Epilogue- Reed
I’M HUFFING AS I bound up the stairs to MM Institute.
When I reach the door, I try to straighten out my suit and breathe in the late summer air.
School has just started for Aisen―I can’t believe it’s his sophomore year―but I’m here for his extracurricular activity.
It’s a big deal, and I’m glad Skyler was able to drive him here. Now I get to witness his important day.
After making my way through the doors, I quickly stride to the entrance and pay the admission fee.
Then, I walk through the dark aquarium area and get to the large tank.
Several patrons are ambling about, pointing at fish.
I spot Skyler looking extra handsome in the blue glow of the tanks, so I slide up to my boyfriend. “Hey, sweetheart. Did I miss it?”
Kissing him on the cheek, he pushes up his glasses in that adorable way. “No, he’s about to start. But I can’t believe you made it. I thought you had work.”
“I had a couple of metaphorical fires to put out. But it’s a Saturday; the minutia of the hospital can wait until Monday. This is important.”
“Well, all his little friends are here.” Skyler points to where a few of Aisen’s classmates—some monster and some human—are waiting. “So we have a good turnout.”
“Oh, I hope it all goes well,” I say. I nervously scan the large tank before us. “And I hope he doesn’t get embarrassed by his old uncle being here.”
“You’re not old. And just say it, you’re his old man.” Skyler kisses me, and I cuddle up to his side. It’s hard to believe a year ago I was holding back from asking out this sexy, intelligent man.
A moment later, his pocket buzzes, and I break apart from him. Skyler rolls his eyes and picks up the video phone. “Hey, guys.”
“Oh, did we miss it?” The unmistakable sound of Mama Dillinger’s voice fills the air.
“No, Mom.”
“Did Reed make it?” I know it’s his dad’s voice, so I lean into the view of the phone.
“Hi, Mr. Dillinger,” I say with a grin.
“Oh, it’s Reed!” Mama Dillinger says.
“How are you, son?” I notice Gramps and Skyler’s sister in the background. The four of them are crowding into the view of one phone, and I think it’s sweet. Skyler still thinks they’re embarrassing, but they love and support both of us, and for that, I’m eternally grateful.
“I’m well. I didn’t think you’d want to watch Aisen’s show.”
“How could we miss it?” Gramps says.
“I see my brother hasn’t scared you away yet,” Eartha says with a facetious smirk.
“Eartha,” Skyler replies in a warning tone.
“Not happening,” I say, cuddling closer to him.
“That’s a relief. You deserve a win, little brother.” Eartha smiles, and the whole family is in awe of us.
Before I can say more, the lights in the large hallway dim. “It’s starting,” Skyler whispers into the phone. He turns around his screen and, after taking out my phone, I gaze up at the large tank. In seconds, a familiar red octopus floats down from the very top of the twelve-foot wall of glass.
Aisen juggles some seashells in the water, then shifts into his human form, my fifteen-year-old nephew in a wet suit.
After waving, he shifts into his kraken form and proceeds to swim around the tank.
He picks up some horseshoe crabs to show off to the audience, puts them down, and swims to the top and pokes his head out.
“How are we doing, Maritime Monsters Institute?” His words are met with thunderous applause.
“My name is Aisen, your monster intern, and I’m really tightly knit with some of the creatures of the deep.
” A smattering of chuckles fills the room.
“But you didn’t come here to see a cephalopod shifter.
You came to see real octopi. Want me to bring them out? ”
A few people clap, and he smirks and leans over the glass.
“I can’t hear you.” His friends roar in delight as everyone applauds.
With that, he beams at me and splashes back down into the water.
He proceeds to show off the various octopi and other creatures in this main tank, occasionally popping his kraken head up to spout facts.
He’s never been this charismatic before, and I don’t think I stop smiling the whole time.
Forty minutes later, Aisen walks from behind the tank, fully dressed, drying his shaggy black hair with an MM Institute towel.
“You did so well, joka!” I give him a half-hug and rub his damp hair.
“Thanks. I thought you had work.”
“I didn’t wanna miss this!”
“I’ll be doing this every weekend.”
“But this is your first time.”
“And you’re getting paid now,” Skyler says. “Mr. Big-shot-intern.”
Aisen chuckles. “Thanks, Mr. Dillinger.”
“Yo, Aisen!” The crew of five teenagers saunter up to him. My nephew stands up taller and high-fives the one monster boy.
“Hey, guys. Thanks for coming.”
“It was dope!” One teenager says, and they all laugh softly. “These guys have never been to the touch tanks. Wanna come with?”
Aisen turns to me, and I move toward Skyler. “Go. Have fun,” I say.
The kids leave, but not before I hear one ask Aisen, “Who’s the guy in the suit? Your dad?”
“Yeah,” he replies. “He’s a kraken like me.” His words make my heart swell as Skyler and I turn around to head for the lobby.
“Ugh, I wish my parents were monsters, too,” the kid replies, and they all laugh.
That fizzy feeling in my heart doesn’t dissipate until we get to the café. “I heard what he said, too,” Skyler says, taking my hand.
“It’s…not a big deal,” I say as my eyes sting.
“You can’t fool me, Sung.” Skyler bumps my hip, and I chuckle.
“He’s a teenager and doesn’t mind being seen with me for more than ten seconds. So what?”
“So, you’re amazing,” Skyler says. We stop, and he squeezes my hands. “You deserve all the credit. For raising a good boy, but also being the best boyfriend I could ask for.”
Well damn. I lean forward and kiss him slowly, like I have all the time in the world. “I was powerless to resist you, Skyler Dillinger.”
He caresses my cheek. “Thanks for making room in your life for a dude like me.”
“Thanks for making every facet of my life better.”
When I kiss him again, we’re interrupted by a few people jeering.
“Get a room,” Ardsley says with a challenging stare. He’s walking hand-in-hand with Tyson, and they pass by us toward a café table with Karlo and RJ right behind them.
“You’re one to talk, Mr. Engaged,” Skyler says, and we all laugh. It’s his first time seeing Ardsley in person since Tyson popped the question, and I know how excited he is for his bestie. When we sit down, Skyler puts his hands out. “So…let’s see the rings!”
“Yeah, gimme gimme,” Karlo says.
“They’re not diamonds or anything fancy,” Tyson remarks with a doleful tone.
“They’re perfect,” Ardsley retorts, rubbing his boyfriend—no, fiancé’s—shoulder. “The ring isn’t important.”
“I was informed that engagement rings are crucial to the courtship process,” RJ says.
“They’re not crucial, RJ,” Ardsley says. He takes out Tyson’s hand and gazes into the man’s eyes. “Well, not the most crucial. The man they’re attached to is the greatest treasure of all.”
“Aw,” Skyler and I coo in unison. While Ardsley tells us about the engagement, I glance around. I’m sitting with my new friends, both shifter and human. Monsters and humans are getting lunch, and we’re surrounded by pictures of ocean creatures. Aisen showed off all his forms, so why can’t I?
I shift into kraken form and cuddle closer to Skyler as Ardsley talks. No one bats an eye, and it feels liberating to let my kraken out. I drape one tentacle over Skyler’s shoulder, and he leans on it with a smile.
In this moment, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. Falling for Skyler, having him move in with me, going on vacation, and little moments like these all continue to make me more fulfilled in ways I never thought possible.
I smile and Skyler, and he eyes me. “What?” he asks with a grin.
I kiss his cheek. “Nothing. You just make me the happiest.”
He pets my tentacle and leans closer to me. “You make me the happiest, too.”
And I intend to do just that for the rest of our days.