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''One more hour.'' Zane muttered under his breathe, wiping a damp table cloth across the marble benchtop of Rikki's Cafe's front counter. The mantlepiece clock on the far right side of the café seemed to be moving time along at an achingly slow place. Zane could have sworn it had been at least three hours since he'd checked at the time had said 8.30pm, yet now it only said 9pm. He couldn't kick the customers out and start closing up for the night until 10pm.
Cutting through the noise of smoothies blending and tipsy patrons chatting too loudly and generic pop music from stereo Zane had set up as it was the band's night off came the sound of the phone. Obnoxious and repetitive rings blared across from behind the counter, refusing to be ignored.
''Sophie, get the phone.'' Zane ordered. Sophie obliged, though with a roll of her eyes and a huff of discontent. She was still very much interested in her boss, but these days she couldn't even get a smile from him, let alone persuade him to dinner and a movie. Zane had too much on his mind for dating. There was the café, which had struggled ever since it had lost Rikki's touch, and then Rikki herself, which, try as he might, he just couldn't let go of.
''Well, he's busy.'' Zane heard Sophie grumble just as he attended to a waiting customer. He attempted to split his focus, trying to calculate the patron's change and listen in at the same time. ''I'm not sure if you're aware of this, Bella, but he runs a café on his own now. He doesn't have time for Rikki to string him around. He's not her puppy. They broke up. That's where it's at.''
Zane slammed a handful of notes and rattling silver change on the counter, and practically leapt over the centre bench to reach Sophie.
''Give me the phone.'' He held his hand outstretched. It was a demand, not a gentle request, and there was no room for negotiation.
''It's Bella.'' Sophie explained, looking annoyed. ''She just said ''put Zane on, tell him it's about Rikki''. I tried to explain that you're busy but-''
''Give me the phone.'' Zane repeated, cutting Sophie off. Sophie hesitated.
''Look.'' She said, lowering her eyelashes in that way she always did when she was attempting to flirt with Zane. ''Don't let her treat you like this. What, she gets to walk out on you, dump the whole café on you, and then just call you up when she needs you? It's just not-''
''Sophie, if I have to ask you again…'' Zane's limited patience was running thin, and quickly. His hand was still out, expectantly, waiting for receive the phone. Sophie gave another breathy sigh and dropped the phone into his palm, then marched off sulkily. Zane disappeared inside his office, ensuring the door was properly shut, before he raised it to his ear.
''Bella? What's going on? Is Rikki okay?''
''Um… sorry for interrupting you at work.'' Bella sounded uncomfortable. ''I just, I didn't have your mobile number.''
''It's fine.'' Zane dismissed quickly. He was becoming more and more nervous over the prospect of Rikki being in trouble. After all, he knew very well what tonight was. He'd resisted the urge to contact Rikki and ask if she wanted his help with the full moon, because he'd recognised that by smothering her, he was only driving her further away. ''Rikki – is she okay?''
''I'm not sure. She came down with full moon fever and took off. We can't go after her because if we get moonstruck too we'll be no good to her. Will doesn't want to follow her in case something happens to us while he's gone. We didn't know who else to call.''
There was a time when Zane would have rolled his eyes and groaned, a time when he would have been tempted to tell the girls they need to grow up and learn to manage their mermaid dramas on their own, because he has responsibilities he can't just abandon for them. But that was also the time when Zane had taken Rikki for granted, the time before he'd had to watch the love of his life slam a door in his face. This time, Zane was already gathering his wallet and boat keys.
''Will she be at Mako Island?" He asked, not even pausing so consider whether he was able to leave the café at this moment. The staff would just have to deal with it – this qualified as an emergency.
''I'd assume so.''
''I'm leaving now, I'll be-'' Zane had meant to say ''right there'', but he'd been cut short by a sudden sight outside of the office window. Frizzy blonde hair, messily strung in two braids, catching in the wind. Moonlight bouncing off of a signature silver locket, and dancing through a set of eyes he once thought were the brightest shade of blue he's ever seen. Torn shorts that he'd know anywhere, because he was the one who bought them.
''No, she's not at Mako.'' He told Bella, dropping his belongings back on the desk. ''She's here. I can see out the window.''
''Oh.'' Bella sounded surprised. ''Okay, well-''
''I've gotta go, before she gets away.'' Zane's words were rushed, almost slurred. ''I'll call you later.''
''Zane wait!'' Bella shrieked, before he had the chance to hit the END CALL button. ''Be careful. Rikki won't be herself. She'll be a completely different person. It'll almost be like she's drunk. Just-''
''Yeah, I got it. Bye Bella.''
Zane yanked the back office door open so hurriedly, that he nearly knocked Rikki in the head, unaware she was standing directly on the other side.
''Shit! Sorry.'' He apologised. His breathe hitched, partially from the fright of Rikki appearing so suddenly, partially because of how beautiful she looked in the evening light.
''Woah, easy there, cutie.'' Rikki bit her lip cheekily. She began fingering one of her braids, her eyes glowing with mystery and excitement. ''I want you just as badly, but there's no need to clock me with the door.''
Zane blinked a few times, unsure of how to respond. Rikki's manner was flirtatious, seductive, girly. He'd never seen her in such a way, and that was certainly the first time he'd heard ''cutie'' from her.
It'll almost be like she's drunk. Bella's words replayed in his head. He had to stay focused. Rikki was not Rikki tonight, and he needed to keep that in the back of his mind at all times.
''You should come in.'' He held the door wide open. Rikki let out a high pitch giggle.
''I'd love too.'' She sauntered in, hips swinging, full of confidence. She threw herself over Zane's desk, legs crossed at the knees, facial expression implying everything she wasn't saying.
''Rikki…'' Zane began, completely lost as to what he was supposed to say. Despite dating Rikki for two years, he'd never actually been around her when she was moonstruck. How was he supposed to treat it?
''Hmmmm….'' Rikki hummed as she glanced around the office. She was weighing it up, deciding. Her face set in determination, a decision reached, as she leapt back off the desk. ''Nope, not here.''
She moved back over to Zane, and intertwined her fingers with his own. Zane knew he should shake her off, but he'd missed the feeling of Rikki's tiny hand encased in his so badly. There was nothing in the world he wanted less than to let go. They were just holding hands, right? It was innocent.
''Let's go to Mako Island.'' Rikki whispered, leaning right in, so the words were passed directly into his ear.
''For what?'' Zane swallowed, hard.
Rikki laughed under her breathe. ''As if you don't know.'' She continued in her low voice, both sexy and sweet, their precious secret. Zane took a deep breathe in as Rikki tentatively touched her lips to his ear. The sensation sent shivers all the way down his spine. He formed the words ''Rikki, stop'' in his mind, but somewhere between his brain and his mouth, the got stuck, dissolving on his tongue and never passing his lips. Rikki continued to place kisses, subtle but full of implication, across his jaw line, on the nape of his neck, on the tip of his nose, until finally, they met with his mouth.
At first, Zane was like a statue. He was caught between the morals of knowing how wrong this was and the fuels of his burning desire, resulting him making no effort to get Rikki to stop, but also no effort to engage or to kiss her back. Her arms wrapped around his neck, but his stayed glued to his side, a tinman with no oil.
When Rikki's tongue began to cross his teeth, Zane lost the battle against his will power entirely. He opened his mouth, granting her access, and pulled her in to him, as close as he could get her. He backed her roughly up against the desk, knocking several things over in the process. His hands found their hair, and small moan escaped him, as he relished in the feeling of having his fingers woven through the familiar wisps of curly, untameable blonde.
He'd almost pulled one of her braids completely out as she reached for something to help steady herself, and found a glass of water on the desk. The second she touched it, a loud rupturing noise startled the pair out of their antics and they rebounded off the desk.
As soon as Zane saw the glass, rattling furiously with water bubbling over, he knew it was going to explode. He shoved Rikki forcefully out of the way, causing her to stumble and fall on the other side of the office. The water skyrocketed out of the glass and Zane copped the brunt of it, scalding water falling over his arm. He yelped and grabbed a blanket from the couch to dry himself.
''Shit, that was hot.'' He hissed. He looked at Rikki, still on the floor, looking more amused than anything. ''Did you do that?''
Rikki smirked.
''Woops.'' She gave a playful shrug of her shoulders.
Zane sighed. That was the wake-up call, the blaring sign reading ''Hey, idiot, she's moonstruck, stop making out with her and do something.''
''Alright, you need to go home.'' Zane was already crossed with himself, feeling as though he'd taken advantage of Rikki. He'd wanted to believe that this was a sign Rikki still wanted him, missed him and craved him in the way he did her, and the full moon was just pulling it all to the surface, but he knew that probably wasn't true. He only hoped Rikki didn't remember their streamy office encounter in the morning.
''Why?'' Rikki pouted, over-dramatically. ''We were just getting to the good part.''
''You're moonstruck.''
Zane turned and dropped to his knees, wrapping the broken shards of glass up in the blanket. He winced whenever his fingers graced water, which was still unbearably hot. Regularly heated water would have begun to rapidly cool the second it touched the floor, but this was water heated by a moonstruck mermaid. The sound of the main office door knob turning caused him to look over his shoulder.
Rikki stood with the door open, already half out. ''Catch me if you can!" She cried, delighted, and with that she was gone.
''Rikki!'' Zane dropped the blanket containing the scooped up mess, hearing it shatter even more. ''Rikki! Come back!''
Rikki sprinted through the café, laughing the entire time, feeling like a little kid playing tag. She dodged the glances of confused customers and the glares of a both disdained and surprised Sophie as she bolted out the front door.
''Rikki!'' Zane was hot on her heels. He'd almost made it to the door, when Sophie slid in front of him. He dug his heels in to slow himself down before he crashed straight in to her and the pile of plates she was carrying, like a car slamming on it's breaks at short notice.
''What, Sophie?!'' He yelled. ''I have to go!"
''But you don't.'' Sophie insisted. ''If she wants to play games and act lie a three year old, let her. Besides, you can't just walk out on your staff-''
By this point, Zane had worked out away to get around Sophie, and was outside and after his ex-girlfriend. Sophie let out another groan of annoyance, not caring that it attracted the attention of several people around her.
By the time Zane got out onto the front lawn, Rikki had vanished entirely. The way the water just outside the café was rippling slightly, only in one place, in spite of the perfectly clear night, told Zane all he needed to know.
He turned on his heels and headed back inside. Sophie seemed pleased, instantly, but before she could even begin her speech on how glad she was that he came to his senses, he'd marched back into his office and slammed the door. He popped the lock to stop her from following him and found the keys to the Zodiac.
This time, Zane went out the back door, to avoid Sophie and any other staff members that might ask questions. He sprinted around the café's façade and to the jetty, where his loyal speedboat was tied up.
''Please be at Mako Island.'' He said, to nobody in particularly, as he started the Zodiac up. ''And please be safe.''
Okay lovelies, please let me know what you thought of this chapter, and then I'll update the final part! Thank you again for the support and the feedback, it's highly appreciated!