Page 40 of Little Saint Nautilus

I kissed the side of his cheek, trying to focus on his presence. “You might be right.”

With my arms around him, I rested my chin on his shoulder. I felt a cirrus flicker over my skin as it wound its way around my belly. It was strange to think how, in less than a week, I’d grown used to feeling the thin tentacles on—andin—my body. They were a part of Nemo, and every part of him excited and soothed me. Except now. As nice as it felt, it didn’t soothe the agitation in my chest.

“Are you all right, Cory? My cirrus is sensing something bothering you.” Nemo tilted his head back and looked at me.

I ran a hand over my hair, not sure what to say because I didn’t understand the feeling, except that I felt like I needed todosomething. “I’m very happy with you right here, Nemo. I don’t want you to think otherwise, but I have this urge within telling me I need to go.”

Nemo climbed off my lap so he could turn around to face me, concern etched on his face. “Go?Where?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Then you should go. You should listen to that feeling. Instincts are there for a reason. It’s something that comes natural to us shifters, maybe not as much for humans, but it’s there, and you should acknowledge it.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to mess up our Christmas.”

“No. You aren’t. If you need to go, then I’ll come with you…unless…you don’t want me to.” His voice got softer as he spoke.

I grabbed his hand. “I want you with me. I’m just not sure where we’ll end up.”

“Wherever it is, we’ll be there together.”

His assurance was what I needed. Knowing he would be with me eased some of the disquiet I felt. “Okay. Thank you, Nemo. Let’s do this. I guess it will be an adventure.”

I grabbed my hoodie, and Nemo took his Christmas sweater, and we got in the truck and left. I didn’t even know where we were going, but I had this pull inside of me. Since I was trusting my instincts, as Nemo said, I let the pull direct me.

Before long, we were driving along the PCH—Pacific Coast Highway—which followed the coast. We drove past our usual beach and kept going. Nemo placed his hand on my thigh, giving me a tether to hold on to while I embraced the unknown. Another twenty minutes down the highway and the pull grew stronger. It reminded me of the ache I used to feel when I stared out at the sea. An ache that I now realized had disappeared when Nemo arrived.

I inhaled sharply when that pull flared, making me swing the truck over to the side of the road and park on the street. I knew where we were, but then I was pretty familiar with almost all the beaches along California’s coast. I just wasn’t sure why we were here.

Nemo let out a loud laugh. He pointed to the sign of the beach. “Cory! It says Christmas Cove!”

I smiled at that. It seemed almost too perfect that I was brought here on this day. Christmas Cove was one of the beaches in Laguna Beach at the southern end of Orange County. I climbed out of the truck, and Nemo came to my side, taking my hand and twining our fingers together.

We walked down the ramp that led to the beach. At the bottom, I felt guided to follow the path to the left, which would take us to the part of the beach where the tide pools were. I pointed out the sign to Nemo, which said, ‘Collecting of rocks, shells, or marine life is prohibited.’

“You aren’t allowed to collect me, Cory.”

I snorted. “It’s a good thing I already have you.”

Nemo got distracted by the tide pools, giggling as he poked at sea anemones or talked to crabs. I couldn’t stay and watch him, not then. Not when the pull was so strong it was all I could think about. Beyond the cove, there was a dry stretch of sand where the water didn’t reach. The sunlight gleamed off something poking out of the sand.

I ran, well, trotted, toward the gleaming object. Going down on one knee, I hurriedly brushed the sand away and let out a shout when I saw what it was. “Holy shit!”

“Cory? Are you all right?”

My heart lodged itself in my throat and I couldn’t respond, but I scraped at the sand with my hand, trying to free it.

I heard Nemo approaching. “Cory?”

The object in the sand gave way until I held it in my hands. I stared at it with utter disbelief. How? How did I find it? I’d never actually seen it, but I knew, without a doubt, that it was his. I fell back on my ass, landing in the soft sand.

When Nemo saw what I was holding, he froze. A loud sob burst out of him as he shouted, “My shell!”

He ran toward me and tackled me, pushing me until I was on my back in the sand. He grabbed the shell and clutched it to his chest. I held him as the relief of his fears, worries, and loss poured out of him.

“You found it. I can’t believe you found it. Thank you, Cory!”

“I’m not sure how, but I am so happy I did.”

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