The Mermaid and her King (6 page)

Holding her in my arms felt
damn good, but I shouldn’t have done it. It’s just getting that much harder to resist her. Her scent is arousing, and I want to kiss her, but I know it’ll open a door I can’t guarantee I could close. I held her awhile, debating. I’m challenging my demons, but they’re still winning.

I went out to get l
unch to make up for being an ass to her last week. We get to the kitchen, and I tell her to get the food out while I get us something to drink.

“So
, you’ve had Macky’s before. What do you think about the food trucks?”

“I find that the best food is usually where you least expect it. That was one
of the first places my brother took me when I got here.”

“Did you only move here to be near him?”

“Besides a few aunts, uncles and cousins, Lee is all I have for family. I got into Brigham Young for the spring semester.”

“Are
you Mormon?” I ask her, sounding more surprised than I should.

“No. You don’t have to be to go there, but it’s harder to get in. Luckily, I’ve always made good
grades and have good test scores. I’m going to study marine biology. I only have to work for a couple more months until my birthday, and then I can just focus on school. Cleaning is definitely not the job I want to do forever.”

She’s smart. Is there anything wrong with this woman?
She can’t leave that soon.

“That’s awesome you’re going to study marine biology. Living here will be great for that.”

“What do you do?” she asks.

“
I lease out a lot of properties I own on the island, mostly to businesses, and a lot of them are in Waikiki. I don’t have any kind of set schedule. Eric and I do a lot of work together. He finds people and businesses who are looking to lease my property. It’s a win for both of us.”

“
Eric seems like such a good friend. I really like his positive energy.”

“He’s been that way as
long as I’ve known him, and he is a great friend.” Where is she going with this? Does she like him? She’d be better off with him.

“Thanks for lunch. It’s
really good,” she says, smiling as we eat.

I’ve never spent time with
a woman who has her act together. I want every part of her. She’s everything right in the world, bundled into one sweet, beautiful package. I could look at that smile and listen to her talk for hours, but I can’t. The more I’m with her, the more I realize she deserves someone better. Eric is a better man. He didn’t fuck up his life and cost someone theirs.

She wouldn’t be sitting here talking to
me if she knew about the old me. I need to step aside for Eric. That would be the right thing to do, and I’m trying to be less selfish.

“Chase, are you OK?”

I snap out of my daze when I hear my name. “Sorry, I’m fine.”

“
I don’t have any right to know what you’re thinking, but you don’t have to pretend with me. It’s obvious you have shit going on, and I just hope whatever it is, you’ll find a way to heal from it.”

Did she reall
y just say that? She’s very mature and too open like Eric. I’m getting really uncomfortable, and I can’t leave. I told her I wouldn’t, but all I want to do is get away from her. She’s making me think of Bud.

“
You should go out with Eric again. It seems you two have a lot in common, and I’m sure he’d like to.”

She loo
ks at me as if my words have crushed her.

“You want me to go
out with Eric?” she asks in almost a whisper.

“I said you should.”

She looks away from me and starts moving around the kitchen with urgency, cleaning up her spot at the table and clearing her plate.

“
There wasn’t much to clean today, so I’m going to go. Thanks for lunch.”

I’m trying to do what’s right, but I keep upsetting
her. “I’m sorry, Skyla.”

She waves her hand at me like she’s swatting me away. “It’s OK, I’m goi
ng. I—I get it. I’m just your housekeeper,” she says as she heads for the door. It slams, and I’m left feeling like a complete asshole.

Skyla

I don’t know how someone can have this kind of effect on me and make me feel this humiliated. I can’t continue doing this. I have to call the agency and get someone else to clean his damn home.

Chase just made it very obvious that he doesn’t want me. Why can’t I be attracted to
Eric the way I am to Chase? He’s handsome, smart, funny and kind, but no, instead, I’m screwed up in the head and only want men who need fixing.

***

After a couple of days of pouting, I go down to the beach in the evening. It’s getting dark, but I don’t care. Surely those same loser guys won’t be there to bother me.

Wearing
my white sundress, I take off my flip flops and sit down. I bury my toes in the sand as salty droplets slide along my cheeks. I’ve always been strong, but the loneliness is getting to me. I might have to move back to Cali where I at least have my best friend, Brooke.

I wipe my eyes, but the tears keep coming.
Pulling my knees up to my chest, I listen to the waves crashing in front of me, crashing around my world. I feel as if I’m being tossed about in the ocean. I’m trying to find my way to shore, but with every bit of progress, another wave crashes down on me, sending me out further. I’m alone there, bobbing around lost. I want to swim up to the part of the shore where I belong. The place where I can stay because it has everything and everyone I need.

I want this to be that spot, but Bud will never be here again, and I need him
. We grew up together and were inseparable as kids. He’s my first cousin, and we lived down the street from each other growing up.

His name is Daniel, but most everyone called him Bud. He
always dreamed of living in Hawaii and moved here when he turned eighteen. When Lee joined the Army, he put in to be stationed here so they could spend time together, and he actually got the orders.

We
made so many plans for what we’d do when I moved to Oahu. Lee, Bud and I were going to have a blast together. I couldn’t wait to be near him again, but all those dreams were shattered when he died here nine months ago. Lee said he died in this area.

“Skyla.
”

I
jump and look back when I hear my name. There stands Mr. Moody, and he’s scowling. What’s new? I turn back toward the water.

“What are you doing out
here at night again? We discussed this. Are you trying to get yourself killed?” he asks angrily.

“Go away, Ch
ase. I can do what I please.” He’s exhausting.

“No, I won
’t go away. You obviously don’t care about your safety.”

“W
hat does it matter to you?” He’s not going to tell me what to do. I don’t know what castle he came from, but he’s not king of the beach.

“Skyla, I
care about something happening to you. You could really get hurt out here this late, and why are you crying?”

I stare ahead at the darkness.
Chase is one of those big waves that keeps crashing down on me.

“Go away, Chase. I can’t take another second of your moody behavior. And just so you know, I won’t be back to clean again. I’m not sticking around
just so you can make me feel like shit.”

He groans loudly.
I wouldn’t have a clue what he’s mad about since he doesn’t share a damn thing. Great, he’s going to sit next to me.

“Look,
I don’t want anyone to hurt you,” he says.

“You sure don’t have an issue with
hurting me.”

“
I never meant to hurt you, Skyla.”

I see him run his hands through his hair as he s
lowly blows out a deep breath. “Can I ask why you’re at this part of the beach again?”

“It’s definitely not to get your attention.
It’s close to my house, and it just … it means something to me.”

“This part of the beach means something to me, too,” he says.

“I guess so since your backyard is the fucking ocean.”

“Damn. Y
ou’re really mad at me.”

“
Chase, I’m a kind person, but you’ve managed to hurt my feelings more than once, so I’m trying to protect myself from you. It’s a shame you’re so closed off. You make a choice to live this way.”

“I know I do, but it’s what I deserve.”

I get up. I can’t take his self-pity. I don’t know what he’s done to feel he deserves this, but I don’t believe he’s a bad person. I dust off the backside of my dress and start walking. He’s on his feet in seconds.

“I’m walking you home.”

“No, I do this all the time.”

“I’m going to follow y
ou.”

I turn back around and stare at him. “Why are you doing th
is to me?” I ask in desperation. Silence. More silence. I groan with aggravation and start to flee.

He
grabs me and pulls me to his chest. One of his arms snake around my waist as the other cups the back of my head. My breath catches. I hold it in my lungs, and it feels suffocating, full of emotion needing released.

“I like you, and I don’t want anything
happening to you, Skyla.” He says his words slowly.

He’s gazing
down at me, and for the first time I feel his emotions; his heart thundering beneath my forearm, his eyes pleading, almost desperate, and his breathing harsh and uneven. I can’t take this. He’s a virus, making every cell in my being his host. He’s going to hurt me if I don’t stay away from him.

“You hav
e a weird way of showing a girl you like her, Chase. Get off of me.” I jerk free of his hold as my tears defy me. I run, and I run, hearing his feet strike the pavement behind me. Once inside, I slam the door and lean up against it. What just happened?

Before falling asleep, I think
about how I only have two more days before I can hang out with Eric and Andy at the beach. I hope Chase doesn’t show this time.

***

I go to the grocery Saturday morning, and this time I decide to make barbecue. It’s something easy for the guys to eat on the beach. I pack up my stuff and walk, lugging my basket and swim bag again. I don’t see Chase anywhere, and I have mixed feelings about it.

It’s what I said I wanted, but part of me is disappointed. I’m angry at myself for feeling this way. I told
Eric I’d have a bright green bikini on this time. I might have to buy more of them to make a game out of this. It’s sad that picking which bikini to wear is the extent of excitement in my life.

They come walking towa
rd me with their wet, tanned bodies, glistening eyes and ripped abs. I can’t understand why these two don’t have women hanging on them.

“You’re awesome, Skyla. I’m starving,” Andy says.

“Good, I hope you like barbecue.”

Eric
squeezes my shoulder as he sits down next to me. “Sounds great. I’m digging the neon green bikini. It goes good with your blonde hair.”

“I think I’ll keep trading you food for
compliments.” We sit and talk surf again. It makes me feel close to Bud, but deep down I know it won’t change anything.

“Shit,”
Eric says.

I see that he’s looking dow
n the beach toward Chase’s home. I glance that way and see him in his chair. There are two women standing in front of him talking. I thought my bikini was small until I saw theirs.

A pull of a string
, and they’d be naked. They don’t have a wholesome look, and that’s a nice way of putting it. Jealousy hits me. He’s smiling at them, and I hate it.

“Do you know those girls talking to Chase?” I ask.

“Um, they’re just girls that used to hang out with him and another friend of ours. They’re trouble. Chase should have the sense to send them on their way. I know he hasn’t seen them for a long time, so he’s probably just being nice.”

“Do you two
have plans tonight?” I ask.

Eric
smiles at me. “I don’t. Do you have something in mind?”

“I don’t
, either,” Andy says.

“I need some drinks, but I won’t be twenty-one for
almost two months. Any ideas?”

“We need to go into Waikiki. I have a friend that owns a bar there
, and he’ll let you in. I don’t need to get busted for contributing to a minor. You’re a baby, Skyla, but your body sure doesn’t look like it.”

“
Stop, Eric. You’re embarrassing me.” I push him over again with my hand. “That sounds great. I told Chase last night that I’m not cleaning for him anymore. He’s managed to treat me like crap every time I’ve been around him. I’m done and need a fun night out away from here.”

Eric
looks angry as he stares toward Chase. “He needs to wise his ass up. He’s a fool to do you that way.”

“It’s OK. It’s not like he owes me anything. We don’t even know each other. I know
so much more about you guys than I think I ever could about him.”

“I actually live further away than Andy
. Can you bring her down?” Eric asks him.

Andy looks at me and smiles. “I don’t mind at all as long as
you don’t mind riding with me?”

“Of course not
. Um … I’ve been wondering what you do for a career, Andy?”

“I’m an IT guy. I have the eight to five job, so that’s
why I don’t get to surf as often as the slacker here.” Andy smirks at Eric.

“Yeah, whatever. You’re just jealous.”

Andy looks back at me. “My parents were in the military and decided to live here after they got out.” Andy stands up and grabs his short board. I guess we’re going back in, so what if I pick you up at eight?”

“That sounds awesome.”
I tell him where I live and pack up my stuff. I wanted to stay on the beach, but I can’t stand knowing Chase is that close by.

I’m sure he sees me han
ging out with his friends again, and a part of me feels bad that he was left out. What’s my deal? He’s the one who’s acted like a total ass for over a week. I shouldn’t feel bad, but I do.