Away in a Tentacle Lair

17. Leo

Chapter seventeen

Leo

I stride from the Briareus family home, my head swirling with half-digested info and wild theories. Kai's words about a family curse keep bouncing around in my brain like a beach ball at a summer concert. An octopus, though? Really? I've seen some weird things in the deep blue, but my boyfriend sprouting tentacles pushes the realms of reality.

“Hey, Rowland,” someone in a marine centre T-shirt calls as I enter the hotel.

I look up and give the young woman a wave. I don’t recognise her, but there is a chance I flirted with her in the hope of getting some information. Now, I don’t care about the assignment.

“Are you going to the Christmas party in the centre tomorrow?”

“I’m not sure. My folks want to spend the day with me on Facetime.”

“Sounds like a drag,” she shrugs.

“It might be worth it; I don’t plan to leave the island soon.” I should feel confident about landing the job we’re all desperate for, but my mind wanders to Kai. He will be why I don’t leave, not the research centre. I don't care about the job any more.

Once in my hotel room, I let out a sigh that could deflate an inflatable raft. I kick off my shoes in record time. I'm peeling off my clothes on my way to the bathroom because if anyone needs a good scrub, it's this guy who might be dating an actual mollusc.

The shower welcomes me like the warm embrace of a tropical current. Water washes over me, and for a moment, I close my eyes and just breathe in the steamy serenity. Can love look past limbs...or lack thereof? The thought of Kai, with his sun-kissed skin and those eyes, so deep and blue, makes my heart do somersaults worthy of a dolphin show.

"Okay, Leo," I mutter, "so he might get a bit... tentacley. That's cool, right?" Love is love, I preach to the row of shampoo bottles before chuckling.

Warm water runs down my back, tracing paths like the coastal lines I've studied on maps. So what if Kai does turn into an octopus?

So what if my compass points to unexplored territories in love and species? I've navigated trickier waters, haven't I? Besides, Kai's laugh alone could calm the most tumultuous seas. And those moments when he looks at me as if I'm the only other person on this planet who has to count for something more than a human or an octopus.

After my shower, I wrap the fluffy towel around my middle and flop on the edge of the large bed. Grabbing the remote, I call up the Wildlife Channel and find something on demand about octopuses.

I'm transfixed by the creature's dance on the screen; each movement is deliberate, almost mindful. There's an elegance to its fluidity that reminds me of Kai—the way he moves with quiet confidence as if he knows every current and eddy of life itself. His secrets now seem less like barriers and more like... depths to be explored.

"Maybe being part octopus isn't the weirdest thing," I muse aloud, tilting my head. "I mean, they're intelligent, resourceful. Three hearts give them a massive capacity for love and help keep his brain oxygenated while holding his breath. Although I’ve got no evidence to suggest he has any octopus parts in his human form.

But it's not just the quirks and astonishing biological feats that capture me—it's something more profound. As the documentary narrator extols the virtues of octopus adaptability and loyalty, I see Kai in every word. Love, after all, isn't confined to the shape of your body; it's about the connection that pulses beneath, as constant as the tides.

A decisive warmth spreads through me as if I've been sunbathing on the deck of a research vessel. It's time to stop treading water. I grab my phone from the side table and video call my parents. I want to share my good news with them.

"Hey, Mum, Dad," I begin the moment they answer.

“How is the battle for employment?” Mum asks keenly. I’m their only child, and they are fully invested in everything I do.

“I might have put that job on the line chasing love instead.” I brace myself for their disappointment, casting my career aside for a roll in the sand.

“You have found someone who can distract your attention from your career?” Dad frowns. “Wow. He must be a wonderful young man.”

“He is. He loves the water and can hold his breath for nearly ten minutes. He loves marine animals.”

“Leo, you don’t need to prove he is worthy of you.”

“He is worthy. Dad, he is beautiful and funny, and his smile… his eyes are like magic, and he is just…”

“I’m so pleased for you, Leo.”

“He’s invited me to join him and his family for Christmas day, so I’m not sure when I’ll get to phone you.”

“I am so happy for you, Leo, and I don’t want to hear from you tomorrow or the next day.”

"Thanks, guys. I love you so much." Relief washes over me like a gentle wave. They seem delighted that I’ve found someone. They are happier than when I told them I had submitted my research paper to apply for this job and that I was coming here. They want me to be successful, but they also want me to be happy.

I end the call missing them more, but knowing I have made their Christmas one of joy, they know I am away from them because of love rather than work.

As I set my phone down, I can't fight the grin spreading across my face. Kai and I might be venturing into uncharted waters, but with my parents' anchor of support, it feels like we could sail through any storm. And I can’t wait to see Kai with tentacles and what he can do in bed without using his hands.

I lean back against the plush hotel pillows as the phone call with Mum and Dad still hums in my ears like a favourite sea shanty. It's such a relief to have their excitement mirror mine, and their acceptance has cast a protective net around my heart, safeguarding it from doubt.

"My Ocean Prince," I murmur, chuckling at my dramatic nickname for him.

I never imagined that I could fall for someone like Kai. I’m a simple marine biologist who started this trip hoping for someone content to remain in my shadows. Who would have thought a man who outshines me could actually lift me up, making me a better person? Kai is definitely a man worth fighting for.

I glance at the clock, noticing how late it’s getting, so I set my alarm for sunrise and slip under the covers. Being alone feels bittersweet. I want Kai here with me, but I accept that it’s too soon in our

Glancing at the clock, the digital numbers glow 10:00 PM, reminding me that even adventurers need their rest. With a few taps of my fingers, I set my alarm for sunrise, eager to greet the day that will bring me closer to the mysterious Kai Briareus.

I close my eyes, and the world disappears, replaced by dreams where the sea is a playground for my mind. There, Kai's laughter bubbles around me, a melody that fills the underwater world with light. We dance through kelp forests; our movements synchronise in the silent waltz of the deep.