Chapter 4
Two thingsI notice about Van. He doesn’t give much away, especially his last name. The second thing is that he’s prickly. This guy is either an arrogant flirt or a cold jerk. He hasn’t said a single word to me throughout the whole tour of the resort, yet now he’s chatting nonstop with lifeguard Maisy.
I stand there with my arms crossed and watch as his stupid chiseled face and golden locks make their way back to me.
“Hey, did you know Maisy is starting veterinary school this fall? Impressive. Beauty and brains.”
“Yeah, and incredible patience to tolerate all your lame jokes. Or would that be kindness?”
His eyebrows practically touch his hairline. “Put your claws away, kitten.”
“Kitten?” My vision turns red. Ever since that humiliating day in class, I despise nicknames, pet names, or any type of nauseating term such as good girl. Kitten falls into that department. First doll, now kitten. That’s it. I can’t stand this guy. He reminds of Blake Doozer. Gorgeous. Charismatic. Cocky. Dickhead.
Not falling for that mistake again. I’m not playing the part of a foolish young girl getting swept away by some sharp, sculpted, beautiful man. Did that. Never going back. I glance up to the sky for patience but find none, so I turn to him and let him have it. Hands curling into fists at my side, I allow my words to tumble out at will. “Last warning. I refuse to put up with stupid pet names from assholes like you. If I were a dude, you wouldn’t tell me to put my claws away. Or call me a puppy!”
“Ava, I’m sorry. It wasn’t meant to?—”
“They don’t pay me enough to deal with you. Let’s go.”
Honestly, I’m not sure why I’m having a meltdown. I’ve dealt with plenty of idiots, smooth talkers, and cocky men. I’ve also had experience with snooty women, drunken, rude college girls, and judgmental or indifferent snide remarks, and everything in between as far as coworkers. Through it all, I’ve remained professional and kind. The pain from my last week of the semester is still lingering. That’s the only explanation.
Van follows me to the employee housing.
I hold a hand up as I key in the code for my room. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I don’t know. But I’m up for wherever you want to lead me.” The cad. His gorgeous smirk and the gleam of mischief in his eyes is annoyingly swoonworthy.
“I have to get ready. You can wait here.”
As I go to shut the door behind me, it stops. Van’s shoe is wedged between. A part of me is tempted to pretend I don’t see it and slam the door as hard as I can. Can one break a foot this way?
“Can we please start over? Please?” Something in his voice has me opening the door. Genuineness? Tenderness? “I don’t have any friends. And I’m off to a terrible start of making any, so it would seem.” I could bring up that he was doing just fine with Maisy. But he’s trying to be the bigger person and get us on the path to a better working relationship. I can respect that.
“Yes. I’d like that.”
His eyebrow quirks up as his lips twitch. “Does that mean I can come in?”
I open the door slightly, enjoying the way he straightens with evident glee, only to say, “Nope.” After shutting the door and double locking it, I go to transform myself into a mermaid.
When I step back outside in my costume—in all but my tail, of course—I have to laugh at Van’s wide eyes and gaping mouth. “You’ve turned pale, and you’re gaping at me. You kind of look like a fish. Close your mouth. I don’t look that different, do I?”
“You’re…” His hand gestures toward my hair.
I giggle and hold out a strand of my wig. “It’s pink! Fun, huh?”
“Yeah! Fun.” He clears his throat. “How long have you worked here, again?”
“Six years. Since I was sixteen, I’ve been working here during the summers. This is my mermaid.” Feeling giddy in all my sparkles and fun makeup, I do a little bow. “Nerine.”
My smile falls when I realize that Van is… glowering. What the hell? I place my glittering hands on my hips and glower right back. His jaw is rigid, and his eyes are icy glaciers staring me down.
“Great gimmick for the guests. Guess we need to get to the boat.” He turns around and storms off.
Gimmick. He’s hitting all my insecurities and sore spots on his first day.
* * *
I domy best to ignore Van for the majority of my shift. When I can’t stand any more of feeling his eyes burning into me, I release a huff. “What is your problem? I get it. You think I look ridiculous. That you’re above fun and make believe. Children’s happiness is beneath you.” Then I grumble, “I bet you prefer their tears. Probably feed on their fears.”
Van stretches out on the large rock he’s sitting on and crosses his ankles. “Stop being so dramatic.”
“Stop being a dick.”
“That’s not the type of language Nerine would use. Are you breaking character? Is that allowed?”
“Shut up! The boat’s coming back.”
“You started it.”
“No, I believe you did.”
“Ha. You also believe you’re a mermaid.”
“And you believe you’re witty.”
“You know what. I can see why you like thinking you’re a mermaid. You look better as a fish.”
A fish! Before I can slide my tail off to go hurl sand at him, I hear Maisy’s voice.
“Let’s remain quiet. We don’t want to startle her. If we’re lucky, we’ll spot her in her lagoon. The beautiful mermaid, Nerine.”
Van leans forward and loudly whispers, “They do lay it on thick, don’t they?”
“Which part?” I speak through gritted teeth while maintaining a full smile in case someone pops through the bushes that are decorated in twinkling lights.
“All of it.”
I suppose that’s a dig about me being beautiful. That’s fine. I don’t need him to find me attractive. I feel beautiful as Nerine. The soft sound of giggles and delight filter through the air. Maisy appears in her sailor uniform with a camera. She surprises me by going straight to Van and offering him the camera.
She goes back to our guests and helps the other sailor get them to form a line. I wave and engage with some of the children in the crowd. Van comes to kneel in front of me. Our eyes lock, and for a moment, there’s something in the air between us. His lips part, and I can’t help but zero in on them. My tongue darts out to wet mine. Van’s nostrils flare, desire evident in his eyes. He brings the camera with the long lens to his eyes, breaking our connection. Or so I would’ve thought. As he clicks, I can still feel his eyes penetrating through me. It’s never felt like this with any of the other photographers.
“Nerine!”
I turn to the little girl approaching me while holding the illustrated book about my character.
“You’re my favorite mermaid.” She’s wearing a costume that resembles mine and a pink wig.
I grab my special pink pen to autograph her book, then I bring the pen to tap my cheek in thought. “What’s your name, little mermaid?”
“Avery.”
“Avery. What a beautiful name! I love your tail and pink hair.”
“It’s like yours.” She gives me a toothy grin.
“You’re missing something, though.”
Her blue eyes go wide. “I am?”
“Yes. May I?” I pull out a fancy clam that has body glitter in it.
Her eyes light up as she nods. I look to her parents to double-check, and of course they nod. I dab a tiny bit of glitter on her cheeks. “There! You’re the most stunning little mermaid.”
Click. Click. Click. The camera clicking reminds me of my line. I invite Avery to sit with me on my rock, and we both face the camera.
When the shift is over, I quickly slide my tail down and stand. I have to get away from him. I’m not sure what happened during the shift, but it felt far too intimate. I’m a mess of emotions. He’s insulted me left and right today, but the way he looked at me while photographing me… It’s as though he undressed me with each click of the camera. I pull my hairpins out and then yank my wig off. You look better as a fish. I think about his ugly words from earlier. Maybe he was trying to joke or rile me up. Either way, I didn’t appreciate them or his constant mood swings. I grab my backpack and shove my tail and wig inside. Van saunters toward me, but before he can say anything, I speak.
“You look better with a camera covering your face.”