And then I got a DM I wasn’t expecting from someone called ThatDeafTurtleGuy.
It didn’t take an expert to know that was Lexi’s brother.
ThatDeafTurtleGuy:Lexi told me about your date problem. I have a solution.
Me:Tell me.
ThatDeafTurtleGuy:I can reserve you a private slot tomorrow night at seven. I’ll be there doing research so I can keep everything on. There won’t be food, but if you want to bring a picnic, you can sit in the aquarium tunnel and eat and watch the fish.
I could have cried.
Me:Thank you. Your name?
ThatDeafTurtleGuy:LOL sorry. Rennick. But use Ren. Easier to sign.
I take a quick peek at his profile. He looks like a proper nerd with several videos of him in a lab coat and thick, black-framed glasses. He has two very bright green cochlear implants too, the processor magnets painted like turtle shells.
He does his videos in voice and sign—at least, I think he does. Or maybe he’s using voice-over. Either way, he seems right at home, waist-deep in a rehab pool, surrounded by sea turtles.
I let him know that we’re in, so he sends me the info along with the gate code and tells me to be there by six forty-five so he can get everything set up.
Now it’s just a matter of making sure I can get Dex to go with me without spoiling the surprise.
It doesn’t take much to get Dex to pass off his late-night spin class with my fingers in his ass. When I did that—when I found that spot that made Dex see stars—he agreed to anything.
‘Aquarium,’ Dex spells as we reach the gate. He looks very unsure. ‘It’s closed.’
‘I know. Trust me,’ I tell him. He looks even more worried when we bypass the entrance and head toward the employeegate. He taps me on the shoulder, but I sign a quick ‘Wait’ at him as I open my window and lean over to punch the code.
He taps me harder as the gate slides open, and I glide past it. ‘What is happening? How did you get the gate code?’
‘Trust,’ I sign again.
He shakes his head as I find a spot next to what I think is most likely Ren’s car, considering it has turtle stickers all over the back. When I turn the engine off, I twist to face him, and he looks pissed.
‘Do you not like the aquarium?’ I ask, feeling suddenly unsure of myself. This was supposed to earn me points, damn it. This was meant to be my A+.
‘I love the aquarium. But this is weird. How did you do this? Are we going to end the night in jail?’
I roll my eyes and then tell him, ‘Secret.’ He looks more annoyed than anything. ‘I promise to tell you when it’s over. No jail.’
I’m honestly surprised Lexi didn’t spill her guts, and I’m guessing that’s proof she’s really on our side about this relationship. Or, at the very least, she believes I can make Dex truly happy.
And fuck if I don’t plan to.
After a long beat, Dex relaxes and shrugs. ‘Fine. But I want all the answers once it’s over.’
‘Promise,’ I tell him, then lean in and kiss him on the jaw. I feel the whisper of his sigh against my cheek as he turns his head to capture my mouth, and we take a moment to make out like teenagers until I realize time’s wasting.
‘Come on. You can help me carry the bags,’ I say as we step out. Popping the trunk, I wave my hand like, ‘Ta-da!’ I have a thick blanket, a cooler backpack full of drinks, and a small totewith the sub sandwiches. It made sense to go simple because neither of us is particularly fancy.
Dex frowns but hooks the cooler backpack over his shoulder while I take the tote and the blanket. He follows behind, and as we approach the side door, it opens, and the nerdy turtle guy without his lab coat steps out.
His face breaks out into a huge smile, and I see his mouth move around my boyfriend’s name. “Dex!”
I look over to see Dex say, “Ren!” smiling back.
What the fuck?
