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.

back and forth in Greek. I felt helpless and angry at my

prim and fine, making those promises about lifelong love but

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

looking

jealous of Hunter.” I

looked at me, “And what if I

matter, Ade. I’ve made my decision. It would make me the happiest in the world to marry Hunter, if my situation doesn’t allow me, then I won’t marry you either or anyone else for that matter.” I completed. “So there’s absolutely

parents and elders arranged our marriage to be fulfilled when we were old enough...” Adrian said, “Mermaids marry mermen. That’s our

the mermaid law.” I snapped. “I’m different than other mermaids. I will take Hunter as my husband and no one else.” The last part came in a choked voice, tears were threatening

price to pay for every

up convincing me to

your children, your grandchildren, and everyone else you care about grow old and die while you stay the same.” He said vehemently. “Do you want to spend the rest of

hurt if I left and watched

his face, it looked like he was giving

a casual t-shirt, jeans and sneakers and waited until Hannah texted

apartment building. Throughout the entire twenty minute

I loved Hunter, I

ill. A stretcher occupied by a boy was wheeled away, a mother crying as she followed it. Another accident. There was a lot of

a sudden. The place was giving me a very sad feeling.

The scent of death.

Elaine standing outside a room and knew that it had to be Hunter’s. She wrapped me in a warm

to him. Fred and Hannah are on their way. You go

who I was, where I came from and what I had done to put him in the hospital. She loved her step-son,

lying on the propped up hospital bed, and when

when I saw him safe and smiling that a sob escaped my

thing, and he was sitting shirtless. A patch of bandage covered his upper

I asked touching his heavily bandaged

I remember later is waking up in the hospital

my hand and cried, “I’m so sorry, Hunter. I

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

this was no

the wedding.” I said firmly. “Adrian’s right. This was

“What do you mean this is a bad idea? What are

go back home with Adrian.” I said. “I

home, and you’re not going anywhere.”

that I could live peacefully here with you, and look what happened.

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

was already deeply in love with him, but when he said that with so much conviction, I believed him. His eyes, they told me he’d make good

I can’t bear the thought of

love you more than you could ever

him, this brave man. He was ready to sacrifice his

still have time to think.

up

touched his arm softly, trying not to cause any

in whispers, and seconds later I

′what’s happening? I ignored

I saw Hunter giving me a weird look, he was grinning. “What was

your arm now. Do you still

what I’d asked him to and began

think...” He gave me a surprised

was done, I slowly peeled off the bandage and the part looked smooth like he hadn’t

awe, “how did

shhh...don’t

It felt so good to have his plump lips on mine. I moaned literally and forgot that I