Evergreen (Mer Tales, Book 2) (10 page)

“Fin.” Panic came across the line as she swallowed hard. “I think your blood is still running in my system, or trapped in my muscles. I—I’ve never been that fast before.”

I smirked. “I think it’s all you, Ginger.”

“Then the promise? Could that have made me swim like a fish?”

“Maybe, but then again I’ve never met a promised swimmer before.” I withheld a laugh unsuccessfully.

“This isn’t funny. I’m sure someone somewhere is going to demand a drug test and what if they find fish blood in my system?”

“That sounds sexy.”

“I’m serious.”

“I’ll ask, but I doubt it. Although, that would make sense. What if all Olympic swimmers are promised?” I smiled as an old familiar wish came to mind about swimming in the surf with her a while back. “We should check the athletes for Band-Aid covered fingers.”

“This isn’t funny. I’m being serious.”

“And so am I, but I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”

She huffed, then sighed. “Do you think there are other land-dwelling mers on land? Like us?” She finally relaxed, and all I wanted was to crush her to me and smother her with kisses.

“I don’t think so, maybe. But isn’t this what you’ve always wanted? To win?”

“Yeah… but, I kinda feel like I’ve cheated, like I didn’t do it on my own.”

Her words knocked my happiness down a notch. I knew the feeling well—after every time I’d persuaded someone, in fact.

“Do you swim just as fast with legs?”

I snorted. “I don’t know. I’ve never timed myself.”

“You’re such a brat,” she said, the happiness returning in her voice. “I can’t describe how exhilarating it was. I thought for sure I’d swim my worst time since I hadn’t practiced consistently the past few weeks. But after that race, my parents and my coach were freaked. They want me to try out for the Olympics team in June. It’s always been my dream to swim in the Olympics, but now, since we’ve met, I don’t know. It’ll delay me from coming to Florida.”

I pushed out a long sympathetic sigh because I’d like nothing more than to celebrate next to her—but I knew, with everything, her success brought us further apart. “Maybe I can go with you, wherever that is. I don’t want you to have any regrets. We’ll take it one step at a time.”

She sighed. If it weren’t for complete amnesia, I’d lose my fins right this second to be with her forever. She still thought I could make that choice. Now wasn’t a good time to tell her the truth.

“Fin?” Galadriel pounded on my door as she tried the knob. “Let’s go for a walk.”

I cupped the phone, afraid Ash would hear her voice. “I’m busy. I’ll be out later.”

“Who’s that?” Ash asked, brimming with curiosity.

“Um, it’s no one. Just the King’s annoying daughter.”

“I heard that, Fin,” Galadriel barked and kicked the door with her foot. “Ouch. You big jerk.”

I cringed, hoping Ash’s human ears weren’t as keen as mine. I’d make my next call far away from the house.

Ash’s curiosity peaked. “She’s there?”

“Yeah, for a little bit.”

“Oh.”

“She’ll be gone soon, but not soon enough. I’m already sick of her annoying, pretentious, and bossy self,” I said, speaking louder than I should.

“You’re rude,” Galadriel said from down the hall.

I smiled.

“I didn’t know she’d be there,” Ash said.

“Yeah. She’s—uh. It’s complicated. She was supposed to convert, but she keeps changing her mind, so….”

“She did? Why?”

“She’s afraid she’ll be all alone. Something about wanting to find Mr. Darcy or something. She’s seriously a nut.”

“Oh.” Ash grew quiet and I panicked. I’d finally patched things with my sweet girl again just to have Galadriel steal her away. This was exactly why I didn’t want to tell Ash about Galadriel in the first place.

“So, what else is going on today?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.

“Besides talking to you as long as I can, nothing, I guess. Just homework. Georgia wants to see a movie later tonight. Did you get the waterproof case yet?”

“I ordered it on the road,” I said proudly. “It should be here in a few days.”

“That’ll be nice so we can at least say goodnight when it’s dark on both coasts.”

A grin pressed on my lips and I imagined myself floating on my back, looking at the stars as we talked all night—or until my battery died. “Yeah, that will be nice.”

A muffled rap through her phone line stole away the vision. “Ash, you’ve got chores to do today. How much longer? Are you talking to Colin?”

I sat upright on my futon. I could have sworn her mom said Colin’s name. “What did she say?”

“NO!” She yelled, blasting my eardrum. “I’m not… I’m talking to Georgia and I’ll be out in a second.”

“It sounded like your mom said Colin,” I corrected.

“No.” Ash’s voice became hard. “Holyn. She said Holyn.”

“Holyn?” I frowned.

“Mom’s been overly nosey since my mild breakdown. She has to know everyone I’m talking to, so I—I made up some friends.”

“Why can’t you tell her you’re talking to me?”

“Yeah, well… it’s been a little strained here.”

“They liked me when I was there, didn’t they? Don’t they think we’re still together?”

She let out a moan. “Yes. They did—do. I’m sorry. I was flustered. I just want her out of my business. Please understand.”

Besides being insulted she wouldn’t ‘fess up she was talking to me, I could have sworn with my merman ears I heard Colin’s name. The thought made my skin crawl.

“Is Colin there?”

“Why would you ask me that? No, of course not,” she said, sounding insulted.

“I wondered if they’d returned to the house. I’d hate it if we’d left for nothing.”

“Well, yeah. I mean, I might have seen someone after you left a few days ago, but not lately. It’s pretty quiet now.”

“A few days ago? Who’d you see?”

Her voice grew more nervous. “Just men in skirts, like the last time.”

I clenched my jaw. I didn’t like they’d come back and stuck around. They were too close to Ash and her family, too close for comfort.

Ash’s voice picked up in tempo. “Why? Would they be here for another reason? Do they think you’re coming home soon? I mean, if no one is there, can’t you come back? Please tell me you’re coming home.”

“No.” My chest squeezed at her vulnerability and longing. “I don’t think we’re ever coming back and actually, I don’t know what’s happening. My parents aren’t telling me anything again.”

“Oh, really? Why?”

I made a fist, about to tell another lie. “I think they want to protect me. In case there’s…”
a war, retaliation, you name it.
“I don’t know.”

“So you’re not leaving anytime soon to get Tatchi?”

“I don’t know.” The pause on the line made me nervous. “You still there?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry.” I heard her sniffle. “I’m afraid you’re going to go and then get trapped in Natatoria, and I’ll never see you again, and I won’t know how to contact you, or how to help.”

Her anxiety ran me over, leaving invisible tire treads on my chest.

“Don’t worry, Ash. There’s no plan yet. My dad knows I don’t want to go until you’re here. And maybe, if you think you might like to join us, you could turn mer.”

As the suggestion slipped out, I cringed, wishing I could take back what I said. Dad didn’t know I wanted to bring Ash along. And now, with our fall out, I could imagine his outrage. But I couldn’t leave her on land to wait for my return. He had to understand that at least.

“Oh,” she said softly.

The silence ticked on and I bit the inside of my cheek. Mom had warned me not to pressure her. And I hadn’t planned to, but somehow I’d thrown that advice aside.

“Whatever you want to do,” I said, wrestling in conflict. “There’s no pressure. It’ll all work out.”

“I wish I could give you an answer, Fin. I’m sorry. I still don’t know what’s the right thing to do.”

“We don’t need to decide today. We can live as human and merman forever if you want. See? Problem solved.”

“That still doesn’t fix the issue with you rescuing Tatchi.”

“I fought heaven and hell to come back to you then, I’ll do it again. They could never keep me from you, understand?”

“Yes.” Her voice sounded limp, unconvinced.

“Promise me—if anyone does show up at the house or starts snooping around, you’ll tell me, all right? And you’ll stay far away from them. Because if they ever suspected we were… just promise.”

“Yes, I know,” her voice dropped. “You’ve told me already.”

“I’m not trying to be overly protective. I want you to be cautious. They’re spineless monsters who would be willing to do anything to get the King’s favor.”

She remained quiet.

“I’m sorry, Ash. I wanted to stay and I didn’t want this to be complicated.”

“I know. It’s okay. And don’t worry about me, I’m fine.”

Another knock at my door exploded my rage into a fury. “Go away! I’m busy!”

“Fin, it’s Mom,” a soft voice said from the other side. “The sun is setting. You need to hang-up and get to the water, before your father—”

I groaned and looked down at my jeans. I’d forgotten to put on my board shorts again. And now, being three hours ahead of Ash’s time zone, we had even less time to talk until the case came.

“I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“No,” she said. “It’s time.”

“I love you, Ash. I’m sorry. I have to go,” I said quickly, wishing I could cup her cheeks and lose myself in her kiss instead.

“I know. I love you, too. Have a good night.”

As I hung up, a part of me sliced in two. My bare feet hit the wooded floor and I bolted for the front door, locking it behind me. Scales were sprouting on my legs and I knew I wouldn’t make it to the water in time.

Tomorrow, I’d be shopping for a new pair of jeans.

:::

ASH

Monday morning, April 18
^th

The alarm ushered me into a world of white as I opened my eyes and peered outside. The groundhog had decided to sleep for longer than six weeks, hiding from an unseasonably cold spring for April.

The thought of Callahan, of all people, popped in my head. An avid snowboarder, he had to be furious waking up to such delectable powder and forced to go to school instead. Personally, I preferred water in liquid form, melted, warmed, and collected in a pool or lake I could dive into. I rolled over with a groan. Everything ached and begged for a hot shower. I must have worked out harder than I’d realized on Saturday.

I padded down the hall and didn’t even try the knob. Lucy’s pathetic rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s
What Doesn’t Kill You
filtered through the walls, killing me softly.

I pounded on the door. “I need to go pee!”

“Go downstairs!” she yelled and continued singing.

“Don’t take all the hot water!”

She belted the song louder, mumbling through the parts that she’d forgotten the words to.

I trudged downstairs. Mom and Dad bustled in the kitchen. The coffee smelled good for once, though I didn’t drink it normally.

“Good morning, sleepy head.” Dad tussled my hair. “Excited about the big interview?”

“Not really.”

Mom gave me a sideways hug. “You should be getting ready. Why don’t you wear the green sweater Gran bought you? It brings out your eyes.”

“Yeah, maybe.” I looked out the window at the world of white.

The interview wasn’t really about me. Coach Madsen had called yesterday all excited the local news wanted to meet. We were to be filmed while the team worked out in the background behind us. She’d role-played a few questions for me to answer, but if I got frazzled, she volunteered to do most of the talking.

“Oh,” Mom said as she tossed me the keys to her car, “come home right after practice today. We’re having an early dinner to accommodate a special guest.”

I frowned. “Who?”

“Colin,” she said in delight as she walked out the door behind Dad.

“What?” I ran to the garage as they climbed into his truck. “No! We can’t!”

“He’s nice, Ash. I like him.” Mom smiled before closing the door.

“I’m with Fin! This is wrong.”

She rolled down the window as Dad backed out. “I know, but you’re young and there’s no reason you can’t develop friendships with other boys.”

I panicked. If she mentioned Fin, I’d be dead. We’d all be dead. That single mistake was bigger than anyone could imagine.

“Fin doesn’t want Colin to know about his family drama, don’t you understand? And Colin lied about the flowers.”

Mom grimaced. “That was a misunderstanding. Colin explained he was delivering the flowers, not that he’d bought them. Who could be upset with that? He’s so sweet and charming.”

“But, Mom!”

She waved and rolled up the window. I looked to Dad for help. He only shrugged.

“This is ridiculous!” I yelled as the garage door whirred and rolled shut.

:::

I could still smell the soap in my hair as I drove Lucy to school. The smug look plastered on her face as she bobbed her head to whatever was on her iPod made me sick. Every time she started singing, I slugged her in the arm.

“Ouch!” Lucy pulled out an ear bud. “Stop doing that!”

“Serves you right for hogging all the hot water!”

“I did not.”

“I was in there for two seconds, and the water ran cold.”

“Gran must have taken a shower, too, or started laundry.” She made a face and popped the bud back in.

I stopped on the street opposite the parking lot at her school.

“Get out!” I barked.

“What?” Lucy moaned and folded her arms over her chest. “Drive me to the front.”

An evil grin formed on my lips. “I’m late. Get out here.”

“A-s-s-sh,” she whined, “there’s snow.”

“Should have thought of that when you hogged all the hot water. I don’t have time to wait in line to drop you off. This is your fault and if you don’t get out in three seconds, I’m driving off and you’ll have to walk further.”

“I’m telling Mom!” she said, “and I’m telling her you’re talking to Fin all the time!”

What?
I gritted my teeth and let up on the brake. The car lurched forward.

“Fine!” she quipped and jumped out anyway. I lingered for an extra second and reveled in her frustration as she tried to maneuver through the snow in her Toms.

:::

At my locker, I grabbed my book and headed for English without much fanfare. No one knew, let alone cared about my accomplishment, which made me extra grateful.

“Ms. Lanski,” Coach called.

I swiveled around and blinked, trying to recognize the person in front of me.

“Coach?”

“I wear makeup sometimes, okay? Close your mouth.”

I hid my smile. She didn’t just apply makeup. Her hair was highlighted, cut, and styled, and she wore a dress.

She gave me a once over. “What are you wearing?”

I looked down at my new black FAU sweatshirt that came shortly after the flowers on Saturday. I figured when I put it on earlier, I might as well advertise, just in case any gawking school poachers didn’t know I was taken.

“My new college sweatshirt. Is something wrong with it?”

“You can’t wear that. I’m getting calls from all over. You haven’t officially signed a contract with FAU, so your options are still open. I’ve been looking at Stanford, and a few schools in Georgia. You’ve got the pick of the litter.”

“I want to go to FAU.”

“You should be thinking about the Olympics,” she said and squeezed my shoulder. “After the interview later, I have a coach I want you to meet.”

“Sure, but I’m not making any commitments until I talk to my parents,” I said as the bell rang. “And get to class.”

Her face lit up. “Ash, we’re talking the Olympics. Do you understand me? This is an opportunity of a lifetime.”

“Yes, I know.” A huge grin popped out on my face. My Olympic dream was now within my grasp. Though my love for Fin fought this every step of the way, I wanted to try. I wanted to swim.