I’m going to die from sheer charisma, aren’t I?  “If you really wish to see my world you can stay at my place for now I’ll help you get a job and your own place till you want to go back.” I need to call my boss and let her know I’m fine.  I saw several missed calls from her.  Thank goodness my phone wasn’t lost. Wait a moment, where's the otter pup? Is it  ok?  “Before I call my boss, is the otter pup okay?”  

“Of course, I wouldn’t want you to wake up saddened that the pup drifted off to sea.” 

I  tapped on the missed call notification and held it to my ear.   It rang for only a couple seconds.

“Reid? Reid is that you?” My boss’s  anxious voice came through my phone.

“Yes I’m fine." I replied.

“You dumbass what made you think going out before  a storm was a good idea?!?" My boss yelled into my ear.

“How’s your girlfriend?” I deflected It’s probably best I keep being saved by merman to myself. A merman encounter would send the news abuzz for sure.

“Don’t deflect on me! I heard you fall  off before I called the coast guard!” She scolded me like an older sister. Despite being my boss we became good friends.  “Honestly I’m glad you’re alright you have the weekend off you’ve had one hell of a day. Also before I hang up  you’re no longer going to work in rescue and release at least for a while you can still care for otters and other marine mammals but I won’t under good conscience allow you out like this again and risk your life.” Then. She hung up

After a while we made it my car. The wet clothes and wind making me feel miserable.  While the merman seems completely uneffected. The ocean is freezing after all… “Get in. Just grab the Handle” I grabbed the keys from their hiding place on top the front left tire thrn clicked the button to unlock it. As I started the engine I glanced over at him, he isn’t wearing a seatbelt. That’s right he’s probably never been in a car. “Do you see the thing in your right pull it and put it into this thing.” I pointed to thing the seat belt lock. He kept poking it on the release button and not in the slot.  “Do you need help?”I asked

 “I do.”

I leaned over him pulling the seat belt and locking it in, hyper aware of everywhere I touched on his bare chest. He has a 6 pack of muscles no doubt from swimming all his life.  The abbs are rock hard they must feel amazing to grope. 

“Do you like what you see?”  He brought  up my chin to meet his gaze. “ I can see longing in your eyes. When‘s the last time you felt a lover’s touch?”

My face went red my cheeks flushing. “That’s none you business, my love life isn’t your concern. “ it’s been months since I’ve been in a relationship. My feelings got the better of me I won’t let that happen again.

“If you say yes I’ll gladly take that role and touch your lovely body.” 

“I’ll never feel that way towards you not when I’ve just met you.”   I purposefully blasted music so i wouldn’t have to hear more flirtatious comments. We got to my apartment and I hurried him inside. The exhaustion of thr day hit me. I grabbed some clothes and boxers and gave him them. “Anything with a wide opening but two holes in the bottom you put your legs through if it’s one wide hole onr narrower with two smaller ones one each side your arm go in those got it?” 

He nodded. “You never know you could fall for my charm darling.”

My face heated up. “If you must flirt I’ll take you to a gay bar. You’re not going get anything from me”

He did a slight  sexy pout  as he got struggled to get dressed. “Only if i get to flirt with you. your reactions are so amusing and innocent, it’s refreshing.”

How does he make every interaction so hot? My face still burning.  I heard a meow and glanced down to see Matcha rubbing herself inbetween my legs. She stretched her body up my legs meowing, I picked her up giving her all the scritches and stroked her calico coat.  “If this ends up being long term seriously cut out the flirting  I'm not gonna sleep with you. I’m gonna be your boyfriend either alright? If you want to flirt you can also be a host.” With that I closed the door and flopped onto my bed  not caring i got it wet. This all seems like a wonderful  yet scary dream.

Me drowning and getting saved by a handsome merman.  Him being an absolute flirt was both annoying but it felt nice. Better then my ex was being hardly affectionate sometimes distant hardly answering my texts.  What was truly depressing is after it ended nothing really changed his kisses and touch were distant memories so have nothing changed must mean I didn’t mean much as a partner. Atleast I got Matcha she never will hurt me. 

I must be pathetic feeling all lonely cause a stranger gave me attention. After a nap hopefully I’ll feel better. I slept lightly the memory of drowning forcing me awake. It’s already evening? I swore it waafternoon. The awful sticky wet sensation that comes with soaked clothes hit me like s ton of bricks. I clawed off my shirt and socks. I need a shower i don’t want to smell like sea water all day. That’s right since that wasn’t a dream where’s the guy? I wandered through my apartment and saw the bathroom door wide open. A big cardboard box of salt on the ground completely empty. His tail turned out to be a bluish greenish color with beautiful big fin and the end  the tub was filled to thd brim with water and  ice. He looks so hot just lounging in there.