Well, I guess it makes sense they know each other, but I don’t like the way they’re smiling and hugging. In fact, it’s making me itchy how tightly Dex holds him.
I clear my throat loudly, and they both break apart. Ren looks slightly embarrassed. ‘Sorry. You must be Rome.’
Lexi clearly shared my sign name because he uses it correctly.
‘Yes. Nice to meet you.’ I probably don’t look happy because he shifts from foot to foot, and Dex steps closer to me.
That’s better. Marginally.
I look from one to the other. Did they date? Did Dex like him after he and Lexi didn’t work out? Was there a thing that got interrupted because I came back from Paris, and?—
‘How do you two know each other?’ Dex asks, interrupting my thought spiral.
Ren smiles wider. ‘Lexi told me he wanted to surprise you with something romantic, so I got permission for you two to use the aquarium for the night.’
Dex’s eyes go wide. ‘Seriously?’
I shrug. ‘I was going to tell you about it, but I thought this would be more fun as a surprise.’
Dex abandons all propriety and leans in, kissing me hard. ‘Thank you,’ he signs as he steps back. ‘I love the aquarium. Ren and his girlfriend—’ He stops abruptly. ‘Sorry. Ex.’
Ren shrugs and shakes his head. ‘It’s fine.’
Dex still looks apologetic. ‘They worked together here. She got transferred, and he and I used to hang out while he was sad and getting over it.’
I breathe a little easier. Him having a girlfriend doesn’t mean he’s not into Dex. I mean, how can you not be into my boyfriend? He’s hot as fuck. But it’s clear the guy’s still nursing a broken heart, so I feel safe.
‘Come inside,’ Ren says, beckoning us through the door. ‘I can’t stay with you. I have to monitor my screens, but if you need anything, just text. You can go anywhere that the doors are open and the lights are on.’
We reach the end of the long hallway, and past the door is an aquarium corridor. Stepping in feels weird. Almost wrong, like we’re breaking rules. But Dex follows, and Ren gives us a quick nod and then closes the door behind us. I can feel the vibrations of it under my feet.
And now we’re alone.
‘Is there music playing?’ I ask.
Dex shakes his head. ‘No. There’s usually not.’
Weird. Seems like a place where music should play, but whatever. Reaching out my hand, I take it and then realize I have no idea where to go. I looked at the interactive map, but I’ve never actually been here before.
Shit. I’m not going to get an A+ if I didn’t fucking study.
Dex is smirking at me, clearly reading my dilemma off my face. ‘Where do you want to go?’
I sigh. ‘Take me to your favorite spot.’
He lights up, and I feel my chest loosen. Yep, I made theright decision with that. Squeezing my fingers, he tugs me to the left, down a dim hallway with huge glass walls. Behind it, fish are swimming in what looks like faux pillars of a dock.
The fish aren’t that interesting. They’re brown and kind of boring, though I have a feeling Ren probably thinks they’re fascinating.
Dex isn’t looking back at me, so he doesn’t notice as he tugs me around the corner and into a room with neon-lit tubes. I take a second to realize the floating creatures inside are jellyfish.
I make a noise, and he stops, glancing back at me. ‘Wow.’
He nods. ‘Cool, right? I could sit in here for hours and watch them. It’s like meditating.’
‘Is this your favorite spot?’
He smiles and shakes his head, then pulls me around another corner and then into a huge, narrow tunnel. We’re in a bubble inside a giant aquarium. Above us, there are stingrays swimming by and brighter-colored fish.
