The Bad Boy And The Mermaid

Hunter

Fred and Hannah helped me choose a wedding ring for Blue. It was a round solitaire diamond stud in a platinum ring, a little out of my budget but looked really beautiful. My bank account was almost empty, but it was worth it. Blue deserved this and so much more. I kind of wished I had enough money to move into a bigger house where there was a lawn, a fence, a room for when Blue and I decided to have kids.

I dreamed of it, about having my own little family.

I’d never thought this was possible in my wildest dreams, that I’d find a woman who’d love me enough to want to marry me.

The phone in my pocket began buzzing. It was from an unknown number. I pressed answer.

“Hello Mr. Brantley, this is Gracie. I’m a wedding planner. Your mother told me you wanted to discuss a few things.”

“Hi Gracie, please call me Hunter.” I spoke on the phone while walking out of the jewelry store towards the parking lot across the street, “I’m looking for simple wedding decorations, I’d like to discuss about this. Are you free around three p.m? We could talk it over lunch and—”

A loud blare of the honking stopped me dead in my tracks and I turned to look. I wanted to run but my legs weren’t moving. I was glued to the place.

A car was moving towards me in high-speed and there was absolutely nothing I could do.

I saw it that time.

Death was coming for me.

Blue

Adrian had tried convincing me that marrying Hunter was a bad idea. And then he’d given me another alternative that I knew would make Hunter really furious. Adrian suggested that I could marry him instead and visit the Land often to meet Hunter.

In other words, he didn’t mind me having an affair with Hunter on land as long as I married Adrian in our world. I’d told Adrian that he could stop talking and that I wasn’t going to have an affair with Hunter because I intended to marry him.

I’d been napping with Leslie when I got one of those bad premonitions that something was going to happen. Since then I couldn’t sleep and paced around the apartment. I tried calling Hunter’s number but he didn’t answer it and that gave me even more anxiety.

Adrian was reading a magazine upside down, a magazine he’d found discarded in a box within the depths of the storage room. The magazine had a naked woman on it. I didn’t know how I felt about Hunter going through this one. Adrian was merely leafing through the pages, his face masked with interest.

I tried texting Hunter.

Me: Why aren’t you answering my call?

I called him several times but each time it hit voicemail. Thirty minutes and forty texts later, I decided to call Hannah. When she answered the call she was sobbing and that was a clear warning that something was wrong.

“Hannah, I’ve been trying to call Hunter but he’s not answering my phone. Is he with you?”

“Blue...well, Hunter got into an accident. A car almost ran over him.”

My heart almost stopped beating, “What?!” It took me an entire minute to collect myself. “Is he alright?”

“He’s in the hospital.”

“I want to see him.” I said urgently.

Hannah told me that she was sending a car and a chauffeur to take me to the hospital. When I hung up the call, Adrian’s expressions clearly said ‘I told you so.’

“You still have time to stop the wedding.” Adrian suggested.

I gave him a sharp look, “I can’t ask Hunter to do that. We both love each other.”

“Is that love any use of if either of you end up being dead?”

I hated that he had a point.

What if something happened to Hunter before or during the wedding ceremony? We still had a week ahead of us before we got married.

Greek. I felt helpless and angry at my situation, like there was nothing else I could

those promises about lifelong love but it’s going

sure before but I think I understand now.” I said, keeping

understand?” He asked, still looking

of Hunter.”

“And

doesn’t allow me, then I

marriage to be fulfilled when we were old enough...” Adrian said, “Mermaids

will take Hunter as my husband and no one else.” The last part came in a

to pay for

convincing me to go with you because I will

even if he lives a full healthy life, it won’t be enough, Blue. You will watch him, your children, your grandchildren, and everyone else you care about grow old and die while you stay the same.” He said vehemently. “Do you

of that possibility.” I said. “I would still be hurt if I left and

of resignation on his face, it

dressed up quickly in a casual t-shirt, jeans and sneakers and waited until

car was parked outside the apartment building. Throughout the entire twenty

how much I loved Hunter, I valued

occupied by a boy was wheeled away, a mother crying as she followed it.

The place was giving me a very sad feeling. I couldn’t ignore the scent

The scent of death.

I walked towards them and found Elaine standing outside a room and knew that it had to be Hunter’s. She wrapped me

on their way. You go see him now.” She said sweetly, “I’m sure he wants to see his fiancé more than

The lies about everything, about who I was, where I came from and what I had done to put him in the hospital. She loved her step-son, and I’d almost gotten him killed

lying on the propped up hospital bed, and when he saw me, he flashed me a huge grin, the

was probably the relief I felt when I saw him safe and smiling that a sob escaped my lips and I began crying. His eyes widened, “Oh,

was bandaged in a white looking thing, and he was sitting shirtless. A patch of bandage covered his upper torso. He told me to sit beside him

asked touching his heavily bandaged

did hurt when it happened and all I remember later is waking up in the hospital

my mouth with my hand and cried, “I’m

your fault. You weren’t even—” He stopped talking and I saw his expressions register why

was no

said firmly. “Adrian’s

mean this is a bad idea? What are you

said. “I

home, and you’re not going anywhere.” Hunter

I could live peacefully here with you, and look

marry you, Blue, and no one’s going to stop me. I won’t let anyone or anything come

that with so much conviction, I

can’t bear the thought of

ever imagine. I’ve loved

He was

to think. Take

up

your arm.” I touched his arm softly, trying not to cause

in whispers, and seconds later I felt the burning sensation in my body, the glowing beneath my fingers. A feeling that something was being lifted off Hunter. As I continued to

whisper ′what’s happening? I ignored

me a weird look, he was grinning. “What

now. Do you still feel

did what I’d asked him to and

me a surprised look. “I think my arm isn’t fractured

same thing. When it was done, I slowly peeled off the bandage and the part looked smooth like he hadn’t been hurt there at

stared at me in awe, “how did you do

shhh...don’t tell

his in a long lingering kiss. It felt so good to have his plump