Chapter 4
The next morning, when I came downstairs, I was surprised to see Adrian making breakfast in the kitchen.
He was rocking a crisp white shirt and black dress pants, with a black suit jacket tossed over the couch in the living room. Guess he was going somewhere later.
He brought out two plates of breakfast, looking kind of uneasy.
"You mentioned wanting my breakfast before, did you not?" He cleared his throat to cover his awkwardness. "I'm only doing this because I feel sorry for you. Do not expect it again."
He couldn't meet my eyes, and his ears were burning red.
Then it hit me. Yeah, I really did say that.
"Thanks," I said.
With breakfast already made for me, I just kicked back, grabbed my fork, and started eating.
Halfway through breakfast, my phone pinged with a message.
It was from the Creature Management Agency, asking if I had some free time later. They wanted to meet face-to-face about something.
I thought about it and realized I had no plans. Then I received the address.
With only about an hour left before my meeting, I wiped my mouth, grabbed my jacket, and got ready to head out.
"Alright, I'm done here. Got something to do, so I'm off," I said and stood up, ready to go.
Normally, this was nothing new, but today Adrian suddenly jumped to his feet. "Where are you going? Are you seeing someone else?"
His voice was cold as ice, and his face was sour.
I nodded, still a bit suspicious, but then I saw his eyes suddenly get teary.
At the same time, I finally noticed the comments popping up overhead.
[Did Emily forget? She and Adrian had plans to hit the dessert shop today and learn how to make donuts together.]
[Adrian got up two hours early just to pick out his outfit, do his hair, and make breakfast for today.]
[Why am I starting to feel bad for him? Get real. Pitying a guy is the first step toward disaster.]
I'd brought up the whole donut-making thing to Adrian about two weeks ago, but he never gave me an answer or even agreed. I figured he wasn't into it, so I totally let it slip from my mind.
"Oh, wait. I remember now. We're going to make donuts together," I said.
Adrian's eyes sparkled instantly. He nodded, looking all eager, like he was waiting for me to sweet-talk him.
But when I checked the time on my phone, I was sweating bullets.
The Creature Management Agency is not the kind of place you can just flake on—they don't take kindly to being stood up.
"Well, something came up. If you're into it, just go ahead without me. I'm running late. Gotta dash." I grabbed my jacket and bolted, terrified I'd get tail-slapped to death before it was too late.
As I ran out the door, a choked shout came from behind. "Emily, you liar!"
Next came a screech of tears, like a kettle's whistle.
*****
The Creature Management Agency sent an adorable girl. The meeting was set at a cat café.
Two hours later, I strolled out of the place, the air still full of cat noises, holding a compatibility test report in my hand.
So apparently, my compatibility with Adrian was 90%.
The girl said, "Ms. Brooks, sorry about this, but the agency messed up your compatibility score with Mr. Rivers. The latest report says you two are 90% compatible.
"That means you can get a divorce if you want, and as compensation, we can hook you up with a new match. What do you think about that lion from before, the one with a 95% score?"
She was cuddling a cat and smiling warmly, but her words hit me hard.
How was I even supposed to tell Adrian about this? Is he gonna go full merman rage and rip the house apart or something?
When I got home, Adrian was still sitting on the couch. As soon as he saw me, he shot me a frosty look.
I didn't pay much attention to his expression. I walked over to the couch, ready to break the news about our compatibility.
With each step I took, Adrian's look soured further.
Finally, he scrunched up his brows. "What did you get into? You reek."
Did I? I gave myself a quick sniff. Nothing.
Then it hit me. It must be the smell from the cat café. No wonder. Mermen hate cats.
Just then, my phone buzzed. It was my bestie calling. I picked up and started chatting as I headed upstairs.
When she asked what I'd been up to today, I kept it vague. "Just chatted with someone at a cat café.
"Yeah, the fluffy tails were pretty cute."
I kept walking upstairs, totally oblivious to Adrian downstairs, whose expression had darkened, while the live chat above my head was blowing up like crazy.
I picked up some files from the study and returned to the bedroom. Just as I opened the door, someone shoved me inside from behind and pinned me against the door.
Warm, wet kisses rained down on me, and Adrian's cool, intoxicating scent wrapped around me.
His kisses lingered from my lips to my ear, then down to my neck, sending a cool sensation in the hollow of my neck.
I reached up to cup Adrian's face, only to meet his eyes streaming with tears.
Large tears rolled down his cheeks, transforming into pearls that scattered at my feet. I could feel how feverishly hot his skin was under my hands.
Adrian's human ears had already sprouted blue-violet fins, and his legs had long since turned into a fishtail.
His clothes were gone, and his fishtail kept brushing insistently against my thigh and the back of my hand. With his face cradled in my palms, he unconsciously nuzzled against me.
His mating season had started early.
Realizing this, I couldn't help but worry.
"Adrian..." I tried to speak, but before I could finish, he kissed me again.
His tears kept falling for a long time. When our lips finally parted, he choked back a sob, grabbed my hand, and pressed it against his fishtail that had curled up.
His voice was plaintive, almost begging. "Will you touch it? Please? My tail's cute too. Don't like someone else's tail...
"Don't leave me..."