Page 25 of Little Saint Nautilus

“I thought so, but it had been a weird morning, so I wasn’t sure if my mind was playing tricks on me. Now I know more of what your cirri feel like, the little tastes and flick they do to explore.”

If I were in better spirits, I might have said something about them wanting to explore him more, but I wasn’t there yet. Although… thinking about feeling his whole body with each cirrus charting a map of him perked me up… a little.

Cory unlocked the padlock and slid the door open, turning the lights on so we could see. He pressed another kiss to my cheek and gave my arm a light squeeze. “Go pick out whatever you want. I just need to check a couple of things while we’re here.”

I went back to the rack of clothes I’d found earlier, feeling each material to decide if it was something I could tolerate on my skin, and ended up picking out a few sets identical to what I wore in different colors. As I walked across the shop with the bundle of clothes on my arm, a man rolled up to the open door and popped his skateboard up so he could grab the edge of it.

“Hey, man, are you open?”

Cory looked between him and me with hesitation. I knew we’d only stopped in because of me, but I didn’t want to be the reason Cory turned someone away. I gave a nod.

“Yeah, sure. Just give me a minute to get my computer running and I’ll be happy to help you.”

The man headed straight toward the cold drinks along the wall. I went to the counter to stay close to Cory. It was still new and a little unnerving to be so near another human. I supposed I would have to get used to it if I was going to be staying on land. The thought made my stomach sink. Cory was wonderful, and his grandfather seemed kind, but beyond that, I didn’t imagine I would feel comfortable connecting with other people.

Cory patted the seat beside him. “Sorry, I should have closed my door. I wasn’t thinking about how busy it is today. Have a seat here, and we’ll head home as soon as we can.”

“It’s all right. This is your job.”

He squeezed my shoulder and gave me a half-smile. His attention shifted away from me as the man approached the counter.

“Just the soda and chips today?”

“Yes, I was dying and didn’t want to have to buy a whole meal. You’re a lifesaver, thanks, man.” He handed over a plastic card, which Cory tapped on a device.

“No problem. Happy Holidays.” Cory handed the man the card back, and he took it along with the items he’d selected. I sat in silence, watching the exchange. It was surprisingly quick, with an unspoken understanding between the two, and then it was over.

“Thanks, man, you too.” He faced me and gave a little wave, which I mirrored, a little taken aback by the whole thing. Would I be expected to know how to read the words that weren’t spoken? If I were underwater, it would be completely natural, but up here, I couldn’t sense the vibrations or information being shared. I played the short conversation back, surprised Cory didn’t have more of a reaction to the serious statement the man had given.

I grabbed my mate’s arm and spoke in a hushed tone. “You saved his life, Cory. That man…you saved him.”

Cory smirked and stroked my cheek. “I didn’t, little one. It was a figure of speech, an exaggeration of gratitude. Sometimes, people embellish situations for levity, humor, connection, or as a way to emphasize what they feel. I would say even you have a knack for a little embellishment. I remember you quite clearly saying you would combust if you didn’t come.”

“It wasn’t an embellishment,” I said with a pout. The intensity of the pressure building in my body truly felt like it would undo me.

He chuckled and gave me a light kiss. “I adore you, Nemo.”

I stared at him, feeling warm for the first time since I’d come out of the cave without my shell. The cold water didn’t bother me, but a chill had filled every part of my body; feeling empty without my shell, my home. Except… Cory. His presence and adoration had started filling those empty spaces… a little.

“I adore you, too, Cory.”

Our gazes were locked on the other until we were interrupted by the sound of shuffling feet and mumbled voices. More people had entered Cory’s shop while we weren’t looking.

Cory’s expression changed from awe to apology. “Shit. Sorry. I hate to ask them to leave, so it’ll just be a little longer.”

“It’sokay. I can wait.”

One family turned into a few more who lingered long enough to look through the shop, checking out jewelry, clothes, and what Cory called souvenirs. It was much different from the first man who came in knowing exactly what he wanted. These people hadn’t come with a specific goal, but instead seemed to enjoy their time in Cory’s shop. There was laughter as they tried different things on, or appreciative comments when they found something that interested them. It was fascinating to watch. More than anything, they seemed happy.

We stayed in his shop for another hour, and I closely observed each interaction, trying to study the way people communicated. A few greeted me as I sat beside Cory. Following his example, I even offered a ‘Happy holidays’ to some. They all smiled and responded the same. It was… pleasant, surprisingly. Maybe this human thing was easier than I expected.

Once the shop was clear, Cory shut everything down. “Come on, let’s get out of here before anyone else comes.”

With the clothes I’d picked out in a bag, he turned off the lights and locked the door behind us.

“Happy holidays,” I shouted out to a person who rode by on a bicycle. They waved and shouted it back. “I think I’m getting the hang of this human thing.”

Cory huffed out a laugh. “You’re doing great. Thank you for being so patient. I didn’t expect to have somany people stop in.”

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