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.

I felt helpless and angry at my

may come back home looking prim and fine, making those promises about lifelong love but it’s going to be your selfish nature that will get him

sure before but I think I

understand?” He asked, still looking through that

you’re jealous of Hunter.” I said

looked at me, “And what if I

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 no

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

as my husband and no one else.” The last

price to pay for every law

to go with you because I will not.”

your children, your grandchildren, and everyone else you care about grow

not thinking of that possibility.” I said. “I would still be hurt

on his face, it

in a casual t-shirt, jeans and sneakers and

car was parked outside the apartment building. Throughout the entire twenty minute car ride, I recalled each and everything that Adrian

Hunter, I valued his life

ill. A stretcher occupied by a boy was wheeled away, a mother crying as she

felt sick all of a sudden. The place was giving me a very sad feeling. I couldn’t ignore

The scent of death.

Hunter’s older brother Ryan speaking with a nurse. I walked towards them and found Elaine standing outside a room

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

about everything, about who I was, where I came from and what I had done to put him

and saw Hunter lying on the propped up hospital bed, and when he saw me, he flashed me

him safe and smiling that a sob escaped my lips and

thing, and he was sitting shirtless. A patch

asked

I remember later

and cried, “I’m so sorry, Hunter. I didn’t mean to hurt

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

this was

wedding.” I said firmly. “Adrian’s

is a bad idea?

I said. “I can’t lose you.

and you’re not going anywhere.”

live peacefully here with you, and look what happened.

he said the next words slowly, “I’m going to marry you, Blue, and no one’s going to stop me. I won’t let anyone or

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 on his

love you and I can’t bear the thought of losing

than you could ever imagine. I’ve loved

brave man. He was ready to

have time to think.

up my

arm.” I touched his arm

holding his arm in place and closed my eyes. I began chanting softly in whispers, and seconds later I felt the burning sensation

Hunter whisper ′what’s happening? I ignored him

Hunter giving me a weird look, he was grinning.

Do you still feel

clear on his features, but he did what I’d asked him to

a surprised look.

he’d been injured and repeated the same thing. When it was done, I slowly peeled off the

stared at me in awe, “how

giggled, “Powers, but shhh...don’t tell this

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