Page 64 of Anchored to the Storm

With only her eyes above water, she was watching Styx, who was now saying, “Don’t do it, Silly Rabbit,” while he scooped coffee grounds. Not even looking at either of us, he poured water into the coffee maker. “Spookin’ a woman only makes her faster on her toes.” He shrugged. “In this case, fin?”

Note to self. Stab Gramps later.

After starting the coffee maker, Styx grabbed a coffee mug from a cabinet, casually telling me, “Juuust act normal. No mermaid to see here.” When I didn’t move, he added, “Or lay there like a possum.”

Ass. Hole.

Terrified to ‘spook’ Saleeni, I sat up at a snail’s pace. Like, the coffee was finished brewing by the time I was upright.

“Would you like some coffee?” Styx asked.

Sitting there, I pointed to myself in question. Are you talking to me?

Trying not to move his lips, Styx grumbled, “Is he kidding me right now?” Then I saw Saleeni give a slight nod. “Great. Then I will make you a cup.”

Oh.

“Mad-G,” Styx didn’t even look my way, “would you like a cup?”

Saleeni spun to see me.

Styx warned, tight-lipped, “Play it cool, Possum.”

Right. Be chill. Be chill. I never had a cup of Joe my whole life but found myself replying, “Uh, yeah. Thanks.” I got up from the floor and attempted to be nonchalant; however, I think I must’ve looked ridiculous. Nerves had one leg not communicating well with the other, and I developed some sort of awkward limp.

With two cups of coffee in his hands, Styx stared at me with quite the expression. With one brow arched as high as could be, he asked, “Pimpin’ ain’t easy?”

I grimaced. What? But didn’t stop moving around the pool because Saleeni’s eyes were glued to me. I didn’t want them to stop. I didn’t want my heart to break again, watching her swim away. So, I snatched a cup from him and growled, “Thank you.” I took a sip, then asked, “Why does this taste so bad?”

He laughed. “Because all bad habits do.”

“B-Bad?”

I sucked in air. Chill. Chill.

Barely able to swallow, I casually turned to face her. Then I shrugged.

Then Styx kicked my damp boot.

“Uh…” I finally said, “A little bitter on the tongue.” Daring a couple of steps toward her, I offered my cup. My other hand signed my spoken question. “Want a sip?”

Saleeni observed… then, blessedly, she floated toward the edge of the pool closest to me.

Willing to feed her, provide for her in any way she wanted, or simply love her from afar, I took a knee, silently vowing to never give up. Holding out my cup for her to try a sip, I was offering her all of me.

Eyes locked, I leaned down to be closer. To hold the cup to her perfectly curved lips.

She took a tiny sip, then her face twisted, and her sweet tongue pushed the fluid from her mouth.

To this day, I don’t know if Styx was that wise, setting Saleeni and me up, but I had never seen anything more adorable, so I… laughed and laughed. Full-on holding my belly.

Styx leaned forward, only a cabinet holding him up as he matched my laughter.

Next thing I knew, a beautiful laugh joined us.

I swear to God, I could’ve cried the happiest of tears. Laughter was melting away fear, and hope was blooming.

Unable to stop myself, I reached out and touched her face, whispering words she may not fully understand but may feel. “You make me whole.”