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.

felt helpless and angry at my situation, like there was nothing else

looking prim and fine, making those promises about lifelong love but it’s going to be your selfish nature that

think I understand now.” I said, keeping the venom out

He asked, still looking

think you’re jealous of Hunter.” I

looked at me, “And what if

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

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

my husband and no

price to pay for every law

give up convincing me to go with you because I will not.” I

and everyone else you care about

that possibility.” I said. “I would still be hurt if I left and watched him marry and

face, it looked like he was giving up convincing

up quickly in a casual t-shirt, jeans and

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

Hunter,

coming to a hospital, and the atmosphere around made me ill. A stretcher occupied by a boy was wheeled away, a mother crying as she followed it. Another accident. There was

felt sick all of a sudden. The place was giving me a

The scent of death.

them and found Elaine standing outside a room and knew that it

serious happened to him. Fred and Hannah are on their way. You go see him now.” She said sweetly, “I’m

from and

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

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

in a white looking thing, and he was sitting shirtless. A patch of bandage covered

it hurt?” I asked touching

and all I remember later is waking up in

and cried, “I’m

stopped talking and I saw his expressions register

this was

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

his features, “What do you mean this is a bad idea?

back home with Adrian.” I said. “I can’t lose you. I

is your home, and you’re

live peacefully here with you, and look

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 anything come between us. I’ll move this entire fucking universe on its axis. Fight with god himself if I have

in love with him, but when he said that with so much conviction, I believed

bear the thought

more than you could ever imagine. I’ve loved

brave man. He was ready to sacrifice his life in order to marry

to think. Take your time.”

made up my

see your arm.” I touched his arm softly, trying not

needed to try. I wrapped my fingers around his elbow, holding his arm in place and closed my eyes. I began chanting softly in whispers, and seconds later I

′what’s happening?

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

Do you

he did what

gave me a surprised look. “I think my arm

where he’d been injured and repeated the 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 me in awe, “how did you do

“Powers, but shhh...don’t tell this

down to his in a long lingering kiss. It felt so good to have his plump lips on mine. I moaned