between us again, then nods. “I’ll be back.” He saunters past us to join the small crowd.
“You don’t want me to come?” Reed asks.
“You never get a chance to relax, you’re always busy.” He points at Reed’s cup of wine. “Take a break, Uncle Reed. You’re always telling me to make friends, so now you can too.”
Before Reed can retort, Aisen dashes to Ardsley’s side. In moments, the small queue leaves for a tour.
I snicker as Reed rolls his eyes. “That kid is getting too smart for his own good.”
“Clearly,” I reply with a grin.
“He’s right, though. About the busy part.” Reed frowns and adds, “And the friends part.”
The two of us gravitate to nearby chairs. Despite all the patrons milling about, it feels like this handsome almost-stranger and I are in our own little world. “What, you don’t have a lot of buddies here in Mareflow?”
He sips wine and grimaces. “It’s embarrassing.”
“What about at the hospital?”
He shrugs. “They’re coworkers. Subordinates. It’s all business, business, business.”
I cross my legs and lean forward. “Sounds tough.”
“I had time for this, and I know my nephew really needs it. He could use monster role models and people to look up to, like you.”
My smile is quickly replaced with a concerned frown. “What about you? You’re his big successful legal guardian.”
“You know teenagers: they do the opposite of what their parental figures say. Besides, with my hours, it’s like I’m rarely around.” Reed sips wine and observes the rest of the lobby. Meanwhile, my heart aches for him. “This will be good for him.”
“I hope so. And for the record, I don’t make friends that easily, either.”
Reed looks at me with an intrigued look. “Really? A charming, smart guy like you?”
Squeal. I try to hide my flustered smile behind my wine cup. “I’m…I’m really not.”
“And you’re humble, too.” He taps his cup and leans forward. “I can see why people would want to be friends with the great Skyler.” Before I can consider bridging the space between us and kissing him, he frowns and looks down. “Aisen is right. Even if I weren’t so busy, I’d have no idea how to make a friend as an adult.”
I could be Reed’s friend. Or boyfriend. Or sex slave. Really anything he wants. “Reed,” I say.
“Sorry.” He sits upright and smiles again. “I’m here unloading all my shit on you. I barely know you.”
“Well, getting to know people is an important part of being friends. And I can tell you with utmost certainty that you’ve gained plus one friend today.”
He fixes me with a perplexed look, and I sit upright. “Me. Duh.” I say with an exaggerated eye-roll.
