“How are we doing, Maritime Monsters Institute?” His words are met with thunderous applause. “My name is Aisen, your monster intern, and I’m really tightly knit with some of the creatures of the deep.” A smattering of chuckles fills the room. “But you didn’t come here to see a cephalopod shifter. You came to see real octopi. Want me to bring them out?”
A few people clap, and he smirks and leans over the glass. “I can’t hear you.” His friends roar in delight as everyone applauds. With that, he beams at me and splashes back down into the water. He proceeds to show off the various octopi and other creatures in this main tank, occasionally popping his kraken head up to spout facts. He’s never been this charismatic before, and I don’t think I stop smiling the whole time.
Forty minutes later, Aisen walks from behind the tank, fully dressed, drying his shaggy black hair with an MM Institute towel.
“You did so well,joka!” I give him a half-hug and rub his damp hair.
“Thanks. I thought you had work.”
“I didn’t wanna miss this!”
“I’ll be doing this every weekend.”
“But this is your first time.”
“And you’re getting paid now,” Skyler says. “Mr. Big-shot-intern.”
Aisen chuckles. “Thanks, Mr. Dillinger.”
“Yo, Aisen!” The crew of five teenagers saunter up to him. My nephew stands up taller and high-fives the one monster boy.
“Hey, guys. Thanks for coming.”
“It was dope!” One teenager says, and they all laugh softly. “These guys have never been to the touch tanks. Wanna come with?”
Aisen turns to me, and I move toward Skyler. “Go. Have fun,” I say.
The kids leave, but not before I hear one ask Aisen, “Who’s the guy in the suit? Your dad?”
“Yeah,” he replies. “He’s a kraken like me.” His words make my heart swell as Skyler and I turn around to head for the lobby.
“Ugh, I wish my parents were monsters, too,” the kid replies, and they all laugh.
That fizzy feeling in my heart doesn’t dissipate until we get to the café. “I heard what he said, too,” Skyler says, taking my hand.
“It’s…not a big deal,” I say as my eyes sting.
“You can’t fool me, Sung.” Skyler bumps my hip, and I chuckle.
“He’s a teenager and doesn’t mind being seen with me for more than ten seconds. So what?”
“So, you’re amazing,” Skyler says. We stop, and he squeezes my hands. “You deserve all the credit. For raising a good boy, but also being the best boyfriend I could ask for.”
Well damn. I lean forward and kiss him slowly, like I have all the time in the world. “I was powerless to resist you, Skyler Dillinger.”
He caresses my cheek. “Thanks for making room in your life for a dude like me.”
“Thanks for making every facet of my life better.”
When I kiss him again, we’re interrupted by a few people jeering.
“Get a room,” Ardsley says with a challenging stare. He’s walking hand-in-hand with Tyson, and they pass by us toward a café table with Karlo and RJ right behind them.
“You’re one to talk, Mr. Engaged,” Skyler says, and we all laugh. It’s his first time seeing Ardsley in person since Tyson popped the question, and I know how excited he is for his bestie. When we sit down, Skyler puts his hands out. “So…let’s see the rings!”
“Yeah, gimme gimme,” Karlo says.
“They’re not diamonds or anything fancy,” Tyson remarks with a doleful tone.
