Page 17 of A Siren Song for Christmas

“Inviting you”?Had Mr Berry been inviting him to go to the Christmas marketswithMr Berry?

Cold realisation washed over him. “What?”

He thought over the interaction, of Mr Berry asking if Malachi had an interest in going to the Christmas markets. But it hadn’t been clear that he was inviting Malachi to gowithhim!

Had it? He’d not explicitly stated it, at least. But clearly Mr Berry had meant to imply they go together.

And Malachi had turned him down. Bluntly. “Oh no.”

But he’d thought he was being asked if he wanted to go to the Christmas markets in general! He’d not thought for a second that the young man would be suggesting they go together!

After all, why would Mr Berry want to go to the Christmas markets with Malachi? Malachi was boring. He spent all his time in the Aquatic Horticultural Emporium, except for when he went to the lake. He wasn’t fit for company.

But then he thought through all their interactions. Of Mr Berry’s blushes. His fumbling nervousness. His somewhat clumsy behaviour. The way he stammered and stuttered and got confused when he spoke.

Perhaps the young man didn’t make friends easily. Perhaps he struggled to fit in. Perhaps he was just as friendless and lonely as Malachi. And today Mr Berry had extended the offer of friendship to Malachi.

And Malachi had rudely refused him.

“The idea just has no real appeal to me. I just cannot imagine enjoying myself in such a situation.”

Malachi took off his glasses and rubbed at his temples. “Aylla!” he cursed, using the goddess of the sea’s name.

The poor young man. No wonder he looked so upset.

Malachi walked to the door and opened it. He stepped out onto the sidewalk. He looked around. But of course Mr Berry was nowhere to be seen. He’d probably sprinted off as soon as he got outside, desperate to be away from Malachi and his cruel rejection.

He’d have to wait until tomorrow to see him again and to try to fix things. But would he come back tomorrow to get the elothea seeds? Or had Malachi scared him off so badly that he’d ask one of his siblings to come instead?

Malachi would have to wait until tomorrow to find out.

Chapter

Ten

Trent wrung his hands as he approached the Aquatic Horticultural Emporium.

Why didn’t I ask Leo to do this instead? Or Grady? Or Cas? Or Ordelia? Or any of my nine siblings?

They could have picked up Jasper’s medicine so Trent didn’t have to. Then he wouldn’t have to face Mr Marin again.

But of course, if Trent asked them to, they’d want to know why. Then he’d either have to lie or tell them the truth. Which was that he’d asked Mr Marin on a date and had been harshly refused.

“The idea just has no real appeal to me.”Mr Marin’s response echoed in his ears.

His stomach sank. Trent closed his eyes and took a deep breath, shaking his head and trying to dislodge the words.

Why had Mr Marin had to be so cruel in his refusal?

Whilst Trent had always assumed that it was highly unlikely that Mr Marin would be interested in going on a date with him, he’d not expected the harshness of the siren’s rejection.

Had Trent offended him by suggesting the date? Had he crossed a boundary he didn’t know existed? Did Mr Marin see it as offensive to have someone like Trent ask him?

“I just cannot imagine enjoying myself in such a situation.”

It stung. And because the words kept tumbling through his head, he’d barely slept. His gut had kept roiling as he played through the awful events and Mr Marin’s words over and over and over again until he thought he might vomit.

He’d tossed and turned, getting tangled in the sheets. For once, he’d lain in his bed, thinking of Mr Marin with his cock completely flaccid. He had no desire to jerk himself off thinking of the horticulturist. He doubted he ever would again.