Chapter 24
The morning sun burns away the fog looming over the city like a phantom. It’s Saturday, and my day is booked solid with an hours-long modeling gig. Then dinner with Sully in Beverly Hills, and we might meet up with the rest of the band later for drinks.
But all my joy comes to a screeching halt when I check my phone. Arthur’s daughter is sick, and he needs to take her to urgent care. Without my mer-handler, it’s impossible to move from photoshoot to photoshoot. Now my pictures will be limited to the first place I drag myself to.
Family comes first, but I rented a lot of expensive photo equipment with a photographer who does video and underwater photography.
The goal was to get as many pictures on the beach and in the water as possible, piecing together a calendar for next year and poses to create new merch for my website.
Now I’ll be lucky to get enough pictures to update the site to get more gigs.
With a heavy heart, I reply to Arthur to spend time with his daughter and not to worry about me. At times like this, I wish there was someone I could call for backup. It’s too much to depend on one person to keep my modeling career alive.
As I debate on which of my three tails should be the only one I’m able to use, my phone buzzes. I check it, assuming it’s Arthur with his response and apologizing again. Instead, it’s Sully wanting my help to narrow down where we’re going to eat tonight. I lean against the car and text him back.
Seafood sounds good, been a while since I ate decent shrimp. We can meet earlier if you want. My plans went to shit.
What happened? Anything I can do?
A car approaches. I glance up, seeing the photographer, Peter, pulling into the parking lot. He’s usually fully booked, but I snagged him on a last-minute cancellation. I guess Arthur needing to bow out is the universe evening the score.
Unless you can be a mer-handler, nothing.
Peter parks in a spot next to me and waves. I wave back, biting the inside of my cheek. It’s going to be months before I can get something on the books with him again.
My phone rings in my hand, startling me. It’s Sully. I swipe to answer. “Hey…” I say, failing to hide how weirded out I am that he called.
“What’s a mer-handler?” he asks, teasing dancing through his words.
“Did you call to mock me?” I pull off my sunglasses and inspect my tails in the trunk. My favorite—the sunset one with all its reds, oranges, and yellows—will be today’s pick.
“I’m sorry, it’s just a weird word to use. But seriously.” His voice is low and unpolished, with a rasp that clings to every word.
“It’s someone who carries me when I’m in my tail so I can travel to different locations without having to crawl and injure myself.”
“Oh, I can handle that.”
I almost swallow my gum. “Excuse me?” I spit out harsher than I mean to.
“If you need an extra hand, I can help. I’ve been sitting in my living room trying to write another song, but honestly, I’ve been watching horror movies.”
A whoosh rips through me, sending me into a dizzy spell. “That would be amazing if you could get to Manhattan Beach right now.”
“I can get there as fast as my driver can punch it.”
“You’re a lifesaver!” I must control myself from leaping for joy and screaming woo-hoo. “I’ll tell my photographer you’re running a little late and we’ll get everything set up in the meantime. I owe you big for this.”
“I’ll have to think of ways you can pay me back,” he says, chuckling.
My stomach pings as warmth washes over me. I like the sound of that. Maybe it won’t be too bad being his little secret after all.
Peter is a tall guy who is bald but has a long black goatee that comes to a point.
His honey-brown eyes have speckles of green in them with the sunlight and he’s quick with his hands.
He’s only been here a few minutes, but he’s already gotten out all his equipment and is messing with which lenses would work best.
“My mer-handler will be here shortly. How about we walk and scope out the best places?” I suggest as he pulls a yellow cloth from his back pocket and shines one of his many lenses.
“Wonderful idea.” He snaps his fingers and a teenage boy wearing tan cargo pants with a tie-dye shirt steps out of the car looking at his phone. “Daniel put that bloody phone away and watch my equipment while the lovely Veronica and I check out locations.”
Daniel mutters under his breath, but he does lose the phone.
“Forgive me for my assistant. He’s my girlfriend’s kid and I’m trying to teach him responsibility.”
“It’s all good.”
We walk along the beach until we come across a log covered in moss.
Peter circles it, forming a square with his fingers and treating it like a camera.
“Yes, this will be a great place to start then…” He stalks down to the water.
I jog to catch up. “We can have you sit here, right where the water crashes. Now if only we could find a giant rock.” He shields his eyes with a hand, scanning the area.
“Yes, this is perfect.” He rushes off, kicking up sand.
I linger back, checking my phone. Sully is in the parking lot. My lips break into a giddy grin as my heart soars. I cup my hands over my mouth and shout, “I’m heading back, the mer-handler is here!”
Peter shoots me a thumbs up as he continues his mission.