Chapter 15
Mermaid tails complicate everything.
Addy
“U h oh. Here comes trouble,” I greet my boss, Chloe, and the other owners of Five Fathoms Brewery.
Chloe, Sophia, Nova, Maya, and Paisley used to be the biggest troublemakers on Smuggler’s Hideaway. Until they were tamed by love and started having children. Although, ‘tame’ might not be quite the correct term for this group.
Nova sniffs. “I’m not trouble.”
I snort. “Ha! The last time you participated in the Mermaid Lagoon Race, Hudson showed up, dressed you in his t-shirt, and the ovaries of every woman on the island exploded.”
She sighs and gets a dreamy, faraway look in her eyes. “Good times.”
“Where’s Iliana?” Mila asks.
Iliana is Nova’s daughter – the one she was pregnant with when Hudson went all caveman on her – and Mila loves to play with her.
“She’s at home with her dad,” Nova says and I sigh in relief. Mila’s ideas of how to play with a baby aren’t exactly safe .
“But I want to play with her,” Mila pouts.
I motion to the children surrounding us. “You have enough kids to play with.” Kids her own age she won’t accidentally drop on their head.
“I don’t want to play. Can I go home?”
I groan at Penelope’s question. While most of the kids are playing tag or splashing in the lake, she’s reading a book. This one is on the diamond trade. My sister is going to rule the world someday. In the meantime, I want her to have fun. She’s still a kid.
“You signed up to participate in the race.”
Her nose wrinkles. “I didn’t realize everyone would actually dress up as mermaids.”
“It’s the Mermaid Lagoon Races on Smuggler’s Hideaway. What did you expect?”
Her lips purse. “You are correct. I should have anticipated this.”
“Why are you boring?” Mila shouts her question at Penelope.
“Stop embarrassing me,” Otis hisses.
“Mermaid, save me from embarrassed teenagers,” I mutter.
“I’ll save you,” Gage says as he joins us.
My stomach flutters as excitement fills me. I wasn’t expecting to see the football player today. Friends. I remind my stomach. Gage and I are friends. Nothing more.
“You’re obviously busy.” Chloe wags her eyebrows. “We’ll see you later. ”
“Talk about ovaries exploding,” Nova mutters as she wanders off with Chloe and the other women.
“You have the wrong idea,” I holler after them.
Sophia glances back at me over her shoulder. “Sure, we do.” She winks before waving goodbye.
“Hey, songbird.” Gage kisses my cheek once my boss and her friends are out of sight.
“Are you my sister’s boyfriend?” Otis asks and heat explodes on my face.
“Otis,” I hiss. “None of your business.”
He puffs out his chest. “You’re my sister. It’s my business if you’re dating someone.”
Gage ruffles his hair. “Good for you. Looking out for your sister. How would you feel if we were dating?”
“Gage,” I rumble. “We’re not dating.”
He shrugs as if it doesn’t matter one way or another. As if he hasn’t been pushing me for a date since the second we met. “Doesn’t hurt to check how your brother would feel about it.”
“He’d probably be happy since he’s obsessed with football and you play football,” Penelope says.
“Enough!” I slash a hand through the air. “Gage and I aren’t dating, making the question mute.”
“Why not?”
I groan at Otis’s question. “None of your business.”
“It is my business if he’s pressuring you to date him and you don’t want to.”
Gage nods. “I like this kid.”
I slap his chest. “Don’t encourage him. ”
“It’s good he’s protective of you.”
I throw my arms in the air. “Smugglers save me from protective men!”
Gage wraps his arm around my shoulders and hauls me near. “Pretend all you want, but I know the truth.”
I have no response since he’s right. I am happy Otis is acting protective.
I don’t want him sticking his nose in my love life, but it’s good if he’s protective of his younger sisters.
Penelope can handle herself, but Mila is going to need someone to protect her.
Scratch that. The world will need protection from Mila.
A whistle blows and Lana, the mayor of Smuggler’s Rest, climbs onto a picnic table.
“Listen up, mermaids, smugglers, and people who are here because someone promised drinks afterward. Welcome to the Annual Mermaid Lagoon Races !
For our visitors, yes, this is a real competition. Yes, the tails are mandatory. And no, we do not accept responsibility for cramping, glitter inhalation, or bruised egos.
Today, these brave women will attempt to swim the length of the lagoon while wearing sequins, silicone, and varying levels of dignity.
This event is a proud Smuggler’s Hideaway tradition, dating back to the year someone said, ‘I bet I could swim faster in a mermaid tail,’ and absolutely should’ve been ignored.
A few quick reminders before we begin:
One. This is a race, not a reenactment of a shipwreck dive. If you lose a tail, keep swimming. We’ll retrieve it later.
Two. No tripping, tugging, or ‘accidental’ splashing of your competitors. This is a competition of speed and grace. Or at least speed.
Three. If you are wearing extra fins, flotation, or anything that doesn’t naturally grow on a mermaid, please remove it now. We’ll be checking.
And, finally, remember this is about community, courage, and proving once and for all that mermaids are far more athletic than pirates.
On three, Hideaway mermaids rule the tide! One, two, three—!”
I thrust my fist in the air. “Hideaway mermaids rule the tide!”
“Which one is your tail?” Gage nods to the two mermaid tails laying on the ground near us.
“Neither. I’m not participating.”
“Why not?”
“I need to watch the kids.”
“I can watch them.”
I blink up at him. “You’re going to watch my sisters? Make sure Penelope doesn’t drown? Mila doesn’t get kidnapped by anyone who promises her cake? And Otis doesn’t sneak off to hang out with his friends?”
“I got this.” He nudges me toward the booth with mermaid tails. “Get your tail. I bet you’re a beautiful mermaid.”
I narrow my eyes. “Am I not a beautiful human?”
“You being a beautiful human is what makes me certain you’ll be a beautiful mermaid.”
“Nice catch, Yard-Getter.”
He smirks. “Catching is part of my job and I excel at my job.”
I hesitate. “I haven’t worn a mermaid tail in years.”
“Says the woman who won the cannonball contest against Tanner.”
“Tanner has an inflated sense of self.”
He chuckles. “What a nice way of saying he’s conceited.”
“Go ahead, Addy. I’ll help Gage watch Penelope and Mila.”
My eyes widen at Otis’s remark. “You’re going to help?”
“He wants to quiz Gage about all things football,” Penelope says.
“Okay. I’ll race but no one gets to make fun of my tail later.” I march off to the mermaid tail booth to the sound of my family’s laughter. Well, my family and Gage. Gage isn’t part of my family.
My heart squeezes. How would it feel to have a man be a part of my family? I’ve never had a man in my family before. I can’t remember my dad since he left when I was two. And Otis, Penelope, and Mila all have different dads. None of whom stuck around.
Enough. I force those thoughts away. Gage is not joining the family.
The first race starts in five minutes. I rush to pick out a tail and put it on before hopping to the starting line.
“Go, Addy!”
I glance over at Gage. He has Mila on his shoulders. Penelope has actually shut her book and is paying attention to the world around her. Meanwhile, Otis is staring up at Gage like he hangs the moon. He’s a miracle worker.
The mayor stands at the starting line.
“Swimmers, take your places. Crowd, prepare to cheer. And lifeguards… please stay alert. On my count. Tails up, chins high, and may the fastest mermaid win!”
The whistle blows and I dive into the water. I ignore the other swimmers as I race to the other side of the lagoon.
A long time ago – before I realized how desperate my home situation was – I loved to swim. I was even on the swim team one year in middle school. Until I needed a new swimsuit and found out there was no money.
Someone elbows me but I ignore her and keep swimming. I reach the other side of the lagoon and lift my head out of the water.
“You won!” Gage yells.
“What?” I scan the lagoon. Most of the other mermaids are still swimming. Only two other women have finished. “I won?”
He drags me out of the water and into his arms. “You won!”
Mila jumps up and down. “You won! You won! You won!”
Penelope smiles. “Congratulations!”
Otis claps me on the back. “Good job, sis.”
“What’s your prize?” Gage asks.
There’s only one prize on Smuggler’s Hideaway. “A bottle of local moonshine.”
“Excellent. You can bring it with you to the barbecue.”
“What barbecue? ”
“My team is having a barbecue on the beach.”
“I can’t go.” No matter how much I’d enjoy it. His teammates are a ball. Childish and annoying, but tons of fun. But it’s not to be. “Mom’s working. I need to watch the kids.”
“Otis volunteered to babysit tonight.”
I lift my eyebrow. “Otis volunteered?”
He shrugs. “I may have offered him money for pizza if he stays home with his sisters tonight. He should watch them more often anyway.”
I hold up a hand. “I am not having this discussion with you. Help me down.”
He carries me to an empty table with my siblings trailing us. He sets me down and studies the tail I’m wearing. “How do I help get you out of your tail? Or is this permanent now?”
I giggle. “There’s a zipper in the back.”
“Turn around.”
I hesitate. My backside is not the most attractive element of my body. It’s too big for one.
“Songbird, turn around.”
Damn the pirates. I can’t resist him when he lowers his voice and commands me. I shiver.
He wraps a towel around my shoulders before lowering the zipper. He traces his hands up my sides and goosebumps explode.
I want to jump into his arms before letting him remove the rest of my clothes. Before he traces the rest of my skin with those large hands. I shiver again .
“Are you cold?” He frowns before picking me up. “Girls, get your sister’s clothes.”
“What are you doing?”
“Carrying you to the changing booths so you can get into some dry clothes. You’re not catching a cold on my watch.”
“It’s eighty-five degrees out. I’m not cold.”
“But you’re shivering.”
I don’t respond. I let the blush blossoming on my cheeks and spreading down my neck to my chest answer for me.
“Oh.” His brown eyes darken until the green flecks are visible. How would those eyes look when he—
I shut those thoughts down. “It doesn’t mean anything. We’re just friends.”
No matter how much I want more. No matter how much my body yearns for more. It’s not to be.