Chapter 4
DALLAS
“I’m pretty sure I’ve been fucking Merrick, The Merman.” I pull off my ball cap and swipe my forehead with the back of my hand. It’s hot in the gym right now and I flip on one of the giant fans we installed not too long ago.
Hayden barks a laugh. “What makes you say that?”
“The first night we fucked, he looked familiar, but I couldn’t figure it out.
Then.” I hold up my phone. “I just checked the updated roster for Influencer Con and there he is. I just hadn’t noticed because I’m not really into the merfolk community.
” At least I haven’t been. “Also, his handle on the app is Fish_Are_Friends. So I think that’s a sign. ”
“So how is he?” Hayden wiggles his brows and immediately grabs his phone to no doubt look up Merrick, The Merman. “I don’t pay attention to the merfolk community either. I don’t think I’ve even seen his socials.”
“Fan-fucking-tastic. He’s hot as sin in person. All those pics and videos don’t do the man justice. Plus, I get to see him without all the makeup and wigs or costumes. It’s nice. I don’t think he knows I’ll be at Influencer Con, too.”
“Ugh, I can’t wait. We’re still waiting on business cards, of all things, but everything else we’re good to go.”
“Not much longer. And I couldn’t do this without you. Thanks for helping with everything.” I clamp my hand on Hayden’s shoulder and give it a squeeze.
“Ew, do not get all sappy on me.” Hayden waves me away. “What do you wanna shoot today?”
“What about a new beginner jump routine?”
Hayden taps his bottom lip and starts to grin. “Or, hear me out. What if we go see this Merrick, The Merman? He’s at the aquarium today with Princess Alana.”
“What does our schedule look like? Do we have time to blow off work today?” I ask and pace.
Hayden holds up a hand. “Let me look.” He spins away from me and settles at his desk.
There are a few clicks on the mouse before he looks up.
“We’re open all day. We’d blocked out the day to get a few basic routines done for the site, but we’re not filming with any guest stars and we also said it could be a free day if we wanted.
” He spins his laptop so I can see the schedule.
“Okay, then I guess.” I shrug. “Let’s go hang out at the aquarium. We could do a short feature on walking laps inside a building? If you wanna get permission before we show up.” That way, we’re not wasting the entire day.
“Sounds perfect!”
We lock up the gym and Hayden climbs into the passenger seat while I hop into the driver’s seat. He’s already on the phone by the time I get us out of the neighborhood.
It’s a twenty-minute drive to the aquarium and the closer we get, the more I feel like this is a bat shit idea. What if Kay thinks I’m stalking him? Then goes to the authorities and my entire persona gets thrown into the trash.
“So, don’t hate me, but the aquarium hooked me up with Merrick, The Merman, and Princess Alana and they’re down to do a segment on swimming with us after they do their performance thing with the kids this afternoon.
Said they’d meet us at the pool on 6th and John street.
Apparently, it’s the only place that lets them practice with the tails. ”
I hadn’t been paying attention to what he’d been saying on the phone. I park and make eye contact with him. “What in the ever loving fuck?”
Hayden cracks a smile. “You get so focused when you drive, I snuck the request in.”
I shake my head, and we hop down from the truck. Hayden with his bag of supplies. I’m just armed with my sweet smile, according to everyone else anyway, and my cellphone.
There are kids dressed up like they’re going to the beach, others dressed as merfolk. I tip my ball cap down, so no one notices who I am. There’s a huge sign waving in the breeze for Merrick, The Merman, and Princess Alana.
“The man is gorgeous.” Hayden fans his face. “And she’s so damn pretty.”
“She’s lovely in person without all the makeup and glitz, too. But Merrick, Kay, whoever he is…” I shake my head.
“Sucked your soul right out from your dick and now you’re obsessed.” Hayden hip checks me just as a parent glares back at us. “Sorry ma’am.” He tips his ball cap and gives them a charming smile. The parent gets so flustered they bustle their three kids away. Hayden throws his head back and laughs.
It takes everything in me not to join him.
I have a persona to keep up. We make it to the counter to pay and Hayden tells the front desk person whatever he told them on the phone and we get a pair of golden VIP passes.
Apparently, that means we get to go behind the scenes with the merfolk after the Q&A.
It’s a nice badge on a lanyard that we get to keep.
I follow Hayden down a crowded hall until we get to the room that’s floor to ceiling aquariums on both sides. The soft light makes it difficult to see, but it calms my nerves.
Maybe, just maybe, Merrick won’t be able to see me from where we stand.
In the back center of the room there’s a huge clamshell, but we can only see the back of it. There are curtains on either side, probably so when the merfolk performers show up, they don’t give the entire audience an awkward shuffle onto whatever seating is inside.
Soft music plays and families chat. I shift from side to side. Hayden and I seem to be the only pair without kids. I watch the fish in the aquarium across from where we’re standing. They’re so peaceful and I wonder what it would be like to be an animal behind glass like that.
But that’s basically my life, anyway. The difference is that I’ve done this to myself. Boxed myself into this rigid idea. This persona. Dallas with the sweet smile and the southern drawl.
The sharp cry of a child pierces the room. Everyone cringes and checks on their child.
The crying child stands a few feet away from me. Tears stream from their eyes and they clutch a stuffed dolphin. My feet move as if they have a mind of their own. Must. Help.
Thankfully, their parent hustles to them and picks them up. They try to soothe the child and it takes minutes before the cries calm. I let out a breath and my shoulders sag.
There’s a reason I tend to work with a small team. Too many people make me anxious. Why the hell did I agree to go to Influencer Con? They invited me and I couldn’t stop smiling. I was on someone’s radar. Then reality set in. Fuck, I’m on someone’s radar.
“Hey. Hey.” Hayden tugs on my hand. “Do you wanna go?”
I shake my head. “I’m fine. Everything’s fine. Just over thinking again.”
He squeezes my hand. “You’ll tell me if things got too much.”
I nod. “Thanks.”
The music changes and gets a little louder for a few measures. “Welcome guests, young and old! Just a reminder not to use flash photography, but you can take as many pictures as you like. Please do not touch the merfolk and have your questions ready for after the show!”
A spotlight shines on the huge clamshell as it turns to face us.
Kids clap and shout. “Mommy! The mermaids!”
My eyes zero in on Merrick. He’s stunning. The pale blue wig goes with his tail that has shades of blue and green. He appears to have shimmering scales along his arms, bare chest, and cheeks. I’m sure Kendra looks as beautiful, but I can’t take my eyes off Kay.
A low hum fills the space, followed by something haunting and higher. Maybe we should have looked into what the hell the show would be because I was not expecting a musical performance.
The songs talk about being kind to the ocean and the animals within her. I know for today’s performance they won’t be getting into the water. I’m almost sad about it.
I’m mesmerized as if in a trance, as if Kay really is a siren trying to lure me into a trap.
His voice is alluring, whether he’s talking or singing. The pair also sign and interact with the sign language interpreter to riotous laughs of the kids that need that. Jokes that only they would get. I’m in awe of the elaborate performance.
“Alrighty guys, gals, and pals. If you have questions for our guests today, please make your way to the two microphones.”
Dozens of kids race to find a spot until there are at least a couple dozen waiting in line.
They start asking questions close to kids’s hearts.
Like, what’s your favorite dinosaur? T-Rex and triceratops.
Favorite color? Orange and pink. And so on and so forth until the last kid has asked the mer performers their questions.
Kay and Ken don’t even look close to annoyed, and I gotta hand it to them. They’ve been a blast to watch.
Kay and Ken wave to the crowd and blow bubbles and kisses.
“Thank you for visiting us!” Kay says. He bounces in his seat and waves as if he’s saying bye to his bestest friends.
Soon, there’s only a handful of bashful kids asking for pictures. Kay and Ken oblige, grinning wide for the kids. Finally, it’s Hayden and I and the people just here to see the fish, not the merfolk.
Hayden marches up to the pair and holds out his hand. “I’m Hayden, we talked on the phone earlier—”
Kay and Ken watch me. Kay narrows his eyes. “Are you stalking me?” He asks through gritted teeth. “This is why—”
“No. No. It was my idea,” Hayden holds up his hands. “He kinda maybe told me you’ve been having relations. He wasn’t entirely sure you were Merrick, The Merman. I said let’s go investigate. I dragged him along. He didn’t even notice when I asked to talk to y’all.”
Ken slow blinks and turns her attention on Hayden. “You’re the mastermind?”
“Yeah,” I say. “He keeps me on my toes. And we’d really appreciate it if you’d still do the segment on swimming. I know he sprung it up on you last minute. We can reschedule if you want?”
Kay shakes his head. “I was already planning on going to the pool tonight. At least this way I can do it for a good cause, too.”
Ken gives him a mischievous grin. “Don’t get into too many shenanigans.” She wiggles her brows, then faces me. “I’m sad to say my plans have changed and only Kay is available to shoot with you.”