“Caught you.” His arms frame my sides. His mouth is only a few inches from mine.
“You did.”
It would be so easy to lean forward and kiss him. To share a breath.
I stare into Samir’s eyes. Without his glasses on, I can see the honey streaked through them.
He moves even closer to me. I’m surprised the heat between us hasn’t boiled away the pool. (Heat’s not the only thing between us. Damn these European-cut trunks.)
“I really like you, Dylan.” He says my name like a song. His fingers trace the tattoo wrapped around my left bicep (our pod’s song, transcribed to human musical notation).
I really like him too. He’s beautiful, and he’s sweet, and I could write a thousand songs about his smile. That’s not the binding. That’s all him.
He tucks a strand of escaped hair behind my ear. “Do you really have to leave tomorrow?”
“The sea is calling me.”
“What does that mean?”
“It’s like... we’re children of the land and the sea. We need both to live.”
Samir sighs. “How long will you be gone?”
“Three months. I get back on the first new moon of autumn.”
He leans in until his forehead touches mine.
“I wish you could stay.” He licks his lips. “I’ve never felt this way about a guy before.”
I could do it. I could lean in and kiss him.
I think he wants me to.
I part my lips to ask, but a voice calls from inside the house. “Samir!”
He backs away from me and turns to shout. “Baleh, ameh?”
His aunt answers something that turns his face stormy.
“What?” I ask.
“Carter. He’s here.”
“Carter?”
“This won’t take long.” He pulls himself out of the pool. His swimsuit has ridden down his hips a little, and I think I might die.
Once my erection goes away, I get out and flop onto one of the pool chairs (fancy ones, made of real wood) to dry off. The sun warms my legs, and the urge to change recedes, though it never completely disappears.
Sara plods back out and stands next to me.
“Are you Samir’s new boyfriend? It’s okay if you’re a mermaid too. I won’t tell.”
I chuckle. “You can tell him. You shouldn’t keep secrets from the people you love.”
“You’re inlove?” Sara’s eyes get big.
I look down at my legs and wiggle my toes.
