So excited for this chapter! I hope you'll all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing this scene.

Vote, comment, follow! Next update will be on Friday, only two days from now. :D yay!

Much love,

Robin

*

Is this Flirting?

Matt was standing behind the bar and waved at the two guys the moment we stepped inside. Almost I took the coward's way out and ducked out of sight behind Dev or out the door before he could see me but then I changed my mind. I had to act normal if I didn't want them to know what I'd seen on Sharkfell and I really didn't want to tell them unless I was sure they'd understand and help.

Matt saw me hesitate in the doorway and frowned but then his eyes slid over my body and paused on the bruises on my underarms and shins. They were for sure much more dramatic than they'd seemed last night and seemed worse than they felt. When he met my eyes again I thought I saw a hint of concern and a question, as if he was asking with his eyes if I was alright.

At that point Mitch had enough of my standing in the doorway like an idiot and pulled me with him to a booth in the corner. Dev had already parked himself there and opened his bag and taken out his homework. I waved at Matt who was now moving out from behind the bar and heading in our direction and allowed Mitch to sit me down on the bench across from Dev. To my surprise he didn't sit down next to me but sat down with Dev.

Matt had reached us by then, "Hey guys, usual for you two?" He was looking at his brother and Mitch and both nodded and uttered a greeting in return. Then he turned his incredibly dark eyes on me and cocked his head to the side, "And what would you like you little trespasser?" I looked around for the nearest menu, located it and saw that Matt apparently also served several fruit smoothies. "Have you got anything with Mango?" I asked, "It's my favorite." I served him with a wide grin when I saw his eyebrows shoot up.

"Well, for you I guess I can fix something with mango then. You're in luck, today's batch is really tasty." He straightened, slid his hands in his pockets and stalked away. I had to admit that the jean cutoffs he was wearing looked fantastic on him. It didn't even seem out of place to notice the bare feet beneath it, it was after all his bar. He could do as he liked and judging from his tanned toes he rarely wore footwear.

"Matt's cool," Mitch said, "He lets us hang out and do our homework here and we get free drinks and everything." Dev said rather grumpily, "Though maybe he'll charge you." "Of course not," Mitch said immediately, "Matt wouldn't do that!"

"I wouldn't do what?" the man in question asked and for some reason I felt my cheeks go hot. "Charge Dani for her drink," Mitch said immediately and without any shame while Dev just sort of rolled his eyes and elbowed his friend to reign him in.

Matt's eyes shot to me and I thought I saw the beginning of an amused grin there. "No charge? I don't know, you weren't all that nice when I dropped you off at home last night..." he said silkily. "Oh no I'll pay, honest it's no problem, you can't run a business if you give everything away!" He started grinning for real now and I knew he was just messing with me but I had to say it anyway. "And I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to slam your door," I was blushing for real now, "It was just really heavy..."

"And the rest was none of my business, I know," he added quietly. "Drink's free of charge Dani." He was meeting my eyes full on and didn't look away, didn't even blink. It made me feel incredibly uncomfortable and slightly flustered. It was only when Dev sort of scraped his throat that Matt broke the contact and turned to look as his brother. "Here's your cokes gentlemen," he said while placing them and glasses neatly on the table. Now I noticed the tray with drinks for us that he'd been holding.

The yellow and orange concoction left on the tray had to be mine and he placed it on the table in front of me with a big capable hand, the dark lines of his tattoo standing out against his tan skin. "That's a mango smoothie for you then, extra-large because it's your favorite." His eyes met mine again, this time he was closer because he'd leaned in to place the smoothie in front of me. "Promise you'll enjoy it?" he said and I was certain no one missed the hidden meaning in that one.

"Only if your mangoes are as tasty as you said they are," I shot back and he grinned and sauntered off. I hadn't meant to sound flirty but there it was, and I didn't dare look at Mitch and Dev to see what they thought of my response. It was a good thing that this early in the afternoon on a weekday it was still relatively quiet or Matt would have annoyed his customers by hanging out with us. As it was there were only two tables taken and a single table on the terrace outside.

"Soooooo...." Mitch said, "Was it me or did Matt just totally flirt with Dani?" Dev was still in a bad mood it seemed and now seemed to take this chance to pay me back for his earlier faux pas regarding the island. "You know that Matt flirts with everything in a skirt, he's a terrible womanizer. Different woman every week."

"Don't worry, I'm not interested. He's too old anyway..." I lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. "Homework was the plan right?" I asked and started pulling out my books. The boys both took the hint and we worked in silence for a while on our own homework. The drink was as promised really tasty and when Matt caught my eye I pointed at the drink and gave him a thumbs up, which had him smile.

By the time I'd worked through most of my stuff it was nearing dinner time and Matt had supplied us with several drinks throughout the afternoon. "I uhm, should sort of get home guys," I started carefully when I noticed that Dev and Mitch were also putting away their stuff. "Dinner and all that..."

At just that moment Matt appeared beside our table and plopped himself down on the bench next to me. He sat in that typical manly pose, legs wide apart, tattooed arm slung over the back of the booth behind me. Somehow taking up so much space that I felt crowded and couldn't avoid touching him in at least one place or it would be totally obvious that I was moving away from him.

"All done guys?" he asked casually and gestured with a hand at our closed books. "Yup," said Dev, "You eating with us tonight or are you working the evening shift too?" Matt shrugged, "I thought I'd eat here then go for a swim. Mom expecting me?" When Dev shook his head Matt nodded as if that decided everything. "Maybe I'll join you for that swim, we meant to go swimming earlier but we got caught up in the homework..." Dev's eyes shot to me as he said that and I thought for a tense moment that he knew but then decided that it wasn't possible, and I hadn't done anything to delay going for that swim, we'd all forgotten.

"Right, you're always welcome of course," Matt said and then he nodded at Mitch. "Your mom called to let you know that dinner's ready in ten. Better hurry home kid." Mitch immediately jumped up, "Mate, you should have started with that! Now I totally have to run!" He swiped his books into his bag and had barely closed it before dashing out of the bar at top speed without even saying goodbye.

Dev saw my bemused expression and smiled, the first smile since this afternoon that he'd given me. "That's Mitch, he'll remember he didn't say bye tomorrow and be really contrite. I suggest you act like you're really offended, he can't stand that." Since he was clearly a lot warmer again I thought he meant it, letting me in on a joke. I smiled, "I'll remember that, thanks."

I looked at Matt who hadn't moved and then at the much more crowded bar, "Don't you have work to do?" He was blocking my exit and I was feeling uncomfortable with being with the two McLaren's by myself, with no Mitch as a buffer. "Oh, Thorne, my mate's here now and two waitresses see?" he pointed. "My shift's done." There was indeed now more staff present, including a late twenties looking burly guy with a jovial smile and a red beard. "That's Thorne there, behind the bar," Matt indicated when he saw me notice the bearded guy.

"Ah, I see..." I said rather lamely and then demonstratively started packing my books. When that didn't seem to be enough hint for him to get out of my way I slipped out my wallet and said, "Is that guy Mark still at the marina that you know? I ought to go pay him for his time even though I didn't actually make use of his services."

Matt and Dev now exchanged a look and then Dev said, "I'll take you to him." He rose, slung his backpack over his shoulder and said goodbye to his brother. I stood as well but Matt didn't move out of my way, Dev noticed and said quietly, "I'll wait for you outside," and walked away.

Which left me alone with Matt and wedged into a corner booth, stuck between the wall, table and his legs. "I never did ask last night if you were okay? Those bruises look painful today." I was surprised to hear the warm, concerned tone in his voice and bit my lip to stop myself from smiling. "It's fine, I deserve a little bruising for poking around where I shouldn't I suppose. Glad that's all that I got from that trip."

"I suppose," he conceded and stood up at last, "Your dad home now? Did he ask any questions?" I shrugged, "No questions." And immediately felt bad for acting as though my dad had indeed come home since. Matt narrowed his eyes as if he'd caught on to what I wasn't saying but didn't remark and instead stepped aside so I could get up and finally leave.

"Thanks for the drinks, see ya!" I said in greeting and hurried out of the bar, waving from the doorway at Matt's mate Thorne. Dev was standing outside, hands in his pockets and a frown on his handsome face. When I popped up beside him I smiled and immediately said, "You don't have to take me to that charter guy if you don't want you know? I'll find it, though I'll be happy with the company regardless."

He smiled, "No problem Dani. I'll take you to Mark. Though he's a regular at the Stonefish, he'll show up here in about an hour..." "I have to get home soon," I explained, worried he'd start inviting me along for that swim now that he'd warmed up to me again.

Dev led me to the marina and down the right pier and then even introduced me to the guy I'd only had phone contact with. I apologized for his wasted time, thanked him for coming out to Sharkfell even though I was a no show and pointed out my bruises to explain my absence. Mark, the charter guy felt so bad for stranding me that initially he didn't want to take my money but I insisted, explaining that I didn't want him to have to pay for my mistake.

When Dev and I walked away ten minutes later I had the impression that I'd gone up considerably in his estimation. He'd seen me apologize, admit blame for being stranded and I'd talked about it openly on several occasions. Enough I thought to ease his worry about seeing something I shouldn't have in that pool inside the cave.

We said goodbye somewhere in town when our ways parted and Dev added that I was welcome to join them again tomorrow if I liked. I didn't commit obviously but felt warm from the gesture and quite happy when I made my way home. It was only when I'd finished making and eating my dinner that I realized it was going to be dark too soon for me to go out for a swim. I really didn't know what might happen, I didn't dare risk it, risk myself, in the dark.

Instead I took another bath, found myself a mermaid all over again and this time I did test out just how long I could stay underwater. However with my phone stuck inside that cave and no stopwatch I had to resort to counting and kind of got bored with that after five minutes. I had the impression I could have lasted much, much longer than that though and felt utterly exhilarated by the discovery.

*

Would you have risked it? To swim in the dark? I think I would have!

Much love,

Robin