“I like the ocean,” Shane said. “The sound and the smell and the way it stretches out forever.”
I swallowed and managed, “Me too. Don’t think I could live inland.”
“Well, people do what they have to.” His expression went bleak for a moment, then he smiled again. “Luckily, I get to pick and choose for myself.” Over by the rocks, Mimsy batted at a piece of seaweed fluttering in the breeze, then pounced on a bigger one. He turned to watch her fondly. “Mimsy’s enjoying the beach.”
We watched her play. When the silence became awkward, I asked, “What now?”We could go back to my place and blow each other.But the suggestion died on my lips because there were problems with that idea. Starting withmy place.
“Walk on the beach a bit?” Shane suggested. “If you have time.”
“I’m on vacation till I start my next project. I have all kinds of time.”
“That’s cool.” He stuffed our trash back in the bag, slung his jacket over his shoulder, and turned north along the shore. Mimsy looked over, then ran ahead close to the rocks.
I fell into step beside him.
He gave me a glance from under the fall of that long, straight hair. “What was it like out there on a yacht? I read this book calledMaster and Commander,but I doubt a luxury yacht’s anything like the eighteenth-century navy.”
“I saw the movie.”
“It was made into a movie?”
“Yeah. A pretty good one.” I suggested, “We could stream it sometime and watch it.”
He nodded slowly. “Because you have a TV and streaming and stuff.”
“Well, yes.” I returned quickly to his question. “A luxury yacht’s nothing like the HMS Surprise, especially since we had fresh food daily, no scurvy, and an engine for when the wind died down. One thing the same, though, was the power of the sea. Those huge waves, where you get lifted to the crest and then slide down into the trough. Makes a man feel insignificant. We didn’t get caught by bad weather often, with modern weather predictions, but a couple of times it was exciting.”
“My head thinks that sounds great. My stomach’s not so sure.”
“I’m lucky. I almost never get seasick. I like rollercoasters.”
“I don’t. Some crap doesn’t bother me. Shit or puke, I can handle fine. Not so much motion.”
“No amusement park dates for us, then?”
“All that time I was a carny, I never once went on the rides.” He eyed me sideways. “You planning more dates for us? Because talking about what makes us puke is so sexy?”
I shrugged. “I like getting to know you.”
“Why?”
The question brought me up short.Why? Because you were kind when I was losing it? Because I’m really attracted to you and it’s been a long time?Liking Shane wasn’t just about how he looked, though. I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt this warm, hopeful bubble of anticipation, simply talking to a guy.“I’m not sure I can explain why. But… we both left home at seventeen. We both made choices we thought we had to make. There’s parts of me that I never let anyone else see, and you’ve seen two of them, and accepted them.”
“Two? Boy toy and… the guy who likes cats?”
“The guy who busts up mirrors.”
“Ah.” Shane pursed his lips, nodding. “I don’t suppose you want to tell me why?”
“Not really.”
“I kinda prefer the guy who likes cats, but if you need to destroy some more glass, you bring the broom, I’ll bring the duct tape.”
“See? That’s why I like you.”
Our eyes met and Shane grinned, stopping and facing me. “So can we head back to my place and fuck?”
In the venue—“Not there.” The words tumbled out instantly accompanying a cold lurch in my stomach.
