There is no way she’s right, especially considering Ross has been so adamant about helping me get back with D. “I don’t know, Kavya. Besides, we just met. It’s not time for bone talk.”

“I’m not saying to pounce out of nowhere like some horny jungle cat. I’m just saying keep an open mind. See what happens. Netflix and chill.”

“Okay, I’ve got to go now, bye.” I hang up while Kavya’s mid-cackle.

I put my phone in my pocket and look up.

Oh shit. Kavya might be right.

Because I swear Ross is looking at my thighs.

     Ross     

I cannot stop staring at Sean’s legs. Ever since we walked out of Beach Burritos, I can’t help but notice the way his thighs fill his shorts. The red fabric clings to his legs, which have a solid layer of hair covering his white skin. They look strong, unmovable, powerful. I feel a stirring in my gut, excited guppies flitting around in there. I’ve never been around legs before, and the Elders never mentioned that human appendages could be so . . . captivating? Maybe humans have some kind of unknown magic of their own, because Sean’s thick thighs definitely won’t let me go. I look down and see that my legs are much skinnier, more the undefined shape of an eel than the noticeable masterpieces that Sean has.

Blue below, I just said human legs are a masterpiece. One day on land and I’m already becoming a human sympathizer? Or at least a leg luster? What’s wrong with me?

“Well, here we are,” Sean says. “84 Pearl Street.”

He motions toward an ivy hedge that reaches so tall you can’t see what’s on the other side. A good thing too, because the last thing I need is for someone to peek in the window when I’m taking a bath and see my fin. The hedge is at a corner, a bright blue door sitting in the middle of all the greenery on the Pearl side. I push on it, placing my palms flat against the blue wood, but it doesn’t budge.

“That’s the doorknob there,” Sean says, pointing to a gold oval just a foot below my hands. I can’t believe I already forgot about doorknobs, but in my defense, humans are so unnecessarily complicated. We can just swim into wide-mouthed caves or open waters and don’t have to worry about things like knobs. Sean grabs it, but the door stays shut. “It’s locked. Do you have the key?”

I roll my eyes. “I don’t need a key.” I shoo Sean’s hand aside, then turn the knob effortlessly.