Page 80 of Candy Hearts, Vol. 2

CHAPTER 5

TYSON

I didn’t know what to expect when I agreed to go out with this relative stranger. After all, I’m new to town and have never stepped foot into the Maritime Monsters Institute. I used to peer at it when I went home from the gym, unsure of what shark shifters or kraken would be like.

But now I’m here in the aquarium tunnel with families of humans and shifters alike. The fish pass above us, and mermaids and mermen swim along with them, dramatically spinning for show. The kids applaud, and so do I. I’ve never witnessed so many monsters in one place, let alone marine-life monsters.

And I kissed one. I’m on a date with a cute shifter guy whose kisses make me feel alive. Ardsley’s touch is electrifying—literally—and kissing him felt beyond amazing. Sure, I wanted him to get physical, but I didn’t think he’d take the bait. Now I’m wondering if something real is growing between us.

When I walk back to his table, I notice a crowd of kids gathered around Ardsley. They’re coloring on pieces of large plexiglass, and the little ones seem to be into it. The kids are cute, but not nearly as adorable as the tall brunet dude who beams at them with every word. He holds up picture books of eels and other monsters. He was so awkward at the gym, but as he explains marine biology, his confidence shines through.

“Are we all set?” he asks, five minutes later. The kids all nod, and I notice the larger pane on the ground above some black tarp. They all place their pieces, then Ardsley stands at the very edge. Once we’ve all moved away, a crowd forms, and my date looks up and points. Karlo is off to the side, and he gives a thumbs-up.

Next, Ardsley kneels down just as the synth music starts up. The lights dim and the familiar starting notes to “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd play overhead. What’s going on?

Just as I wonder that, Ardsley’s skin turns purple, but he still has his human features. Then, the eel-man reaches down and gently taps the edge of the larger glass. Lights cascade down the two-yard-long sheet, and the crowd around him gasps. The multicolored hues of pink, yellow, blue, and green all light up, illuminating the children’s drawings.

He’s made electrical glass art with the palms of his hands. In time with the lyrics of the song, he lights up left, then right, tiny volts that cascade down. They’re little fireworks on the ground, and the kids couldn’t be more impressed.

Neither could I. After the first ten seconds, I stop watching the lightshow and look at Ardsley. This monster, this man whose life I stumbled into by mistake, is so damn endearing, confident, and impressive. He uses his eel powers to entertain, and his knowledge to educate the community about marine life. He’s shy and awkward, but when it comes to his job helping his fellow monsters, he’s thrilling. He’s sweet with his pops and great with kids. He’s spectacular.

Ardsley Allen, the eel-shifter, is one-of-a-kind. He’s enchanting.

When he’s done, there’s a thunderous applause. Then, Emma announces some sort of dance floor activity. The music shifts, and within seconds, kids line up to take part. Shifters lead the young ones into some sort of fish-based shuffle, while parents take pictures from the sidelines. They laugh, and I can’t help but clap along.

After a minute, I turn back to see Ardsley packing up the smaller plexiglass. I bend over and assist, saying, “Here, let me.”

“I got it,” he replies with a smile.

“But I’m your date.” I shrug and stack the glass on the table. “I’d like to be gentlemanly.”

“You already are.” He bites his lip and that shyness overtakes him again. He looks down to focus on cleaning each plate for presumably the next batch of kids. “You’ve…helped me a lot tonight.”

“It was nothing.” I smile as I wipe next to him. No one’s paying attention to us as the crowd dances and sways to the beat. “You did it all. You’re…one-of-a-kind, Ardsley.”

He pauses, staring at me with those wide eyes. I want to run my fingers through his brown hair and kiss him again. I want to take us to a place nice and quiet and get to know his body. I want to make Ardsley let go.

He snickers. “You’re only buttering me up ’cause you feel bad about breaking my lock.”

“I mean it.”

“You’re here because of a wrong number situation.”

“But that’s not why I stayed.”

He freezes again and we both place our glass plates down. “Tyson…”

“I’m…having a really good time with you tonight.” My heart hammers up into my throat as the gravity between us grows stronger. The music thumps around us, and despite the full museum, it feels like we’re alone.

Fighting the nerves, I slide up closer and place my hand over his. His shocked expression contrasts with the warmth of his hand. We’re not faking this connection for any audience, and I think Ardsley knows it.

“Tyson, I—” His words die off and I stare at his pink lips.

“I could have given you money to buy a new lock and walked away. But I didn’t.” I look down and gradually interlace my fingers with his. There’s no electricity this time, only the spiritual sparks between me and the guy I’m feeling, the guy I want. “I chose to do all this because…there’s something sweet about you, Ardsley Allen. I’m attracted to you, yes, but…”

I look into his soulful brown eyes, face inches from mine. “Tell me…tell me you feel it, too?”

He licks his lips and gives me a tenuous nod. Then, in a surreal moment, he pulls my face in and kisses me again. We take our time, exploring each other’s mouths, while the world passes by around us. When my tongue tastes his, I begin to feel hot under the collar. This eel-shifter knows how to kiss.

When I pull off, I smile, and he beams at me.

“I’m having a good time tonight with you, too, Tyson,” he says breathlessly.

I run my fingers through his pristine brown hair. “If I invite you to my place…would that be too forward?”

Ardsley turns around, making sure no one is near us, then back to me. “I still have an hour here, but…”

I bump my shoulder into his. “I can wait.”

He chuckles and grins again, a pink warmth spreading across his cheeks. “Thanks. For being the best fake date I could have asked for.”

He goes back to wiping a plate, and I lean into his ear. “Can’t wait to take you back to my place and make tonight very, very real,” I purr.

His eyebrows jump, and I snicker. “I’m gonna go get some punch,” I sing as I walk away. I only turn around once to make sure…yup. Ardsley is watching me as I cross the room. This night keeps getting better and better.