“That one back there,” I said, pointing to behind the plant, “is a mango pleco. He’s all gray with a yellow band on his fins.
“The other one we had must have been sold yesterday because I don’t see it,” I murmured, still looking even though I knew it wasn’t in there. “I hope it went to a good home with a nice tank.”
Kieran’s arm slipped around my waist, and his chin met my shoulder. I leaned into the touch, feeling engulfed by him and loving it.
“You really like them.”
“Mm,” I said, watching the tank.
“Better put a sold sign on the tank, then.”
I jolted. “What?”
“So no one sells Scop while you’re setting up your new tank.”
I spun, eyes wide. “Really?”
“I’m not cleaning the tank. Or feeding it. Or doing anything with it,” he warned.
I nodded a hundred miles a minute. “I’ll do everything!” I exclaimed. “You won’t even have to look at them!”
His eyebrow lifted. “Them?”
“Well, if I get a hundred-gallon tank, I could get both bristlenose,” I said, gazing at him hopefully.
“Yes, because I’ll never notice a hundred-gallon tank in the living room,” he muttered.
“Is that a yes?” I asked, shifting from foot to foot.
“Get whatever you want,” he mumbled.
“What?” I wanted to make sure I heard right.
He sighed. “Yes, baby doll. Get as many of those ugly things as you want.”
I threw myself at him, locking my arms around his neck and squealing. Kieran made a sound and lifted me off my feet. I peppered his face with kisses, and he acted like it was terrible but didn’t put me down.
Abruptly, I stopped and pulled back.
He glanced at me. “What?”
“It’s going to be really expensive.” The excitement I felt at the idea of having such an epic tank and being able to put Scop in it had momentarily made me forget the price.
“How much?”
I squinted. “Well, I could probably get a discount, but maybe not because Mr. Wasashi is pretty cheap and sometimes mean. I could get smaller plants that will grow.”
Kieran growled. “How much without a discount and getting the nice stuff so I don’t have to listen to you worry about Scop not having a nice home?”
“Two thousand,” I rushed out, then held my breath.
“You said expensive.”
My breath whooshed out. “That is expensive. That’s so much.”
Kieran put me down and reached into his coat.
“You remind me of Inspector Gadget.”
