Selkie Boyfriend: Mikky (special preview)

I hadn’t been on vacation since I was a teenager. Ever since then it’s been staycations or whatever weird name it is for “I have paid time off but no money to travel”. Most of my time has either been devoted to school or work. And yes, technically, this is a business trip, but there is still plenty of time between meetings and begging for funding to pretend I am on vacation. After all, we’re on the beach and it reminds me of home.

A couple of years ago, my best friend Cece and I started our own makeup line. It began with some skincare products, but we both loved makeup so much and were desperate to see some inclusivity. It was a lot of hard work, sleepless nights, and lots of rice and beans for dinner, but our first launch went remarkably well. The crowdfunding went exceptional, but now, in order to expand and upgrade our offices we need more, dare I say, corporate funding.

“We’re both cute,” Cece assured me. “We’ve got the success of our first launch behind us. We have good reviews. We’re cute-”

“You said that already,” I huffed.

“That’s because no one else says it enough.” Cece adjusted her top as we stepped into the elevator. She then played with her hair in the mirrors that made up the walls. “Who thought putting mirrors in elevators was a good idea.”

“It makes them look bigger so people don’t get claustrophobic.” I was trying not to, but I was checking out myself too. Cece and I had worked on each others hair all last night and then this morning just to make them look nice. Her box braids were perfect, but my fingers no longer were. My hair was slicked back into a big poof with one of my mother’s scarves wrapped around the crown of my head. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that I was doing this for her. After all, our makeup brand was named after her Selenis.

The elevator dinged, opening up to reveal a long hallway stretched out before us. “That makes me nervous,” Cece muttered.

“It’ll be okay,” I assured her. “Lots of good things wait at the end of long hallways. Right?”

Cece gave me an unsure look.

“Right,” I nodded. “Lets go.”

This meeting had been in the works for sometime. We had been trying to get a meeting with this company after we heard how they had supported several other businesses with people of color in the lead. Near the end of the hallway there was a small receptionist desk with a woman behind it. She looked shocked to see us as we approached.

“We have a meeting with Mr.-” I started but she quickly cut me off.

“You’re early!” She gasped with alarm. “I don’t have your meeting down until seven!”

Cece and I exchange weary looks. Cece takes the lead, propping her hand upon the desk. “It is seven.,” she said with a smile. “Now I don’t know about you-”

“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry,” the poor thing is scrambling and trying to not panic. “I have you down for seven in the evening! Mr. Rodrick was planning on having a dinner meeting with you.”

Cece turns and looks at me blanky. “I got up early!”

“I know I know calm-” I pulled her aside and approached the desk. “Really? PM?” i whispered.

“I’m so sorry Ms. Medina,” she said. “I guess there were some lines crossed on both ends. If you like, I can get you breakfast delivered to your rooms, or get you into Blueberry Luna.”

“That might be nice,” I said with a nod. “We were both so nervous we barely ate anything at the hotel.”

She smiled brightly. “Blueberry Luna is wonderful, but it does always get busy. I’ll call ahead and get you a reservation.”

“Thank you, I suppose we’ll see you again this evening.” I grabbed Cece’s elbow as we left. In the elevator again we were both quiet and unsure.

“Damn,” Cece huffed. “I was ready to rip off that band aid then enjoy the rest of my day. Now we gotta stress the rest of the day.”

“We’ll enjoy our day. Go swimming, see the beach,” I sighed, although I was feeling a touch defeated too.

We went to the restaurant which was on the beach. It had this cozy hybrid atmosphere of part cabana and part cottage. We were seated instantly, given probably the best seat in the whole place. The food was to die for, and to our surprise our tab was comped by mr. Rodrick for the mistake.

Feeling a bit more lighthearted after a good meal, Cece and I decided we’d go down to the beach. I wasn’t planning to go swimming, but just in case we did I put a leave-in conditioner in my hair. I laid out on the beach, looking out over the water and remembering my childhood back home.

I smiled brightly, easing back upon the towel when a shadow was cast over me. Looking up, I saw a naked man upon the big rock above me. He was wet and pushing his wet hair away from his face. I don’t think he noticed me below at all. I wanted to say something, but I was rendered silent by the absolute display of it all. He was a lot of man to take in. Tall, broad back, thick arms and thighs, lots of tattoos on his bronze skin. He turned slightly and I think that’s when he saw me.