“Where do you collect it from? Antiquestores?”
“Naw.” He shook his head. “Shipwrecks,mostly.”
“That’s so unique. I haven’t been diving in a while.” Isa sighed. “I’ve been meaning to get backintoit.”
“Maybe we can go diving together,” Adrian suggested, before he truly thought about it. Adrian knew that was something that could never happen. The minute they went in the water, his tail would come back and she would know. But he wished for itanyway.
“That actually sounds like fun.” Isa grinned. “I’dloveto.”
Did I just ask her out on a date?Adrian realized that they were technically already on a date now, and the notion made him want to do backflips. “Soon,” he promised, though he wasn’t sure how he’d be able to keep it. “I’ll show you around some of my favorite divingsites.”
Her eyes brightened. Her mood definitely seemed better from when he’d first seen hertoday.
They continued walking up the beach and didn’t stop until it ended and they had to turn back. They talked, and talked, and each time the topic changed it seemed the two of them had moretosay.
The day lengthened, and eventually the sun started dipping lower and lower. Adrian didn’t notice how late it was until he realized his shadow was lingering against the water. With it came a shocking pain he’d been ignoring, and a dryness in his throat that was practically unbearable. He’d been so wrapped up in their conversation he hadn’t noticed the potion was wearing off. He’d have to go back into theoceansoon.
And leave her. The thought was terriblydepressing.
“Shit. It’s already getting late,” Isa said. “I hadn’t realized. I really need to get home and finish myessay.”
Adrian wilted, but he also knew it was time for him to go, too: his legs were getting really wobbly. He’d spent too long with Isa, though it’d only felt like precious minutes. “I get it. We’ll catch uplater.”
“Yeah, totally.” Isa stopped and turned toward him. “Can I get your number? I’ll give youacall.”
“I uh… I don’t have a cell phone.” He laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not online,either.”
“What kind of guy doesn’t have a cell phone or social media?” She raised aneyebrow.
He laughed. “I’m not youraverageguy.”
“Obviously.” She looked him up and down, and Adrian felt himself growing hot all over. “Well, I guess I’ll see you when Iseeyou.”
“It won’t be long,” he promised. “I’ll be back to seeyousoon.”
“How will youfindme?”
“I’llknow.”
The red and orange of the sunset was mixing into the blonde of her hair and making her tan skin glow. She ran the tip of her tongue over her lips lightly, and it made Adrian hungry. Her eyes became hooded as he took a step closer, and their bodies were touchingagain.
“Isa…” he said, and he went to bend down. He lifted a hand to lay it upon the back of her hair, and his insides did backflips. Their noses were touching, and his lips were inchesfromhers...
Isa pulled away at the last moment. “Uh, I’m… I’m sorry,” she finished lamely. She wouldn’t look at him, only down at the ground. “Do you needaride?”
He shook his head. He was so disappointed. “No. I’ll find my own way. Catch up with youlater.”
Isa nodded, then turned and ran up the beach like Adrian was chasing her. Adrian put his hands back in his pockets and shookhishead.
“Water,” he rasped. “I need to get back tothesea.”
He couldn’t transform here, not in front of all these people. But Adrian knew he had to get back to the ocean,andfast.
Adrian left that particular coastline and got back on the bus to be driven to his usual cove. When the bus pulled away from the ocean, Adrian clenched at his chest. The pain was so intense it felt like he was having a heart attack, and he struggled to breathe. It was like his insides were shriveling up onthemselves.
“Hey, buddy, you okay?” the driver asked as Adrian stumbled offthebus.
Adrian didn’t answer. He proceeded downward, down the shoreline and to his cove. This time of day there was no one around, but Adrian worried it was too late. He could no longer breathe outside of water, and black dots coated hisvision.
