Page 82 of Seduced By the Mermen
“The tea’s delicious, Ophelia.” I place my cup on the delicate China saucer and lean back. Annabelle and Marlee have gone off to the nursery Ophelia has in her apartment to play with the baby and visit with Kai. Her granddaughter is a delight, all rosy cheeks and chubby legs. She’s the spitting image of Kai. Having a girl first is apparently unheard of. Most pods have podlets until they have a girl and then stop.
“Is it as good as that tea the Mason pod gave you? The one you were raving about last time?”
I’ve never been a good liar. Even white lies come out like I’m telling a lie. I’m sure my face is scrunched up right now. “It’s nice. I like the flavor.” I pick my cup up and take another sip of tea.
Ophelia laughs. “When Grayson Mason tells you what it is, you’ll have to give me the secret.”
“I will.” I smile over my cup. I should share some of what I have left with my friend, but I only have a little left. It’s selfish of me. “I have a little more. I’ll bring it next time I visit.”
“No, you keep it for yourself. I can wait. Now, I hear you’re going out with the Driftwoods tomorrow, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” I put my cup down and take another of the little cakes from the tiered cake stand. “These are delicious.”
“Don’t change the subject on me. I’m the queen of that. I can spot a subject change a league away.”
“Yes. I am.” I squirm in my seat.
“What are you wearing for the outing?”
“I . . . I hadn’t thought it through.”
“Oh, well, they’re Tinom. I mean, I’m supposed to hate the lot of them, but the Driftwoods? They’re not horrible. The Tinom dome colors, though... gray and dark gray are so boring. But with your skin tone?” She leans across the sofa table and touches my bare arm. “I think you’ll look nice in them.” Ophelia’s wearing a baby blue tunic and golden flowing pants. There are shells embroidered on the top, and I could be wrong, but I think they’re done in real gold. The beads that make the center of the flowers are a deep blue stone. She looks fantastic, but she always does.
“I . . . Do I need to . . . wear gray?” It’s not my favorite.
“No, of course not, but if you want people to take you seriously, you should.”
“I don’t like people thinking Annabelle and her guys are keeping me away from other pods. I don’t want Annabelle, Castor, Nico, Eros, and Holter to suffer because of my dating life.”
“Oh... that’s exactly it. I’m so glad you understand. Otto said I shouldn’t bring it up. But you are so clever. You’re really figuring out how the city works. The Mason pod is a good fit for you, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t have fun. Even if you want to end up with them in the end. Or not. You should still make sure they’re your favorite flavor of tea.”
I reach for my cup, finding it empty. I hold it for a minute before putting it down on the table.
“Let me get you some more.” She touches her block. “Now, what are you doing on your outing with the Driftwoods?”
“We’re going window shopping.”
“You need a window?”
“You’re sure you want to do this, Mom?” Marlee sits up from reclining on Annabelle’s day chair in her mermaid sitting room.
“This feels silly.” I smooth down my tunic. My new tunic. It’s dark gray, almost black. “I didn’t wear Stele colors when I went over to the Masons’ apartment the other day. This is really a thing?”
“It is. And if you want people to think you’re really trying to fit in with some other pods, it’s a good signal,” Annabelle says.
“Tinom’s colors look like steel. But Stele’s colors are purple and gold?” Marlee holds her notebook to her chest.
“Yes, Tinom. Like Tin. Though I think they do most of their commerce in oil now.” Annabelle puts another pin in my hair to hold up the elaborate braids she’s done in my shoulder-length hair. I’d always had long hair, but that first night after we escaped the farm, I chopped it off. I haven’t let it get much longer than it is now. “You look great, Aunt Blair. The Driftwoods will be knocked out.”
“Thanks. I don’t know that I want to be with them or any?—”
Marlee cuts me off with a look and points at me in the mirror. “Do I need to remind you how you snuck back into your bedroom from mine when Zion was there?”
I glare at her behind me in the mirror.
“Or how much you’ve been smiling. That’s why I want you to be sure. Are you sure you want to go on this da—outing? Not with the Masons?”
I nod once. But... Marlee’s right. I do have a good time when I’m with the Masons, or at least most of them. Dancing with the guys in the kitchen two nights ago was a lot of fun.
