Chapter 22
“Hey…I need to go.” I lift my phone. “I ordered a ride.” I hit the final button to finish the rideshare before Sully argues, insisting to drive me back.
“You can wait outside.” Amy points to the door with her chin. She places her hands on her hips as she stares me down, probably wishing she could toss me out herself.
“Okay…” I skirt past her and steal a glance at Sully. He clenches his jaw and moves toward the door, pressing his hand against it. Blocking my exit and keeping me in this hell. Terror prickles my spine knowing Amy is only a few feet away.
“No. She’s not some whore you can toss out.
She’s my guest and she can wait inside until her car gets here.
” His voice is harsh and sharp enough to cut glass.
I’d feel more honored if Amy would stop staring at me with her shark eyes.
My hand flutters to my throat, the need to protect my jugular comes as if by instinct.
Maybe Amy is a vampire. That would explain so much.
Sully’s hands cup my hips, gently guiding me away from the door, but I’m too uncomfortable to sit anywhere in this room.
The air is thick with disdain. Amy stands in the center of the room, typing on her phone.
Her fingers dance across the screen. But when the hairs on the back of my neck rise, I realize she’s staring into my soul.
Maybe she’s a succubus and eats the souls of girls she hates.
Sully sits on the couch and kindly pulls me onto his lap. I sit down stiffly. The back of my brain bristles as the heat of his thighs soaks through my skin and into my bloodstream.
Amy pours herself a cup of coffee, using my mug, and sips it as she tears me to ribbons with her eyes.
“What do you do?” Her voice rumbles the still room, shaking me out of the frozen state I fell into.
Why does she care to talk to me now?
Her shark eyes analyze me. She wants to put me in my place. Prove she’s right. I’m just a groupie.
“I’m a model and performer,” I say in the most clipped summarized version of my work. If my car would arrive now that would be a miracle.
Amy grimaces, her face twists as if she smells something sour. “Model for what brand?”
Shit. I stepped right into that one.
Sully wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me in closer. “She’s a professional mermaid. She does private events, has a show in a popular restaurant downtown, and models for her huge social media following.”
She spits out her coffee and wipes her mouth on a napkin.
Her frown lines deepen, and a thick green vein bulges in her forehead.
I slip off Sully’s lap and sink into the couch cushion, wishing it would eat me whole.
My teeth bite into my lower lip as I briefly consider hiding behind Sully, using him as a shield, fearing she’ll grab a knife from the kitchen and slit my throat.
“Did I hear you right? A mermaid?” She spews the word “mermaid” like it’s a curse, and her lip curls in disgust.
I’ve had my share of naysayers in my line of work.
People mock me for dressing in a mermaid tail, saying it’s not a real job, that I’m foolish, a child, or too lazy to get a “real” job.
Some even asked if I stayed in a mental hospital recently.
But I’m the one laughing. My planned events and modeling gigs pay six figures, and that’s before I find sponsors for social media platforms. The thing about money is it goes fast in LA.
I have a healthy savings account and another account to keep new tails coming, repair the ones I love, and whatever else I may require.
But I refuse to pay crazy expensive rent on a slightly bigger apartment when all I do at home is sleep or watch TV in my downtime, which is rare, depending on the time of year.
A car horn honks outside, and my phone buzzes with a text. My ride is here to save the day. Knowing I have an escape route gives me enough confidence to tell Amy off before taking my leave.
“Yes. A mermaid. My social media has over one hundred thousand followers, and I’m in dozens of magazine articles.
Just look up Mermaid Veronica.” I stand tall, staring down on this woman who would kill to crush me.
“And for the record, I didn’t want to go to your stupid music award thing.
All I wanted was Sully to give me my ring back.
” I flash the ring, hoping Amy thought I gave her the bird, and storm out.
Sully is on my heels, preventing me from hearing a satisfactory door slam.
He grabs my wrist, but I tug myself free.
“Please leave me alone. You don’t think I’m used to people mocking my career choice?
I’m a big girl. It was fun whatever we were to each other, but let’s face it, we need to get back to the real world where we live two separate lives. ”
“Don’t let her words ruin what we could be.”
“This has to be goodbye.” I wiggle my fingers in a wave and don’t turn back. Once I’m in the back seat of my rideshare, I reply to Alice’s text, asking her to grab my red tail, and I’ll meet her at work.
The driver curses. I look to see what’s the problem. Dead end ahead. There’s no way out from the casitas except doing a U-turn and driving past Sully again.
“Hate this place. Damn fire trap,” the driver mutters as he pulls into another place’s driveway and continues down the road we just left.
Sully spots us and rushes into the road, waving his arms. My driver curses again and comes to a complete stop.
“Please roll down your window and let me explain,” Sully begs, knocking on the glass.
I roll my eyes and hit the button to lower the window halfway. “What else is there to say?”
He waves Amy forward. She stops scrolling through her phone and eyes me curiously with a pinch less disdain than before. “After reviewing your…career and showing no interest in perks, such as the music awards, I figure you’re allowed to stay.”
“Allowed?” I say with bite, digging my nails into my palms, creating perfectly pink crescent moons. Part of me wants to laugh in her face at the ridiculousness, but her face is dead serious.
“As far as the world knows, you and Sully mean nothing. You’re nothing...” She pauses, tilting her head, reminding me of Michael Myers studying his victims before slicing them in half. “To each other, I mean.”
“I don’t know who you are, but you can’t control me. How about I—”
The other back door flies open, and Sully jumps in. “Let’s go!” he shouts.
“What the hell?” The driver turns around to glare at Sully.
Amy’s nostrils flare. “Get out! We don’t have time for this.”
Sully pounds on the passenger’s seat headrest. “What are you waiting for? Drive!”
The driver floors it. Amy shakes her fist in the air, yelling curses at us.
“What are you doing? Trying to get me murdered?” I punch Sully’s arm.
He chuckles, turning his phone off.
“Like I said, I’m taking you home, and then I’ll go to the studio. They can start without me.”
“Well, I’m heading to work. Need to cover for Chloe.”
He shrugs. “Then I’m dropping you off at work.”
I squint at him. “You know I ordered this ride, right?”
“And I’m stealing it by paying in cash.” Sully leans forward and smirks at the driver. “If that’s okay with you.”
“As long as I’m paid with a good fat tip,” he says in a deep smoker's voice.
Sully curls his finger around a strand of my hair. He’s close, too close. His hot breath on my neck sends an ache between my legs. I want that mouth on me again, making me come again. Fuck. He’s already inside my head.
His hand brushes my breast, and my nipple peaks at the attention. “See. It always works out,” he whispers, kissing the sensitive skin below my ear.
A whimper slips past my lips. My entire body betrays me. I want to resist his charm, but I’m mush to his dimples and blue eyes. “What’s that witch’s problem anyway?”
He scoffs. “Our PR rep, Amy. She’s vicious, rude, and like a dog with a bone, but she’s good at her job.
Unfortunately, she’s my aunt’s friend and thinks it’s in my best interest to look out for me since I’m single and heartbroken.
Her words.” He slams his back against the seat and pulls on his hair.
“She doesn’t know when to quit. But she’s never been this cruel.
I can’t apologize more for what she said. ”
“Whatever. She hates me.” My head falls against the seat.
Sully’s fingers brush up and down my arm. “She wanted to scare you. I told you how my ex dumped me for another bass player. She doesn’t want that to happen again.”
“Yeah. Because I just jump from musician dick to musician dick like I have no life.” I huff and catch the eye of the driver in the rearview mirror. He winces and his eyes return to the road.
Great. Now this driver thinks I’m a slut. That’s lovely.
“She’s protective. But I’ll get her to lay off.”
“And what does that mean for the music awards?” I ask, staring at my mermaid ring to avoid his gaze.
“You can come if you want. They’re never as fun as you might think.”
“But Gigi would be better PR for the band.” I study the hem of my skirt, tracing the stitches with my finger.
“It wouldn’t hurt. We are touring with her soon.”
“You can take Gigi to that award show. I don’t care.” I pull on a loose thread, unraveling a few stitches. “I hated how cheap Amy made me feel. I’m not a casual girl. With my ex I had him wait three months before we…” I trail off, remembering we have an eavesdropping driver.
Sully leans over and kisses my bare shoulder. “You’re priceless, and I’d never call you casual. Relationships mean something to you. I like that.” His words send a zing through my bones.
I turn my head to say something, but he kills it by pressing his lips to mine. Damn it, he can win any argument with those delicious lips.
We make out like teenagers on prom night until the car halts. The driver clears his throat. “We’ve arrived at The Pearl Kingdom.”
“Guess I’ll see you later,” I say, opening the door. There’s a buzzing in my ears as I slip out of the car.
Sully sticks his head out the door and shouts, “I’ll pick you up for dinner!”
Maybe it’s because I’m swept up in the moment, but I scream, “Okay!” It’s silly, but I watch the car drive off, pressing my fingers to my bee-stung lips.
The moment burns off with the scorching sun. After counting to three in my head, I step into the restaurant. To avoid any unwanted eye contact, I tuck my chin into my chest and speed walk toward the breakroom.
My phone rings; it’s my mom. I ignore her and make a mental note to call her back later. Out of habit, I open Insta and scroll. There are still a few minutes before my mermaid persona is needed in the tank.
But maybe I should’ve gone for my tail and not my phone when I see a post from Gigi.
She’s making a kissy face and wearing a silver crown with pink diamonds.
The caption reads, “Can’t wait for the Rock Music Awards.
Just got my beautiful dress! Who’s my date you ask?
Only the sexy bass guitarist from Scarlet Failure. XOXO.”
Well, this killed my mood. I ditch my phone and try to put on a happy face as I climb the stairs and prepare for my show. Veronica might have a shattered heart that can’t repair itself, but Mermaid Veronica has a heart of gold, and nothing can destroy her.