Page 95 of Echo and the Homicidal Sea Panda

Echo froze.

“I was standing beside him when your boat came into view. His entire body relaxed. I watched him rush over to help you into the boat with a silly, stupid, lovesick smile on his lips.” She paused, and he thought he heard a sniffle. “I watched the way he looked at you. There was love and joy in his eyes again… and there was no way in hell I was depriving Mael of someone who’d given him that back. Dolphin or not, I didn’t care anymore. You make my brother happy, and hedeservesto be happy after all this time. I’m thankful you came into his life, Echo.”

Echo’s eyes welled with tears.

“I told my mother that, too. I told her that if she got in the way of Mael’s happiness, I would never forgive her.”

Fat tears slid down Echo’s face.

Tempest sniffled. “I don’t know if what I said got through to her or not. As I said—the mask and all—but I think I saw a little chink in her armor.”

Echo wiped the tears from his cheeks with the back of his hand. “Thank you. Your support means a lot. Especially right now.”When I miss him so much.He rubbed his belly again.When I desperately want him here at my side.

“Thankyou… for making my brother truly smile again.”

“He makes me happy, too. And as an only child, I’m excited that I might get a bunch of brothers and a sister out of this deal, too.” Echo released a shaky breath, wiping his face again. “I can’t wait to see his smile again… have you heardanything?”

“Not a word,” Tempest said. “Hopefully it won’t be too much longer. If I hear anything, you know I’ll call.”

“Same,” Echo said. “Well, thanks for making me cry first thing in the morning.”

Tempest chuckled, sniffling again. “You’re quite welcome. I’ll check in on you in a day or two, hmm?”

“Thanks. I’ll talk to you later.”

Echo ended the call and rose to his feet. He walked back across the street, realizing he was going to be late for work, but he really didn’t care. Tempest’s call and what she’d shared had been worth it.

Before he could reach his front door, an unfamiliar car pulled into his driveway. He spun to face it and froze.

His parents.

His mother jumped out first and raced closer, her arms wide. “My baby! I’ve missed yousomuch! I’d hoped we would catch you before you left for work.”

Echo turned himself sideways for her hug, trying to hide his belly. Small swell or not, he wasn’t giving her a chance to notice. She always seemed to root out his secrets before he was ready to share them. “You lucked out. I’m running late—but you could’ve called to let me know you were back, and I’d have stayed until you got here.”

She leaned back, grinning. “And ruin the surprise?”

Echo would’ve rather had the head’s up.

His mother brushed a hand through his hair. “You need a haircut. Men look silly with hair this long.”

Echo slid his hair from her grip. He’d grown it out longer on purpose. “I like it.”

“It’ll confuse people about your gender. You’re already girlie enough as it is.”

“And what’s wrong with beinggirlie,Mother?”

She eyed him, appearing shocked.

“I was born female, too,remember?”

Her lips closed in a firm line.

His father marched up and gave him a bear hug, saving him from her comments. Echo melted into his hug. He loved his mother, but she was chaos, drama, and judgment. His dad was the exact opposite—serene shelter from her storms.

“How was your trip?” Echo asked them as he pulled from his father’s embrace.

“It was nice being back with the old pod,” his mother said, her smile fading. “I’ve really missed my aunts, uncles, and cousins. I wish you’d come with us to meet them.”

---