Page 18 of A Siren Song for Christmas

There was too much shame now.

Trent definitely had no desire to explain what had happened to his siblings. They’d feel bad for him and probably be angry with Mr Marin on his behalf. They’d take over getting the medicine and also suss out the man who’d insulted their baby brother. Maybe they’d even confront Mr Marin. It would make it all so much worse!

No. Best not to involve his siblings. He’d just keep going himself.

And his siblings had their own lives. Their own responsibilities. He didn’t want to bother them with having to pick up the medicine. He would just suck it up and do this simple task.

Which meant having to face Mr Marin day after day after day until Jasper got better.

Trent hoped Mr Marin would be kind today. Before yesterday, he’d not believed that the siren could crush a man’s hopes with such heartless precision.

With every step he took, the muscles in his body tensed. He turned the corner and approached the emporium. He held his breath. The shop grew larger and larger, looming before him. He fixed his gaze on the door.

And then Trent simply kept walking. He walked straight past the emporium and continued down the street. After several moments, he stopped, staring ahead.

Well, that wasn’t the plan.

He turned and walked back. But when he should have stopped and entered, he once again just strode past. Again he stopped a short distance away. He dropped his head into his hand. He groaned.

Trent just needed to go in and get it over with. Then hopefully he could get past his foolish embarrassment and his crush.

He turned. He walked towards the door. He swallowed. His footsteps slowed. He lifted his hand, preparing to reach for the handle.

Then at the last second, he turned and walked away. A few steps later he stopped. He stared ahead.

“Come on, Trent! You can do this.” He turned on the spot. Then he paced in a circle. “Just go in and out. Order the seeds. No extra questions. No Merry Christmases. Just in and out. The embarrassment will pass eventually. You’ll see. But you have to make a?—”

“Mr Berry,” a melodic, accented voice called out.

Trent’s head snapped up.

Mr Marin stood by the open door. “I’ve been keeping an eye out for you today. I noticed you out here.”

Cauldrons and clusterfucks! No!

Mr Marin hadseenTrent pace back and forth outside the shop. He’dseenhim talking to himself and trying to convince himself to enter. And Trent thought he couldn’t feel more mortified. He wanted to melt into a puddle and disappear.

“Do you wish to come in?” Mr Marin asked. “It is quite chilly.”

No! I want to flee and never return!But instead, Trent just stammered, “Ah… Yes… Thanks.” And he followed Mr Marin inside.

The room felt hot. But that was probably because his whole body felt like it was on fire. It wasn’t bad enough that Mr Marin had cruelly rejected him yesterday. Now he’d seen Trent acting a fool. Could it get any worse?

Mr Marin walked around the counter. He pulled out the tank with the elothea grass.

Trent, like a scared cat, hung back for several moments before slowly creeping forward.

Mr Marin rested his hands and tentacles on the side of the tank. A slight frown marked his brows. He didn’t move to pick the seeds. Mr Marin cleared his throat. “Mr Berry, I wish to discuss our conversation from yesterday.”

Fucking frog guts! Why?Why would he want that? Did he want to make Trent suffer more? Trent shook his head, gaze fixed on the wood of the counter. “I really don’t see any need for that.”

Mr Marin paused. “If you’d indulge me a moment, I would prefer if we did.”

Trent’s shoulders sagged. “Okay.”

“Yesterday,” Mr Marin began. But then he paused, as if not sure how to continue. He started again, “Yesterday you asked if I wished to go to the Christmas markets. Is that correct?”

“Yes,” Trent whispered. What sort of emotional torture was this? Was this some sort of mind game? Maybe sirens were cruel after all.