“He and Delphina are fated to be together,” I explain, sighing at the ardor of it all. “It’s beautiful and super intense. By the end of the final book, they can’t keep their hands off each other.”
His eyebrows furrow. “But that sort of attraction’s pretty unbelievable. Living underwater, their skin would be all shriveled, and the salt would do a number on their hair. Also, how do merfolk procreate? Are they mammals who have live babies, or do they lay eggs like fish? And do mermaids nurse their merbabies, or do they leave them to fend for themselves like newly hatched sea turtles?”
I stare at him, wonderstruck by the way his mind works. But I’m also growing accustomed to his contemplation, to the charming way he puzzles over bizarre things.
“What?” he asks. “Am I being gross?”
“You’re being adorable.”
He makes a face. “Liar.”
“Seriously. If I wasn’t wild about you before, you’d have sealed the deal with these latest musings.”
He grins. “Look, if I’m going to ditch my comfort zone to break and enter, you’re gonna have to leave yours behind so we can discuss merpeople getting it on.”
I laugh as he tucks me under his arm, pulling me close.
“Thanks for coming with me,” I whisper, watching the rays.
“Thanks for inviting me. You know—”
A beam of light cuts through our corner of the park.
Henry goes absolutely still.
“Who’s there?” a voice shouts.
My heart catapults into my throat.
“Who the fuck is that?” Henry whispers.
It’s got to be the night patrolman.
He’s late.
Or early.
Shit.
“Security guard?” Henry demands in an undertone.
In all the years I’ve been sneaking into the park, I’ve never encountered a soul. But tonight…tonight ofallnights.
“Maybe?” I say, my voice trembling. “Probably.”
“Jesus, Piper!”
I was casual and cool when I suggested coming to the park tonight. Not once did I seriously consider the possibility of being found out.
Of getting in trouble.
Of gettingHenryin trouble.
The flashlight beam bounces through the manta rays’ enclosure, skimming the top of their pool, the tops of our heads, illuminating Henry’s panicked face.
The park is nearly a hundred acres, but the patrolman seems to have zeroed in on us.
“Come out!” he bellows. “You’re trespassing on private property!”
