My tentacles disobey orders and slowly creep around her waist and wrist. One strokes back her hair as I continue to keep her hands locked in mine. “Youare the prize. If Zack were someone else’s child, then I would think he was a precocious, bright boy, probably gifted. But because he is yours, I love him. Because you let me get to know him, he’s captured my heart.”
“You... You love my son?”
“Like he was my own. And I know you cannot fathom that yet, so I will show you. By staying.”
Madelyn blinks, her eyes suddenly hazy with tears. “But the water?”
“We live a few blocks from a lake. The town is full of rivers.”
“In the winter?”
“We’ll put in a pool. Or buy a house that has one.”
“Dude, I’m a single mom. You’re a lifeguard. There’s no money for that.”
I shake my head, impatience on my features. I give her hands a little shake. “You are throwing up walls, but I am a kraken. My kind have brought down the greatest sailing ships of the ages. Do you really think something as small as money will stop me from being with the woman I love? I’ll hunt treasures for you, for us! I can find a fortune at the bottom of the sea, and I have already started amassing some savings over the years, and I’ve had almost nothing to spend it on. You’re welcome to all of it. You and Zack are my greatest treasures.”
He said he loves my son. He called me the woman he loves.
My heart feels like it’s wobbling, off-balance, and the head rush is unexpectedly glorious.I never imagined someone would say those words to me again, or if they did, that I would trust them.
But I trust Mercer, I trust him with Zack’s life, and that’s the gold standard of trust.
He loves me.
Willing to stay.
Willing to make things easier.
Willing to find us the money we need to be together.
After just two weeks of knowing each other. After seeing each other pretty much every day.
My heart and my brain are at war. Skepticism and dreamy idealism are not a good mix.
“I know why you’re worried about letting me in. Your life is already in a state of upheaval. You’ve just moved. Your parents are far away. Your ex-husband has made awful threats. But if he brings a custody battle to you, I will be by your side. I believe he would be at a disadvantage given his track record of absenteeism, lack of involvement, and those threatening texts. I believe I could be an asset. A citizen in good standing, and someone who will not shirk fatherly duties. Or husbandly ones.” Mercer interrupts my thoughts in a solemn voice.
“No, I’m not... No, Mercer, that’s not it, not exactly,” I explain. “Eli’s threats do worry me, but you’re right. I have a strong case against him, and no judge would award him full custody. It’s still scary, though. I have to remind myself that Eli never hit me with his fists, but he lashed out plenty of times with words. He’s probably just doing that now. And you’re right about my life being pretty messy and chaotic with lots of new things. Some of them—one in particular—is a wonderful new thing. I don’t want to lose it, but I don’t want to be stupidly naive, either. People can live on a dream of romance for a while, but sooner or later, practical things rear their ugly heads.”
“There is nothing ugly in caring for people you love. Doing the dishes, making the meals, the shopping, helping with laundry—all of that is providing for you and Zack. They may never be exciting chores or the most fun I’ll have with you, but they are not something bad. Not something I regret. I am proud and pleased to help.”
But no one is that perfect, screams my scarred realist, shoving the soppy romantic side of myself down. I cast a furtive look around the peaceful street before I whisper, “We don’t even know if we’re compatible. Physically.”
Mercer looks puzzled. “Did I not show you my nephews? Calder and his human wife are just one example in a long historyof krakens and other races mating successfully. I’m sure you are thinking of a sibling for Zack, because he surely deserves one—”
“No!” I don’t mean to snap at him, but his words are hitting raw nerves. “Is that all you see me as? Just a mom? I mean, that’s a plus, I guess, if you like kids and you don’tmindthat I’m a mom.”
Mercer arches up to his full height, his tentacles leaving my side to raise him up.
Dang. I’ll never have to worry about getting something off the high shelves with him around, I think, mouth slightly open as he looms over me.
You realize that even when a literal monster is “looming” over you, you’re not worried about him hurting you? At all?
He’s such a good guy. So what if he’s not interested in you like you’re some sexy young thing? That’s better than Eli only wanting you if your body was perfect.
Don’t throw this away, Madelyn...
“You know very well that is not all I see you as. I have told you exactly how beautiful I find you, but I’m delighted to remind you. And I mentioned siblings because I have seen what a phenomenal mother you are, and because I see how you devote your life to taking care of Zack. I assumed that you asked about compatibility because... Well, because that is a question I’m sure lots of people have asked since the Great Revelation.” Mercer’s voice goes from thunderous to uncertain, and his tentacles relax, dropping him slowly back to something just a little taller than me.
