Page 95 of Seduced By the Mermen
“What happened?” Delmar plays into Zion’s story web.
“Right, yes. I hope you can forgive me for missing the lesson, Cookie. Did they teach you how to make anything?”
“Not exactly.” She laughs.
“I’ll make it up to you. How would you like to take a trip to London?”
Blair bolts upright, Delmar and I bouncing as she does. “How? I... I thought once I was here, I couldn’t leave? I’ve never been to Europe. Heck, I’d never been out of the Midwest until a few years ago. And Doria is the only other country I’ve ever been to.”
“Everything else is rather boring after you’ve been here,” I say.
“True, true. But London is nice.” Zion puts his hand on her knee. “I have to go to the office in London for work, and I thought you might like to come.”
“I would, but... would you be taking a military sub?”
“Zion’s a big deal, but not big enough to use a military sub as his own personal solo,” Delmar says.
I arch my eyebrow because, while Zion does run one of the largest companies for the Stele Dome, he’s no more important than any of us.
“No, I’ve bought a Pelagic voyager.”
“Oh,” Blair says. “Actually, I have no idea what that is.”
“It’s like a camper. No, an RV.” I smile when her eyes brighten at me.
“A sub RV. That’s, wow, remarkable. There are so many remarkable things here.” She nods.
“Close your mouth, Delmar—you’re going to attract krill.” Zion takes Blair’s hand.
“A Pelagic voyager?”Delmar snaps his mouth shut. I know what he means. They’re expensive. But we can afford it. Not that a pod mate usually spends that kind of gold without talking to the others first. Does it matter? What else do we have to spend the money on?
“It’s not super-fast, but what it lacks in speed, it makes up for in comfort. There’s room for six, but it’s better suited for five. So my question to you is: you, me, and who?” Zion wiggles his eyebrows at her.
“Hold up.” I wave my hand. Zion has gotten way ahead of himself. “There’s?—
“I know what you’re going to say. There’s no way security will let Blair go,” Zion says.
Security. Another way of saying Sterling.
“Yes,” I agree.
“That’s why I missed our cooking lesson. I went to the palace to talk to Atlas. It took a lot longer than I thought it would.”
“You took this to the king?” Forrest barks from the doorframe. Blair smiles up at him and holds out her hand. The mattress dips as Forrest inches his way over to Blair.
“And he said yes?” Blair bounces with excitement.
“He did.” Zion beams.
“I’d like to come,” Delmar says.
“You?” Zion says. “What about your students? Though I’d love to have you come.”
“I haven’t used a vacation day in eight years, and I’ve only used a handful of personal days in the last five years. I have enough personal time to take off a whole quarter.”
“I’d like it if you’d come.” Blair squeezes Delmar’s hand.
“Then I’m going. When do we leave?”
