Evermore (19 page)

“Fin!” Dad yelled.

Badger put his hand on my shoulder. “I know you want to give ‘em a kick in the bollocks, but ya need to think this through.”

Dad pushed through the group of mer. “What’s going on?”

I swiveled around and exploded. “This son of a bass is Ash’s kidnapper! She’s wanted for her blood!”

Dad’s eyes widened. He turned to the crowd. “Okay… enough of this gawking. Everyone get back to work!” Once the crowd disbursed, he pulled me aside. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“What you’ve been too busy to do.” I jutted out my jaw.

Dad’s face hardened. “You need to check yourself, Son.”

“No, you do,” I fumed. “You seem to think we’re protected in this bubble you’ve created, but we’re not. We’re being watched and this is my wife we’re talking about.”

“And what did this spineless urchin get away with?” Dad asked exasperated. “Who did he hurt?”

“No one, because I’m handling it.” I didn’t want to mention Girra recognized him.

Dad gave me a glare, apparently warring with what to say next. “Can I suggest you do it away from prying eyes?”

My nostrils flared. Could he give me a freaking break? “I’m handling it.”

The guy grunted, still frozen solid. “What are you going to do to me?”

“Aye, can I suggest ya tell this bloke to be leadin’ his faceless cowards away from Ash,” Badger said steadily. “That’ll stop this.”

Dad shook my head. “I think it’s bigger than that.”

“Let me handle it. It’s my problem.”

Dad lifted his hands. “Are you sure?”

“Yes!” I spat.

“Then be my guest.”

I faced the abductor, tempted to tell him to go play on the freeway, but I knew they’d just send someone else in his place. I needed to find his boss and mind-wipe everyone at ARC. “Just forget everything that’s happened here with the mer and don’t ever come back again.”

His eyes glazed over. “Okay.”

“And if they contact you again, you get a name, and then come back and tell me. You got it?”

“I will,” he said robotically.

“Now get out of here.”

Once the song released him, he crumpled onto the porch. Then he bounded up and ran off, not looking back.

“Well, that’s just great,” Galadriel said from the doorway.

“Don’t worry. We’ll find this company,” I said to her.

“No.” She put her hand on her hip. “Now I’m down a mover.”

Badger laughed, loosening the tension. “Aye. We’ve got ya covered, don’t we boys? Let’s show these movers what we’re made of.”

But I couldn’t calm my mind down. This company knew all about my family, where we lived, about Ash’s blood and our wedding. Would what I’d just sang to him be good enough? Or would they just send someone else. Ash could never be out of our sight.

“Wait,” I barked, turning around. “No one breathes a word to Ash about this or Desirée, understood? No one! I’m not going to ruin her day.”

Galadriel and the rest of the mermaids all nodded, eyes wide.

“You don’t need to worry, Son.” Badger clapped me on the back. “Nothin’s getting by us.”

“Okay,” I said, hoping to get out of my bachelor party.

“But yer comin’ tonight whether you like it or not.”

I closed my eyes and sighed. “As long as Ash goes to Natatoria for the night.”

“Yeah, sure.” Galadriel popped her gum like what had just happened was nothing. “Now can we get back to work? I’ve got a lot to do.”

I screwed up my face. “Yeah.”

“Get to work!” she yelled.

The group snapped to and disbursed, under the command of her shrill voice. But I couldn’t help but watch where the guy ran off to. He might not be back, but someone else would be. And when they did, we’d need to be ready.

I tried to sit once more, as Tatchi grabbed my hand to lead me to the dance floor. “Oh, no you don’t!”

I fought against her tight grip, watching the three G’s laugh and spin in circles under the pulsing lights. Girra had Fin mer-mojo the club owner to let us in early, and we were the only ones here.

“I can’t. I’m so tired,” I begged.

Though it was the middle of the afternoon, all I wanted to do was sleep. I took off the plastic crown with pink feathers and leaned against the back of the booth. Little Joey chose to swim to the beat inside my tummy.

I rubbed my belly. The fact I’d be a mother very shortly felt so surreal. My eyes slid shut, and my mind wandered to little socks and baby powder.

Someone shook my arm moments later. “Wake up, Ash.”

The house lights were on and the music had stopped. I yawned and straightened, confused what was happening. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. We have to go.” Georgia tugged my arm.

“Ice cream?” Girra asked, clearly not wanting this party to end.

My head bobbed automatically. I was always up for ice cream.

After getting giant cones at a shop just a short walk away from the club, we sat by a fountain on the patio and people-watched.

“Do you think they’re in love, for like real?” Girra pointed to a couple holding hands.

Georgia turned to her, brow pinched. “Is there any other kind?”

“Well, the pro—” she started.

Galadriel coughed. “I think they’re totally in love. Just look at them.”

I nibbled on my Rocky Road, too tired to care that Girra had slipped. Another couple walked by and congratulated me. “Can’t I take this crown and sash off yet?”

“No!” Girra pouted out her lip. “This is still part of the party.”

Tatiana pulled out the layout of the wedding on a hand-drawn map. “Okay, so I need you to see this.”

Tiny chairs were spread out like a fan, filling most of the beach. On the parking lot that would be covered in grass, were tables and chairs. Too many guests. How could we not think this would be a disaster?

“No wedding stuff,” Girra demanded. “You promised.”

“This is important. We need to get the ceremony down,” Tatiana said to her.

My eyes, though, couldn’t stop staring at the little black dots posted around the edges.

“What are those?”

Tatiana moistened her lips, her gaze flicking to Galadriel. “Overseers.”

“Overseers?” I asked. “Why?”

“I think she means guards, and it’s overkill if you ask me.” Georgia smirked. “Those three are freaked we’re going to have wedding crashers.”

Girra, Galadriel, and Tatiana gave me fake smiles, but I knew why. They could have just said it was to keep Mr. White Van away from me. I straightened, so as not to show my concern as the near abduction replayed in my mind.

“Oh, that reminds me.” Galadriel bent forward, taking off her necklace. “Here. I’ve been meaning to give you this.”

On the end was a vial filled with black liquid. “What is it?”

She clasped it around my neck, then whispered. “It’s octopus ink. It’ll knock out a whole room of mermen. I always have it on me.”

“Why?” I asked.

She put her hand on my shoulder. “You’re still a princess. You can never be too careful.”

A shiver wove its way through my stomach, jolting little Joey awake. Was this because we were going to Natatoria for the night? The horrific things Tatchi had told me she endured in Natatoria while promised to Azor tensed my shoulders. Was something happening that no one wanted to tell us about? If that was the case, I didn’t want to stay there. Not without Fin.

“Thank you,” I said, unsure what to say.

“What is that?” Georgia asked.

“A good luck charm.” Galadriel winked. “So… enough wedding stuff. Let’s talk about your gift to Fin.”

I blew out a low breath. Between school, swimming, the merling, and the wedding, I’d completely forgotten.

“Well, I’m glad I brought this up,” she finished.

“Is Fin getting me something?” I asked, unsure if I wanted to know the answer, terrified of the pressure to come up with something just as good.

Galadriel laughed. “Uh, yeah… the cottage, silly.”

“Oh, that.” I massaged my temples.

“But don’t worry. I have something I know he wants,” she said, eyes bright.

“You do?” I asked.

Guilt that my practically identical sister knew Fin better than I did hit me. She bit her lip, almost as if she was thinking of something kinky. I wanted to slug her considering my body was nowhere near sexy anymore and had started to resemble a growing blimp.

“His Jeep,” she said in a hushed whisper.

My mouth fell open. I totally didn’t expect her to say that with her look, but she was right. He’d been talking about missing his Jeep every time he drove my ratty car.

“But how would I get it here from Florida?” I asked.

“I made a call to Hans and Sissy, today. They’re arranging transport. It’s coming Friday night.”

I blinked at her.

“Consider it an apology. For everything I put you guys through.” A tear welled in her eye.

Without another thought, I stood and hugged my sister.

“Apology accepted.” A tear slithered down my cheek.

“What happened? Why are they crying?” Georgia whispered to Girra.

Girra jumped up and hugged the two of us, then Tatiana. Georgia just sat dumbfounded. I grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her into the hug.

“I love you girls so much,” I said. “Thank you for the wedding… the house… everything.”

We all cried and hugged. In spite of everything, I had the best friends and family ever.

~|~

Returning to the house alone, I took off the sash and stuffed it in my purse. Once Lucy found out that she, the maid-of-honor, hadn’t been invited to my bachelorette party, there’d be hell to pay. But I was glad she wasn’t there. After having such a touching moment with my biological sisters over ice cream, I couldn’t imagine what would’ve happened with her there spoiling it.

Glancing at the dock, I watched Tatiana, Girra, and Galadriel slip into the lake to return to Natatoria for the night. Though Fin had insisted I stay in the palace while he was gone, after Galadriel’s little gift, I’d made the excuse that I was too tired to swim the distance. Considering I’d slept through most of the bachelorette party, they agreed to let me stay. What they didn’t know was that I’d planned to spend the night alone in our pool.

But I had to go to my room first, then sneak out of my window. Thank Poseidon my stomach wasn’t any bigger, or I’d have to lob myself out like a whale.

Mouthwatering smells of garlic, oregano, and basil hit me as I entered the house.

“There’s the bride.” Mom’s fork clattered to her plate as she stood from the dinner table. “Let me warm up your plate.”

I put down my purse on the sofa, careful to check and make sure the sash was well hidden before I sat down.

“Hello, dear,” Gran said extra loud. “Have fun?”

Lucy looked up at me, and I braced myself for whatever vitriol she’d spew while Mom was out of hearing distance.

“What’s with the crown?”

“Oh!” I pulled the crown off my head and set it on the floor. “Just something Georgia gave me. Spaghetti and meatballs, huh? I’m starved.”

Lucy continued eating but watched me warily. The microwave dinged, signaling my food was heated.

“So, how’d the party go?” Mom handed me my plate before sitting down.

Ix-nay on the arty-pay
, I wanted to say. Why couldn’t mermaids have the power of mind-erasing song, too?

I stuffed a meatball in my mouth and lifted my pointer finger to signal I was chewing. Though I kept my eyes low, I could feel Lucy’s eyes on me.

“What party?” she finally asked.

“The bachelorette,” Mom said.

“In the middle of the afternoon?”

I wanted to sink into my seat.

“In my day, we only had wedding showers. None of the bachelorette business,” Gran started.

My gaze went to Gran as I shoveled food into my mouth and listened to her story. My peripheral vision was tuned into Lucy.

“Where’d you go?” Mom asked.

“Uh… Déjà Vu.” I put my fork down and braced myself for her tantrum. “Sorry, Lucy, it’s an eighteen and older club, otherwise we would have invited you.”

She crunched on her garlic bread and lifted her left shoulder. “No big.”

I prepared my retort, until her response sideswiped me. No big? Gran continued to talk about clubs in her day, and how she’d been a singer in one once before she was twenty-one.

“You haven’t told me this story,” Mom said.

“I haven’t? I’m sure I have.”

I continued to eat, trying to listen, but was confused why Lucy wasn’t making a bigger fuss. Maybe she didn’t want to be involved just as much as I didn’t want her there.

“And the girls’ dresses are done. Wynie and Maggie finished them today. They’re so gorgeous,” Mom said proudly. “Lucy, would you mind trying yours on for Ash?”

“I’ll take care of these,” Gran snagged her plate and mine, taking them to the sink.

Lucy looked at me, and I expected her to make a face. Instead, she grinned, then stood and walked out of the room.

I splayed my hands on the table.

“Do you need help?” Mom asked her.

“I’ve got it.” Lucy then disappeared upstairs.

Mom’s eyes panned to me, then she shrugged. Yeah, I was just as shocked at Lucy’s behavior, too, but didn’t want to say anything to jinx it. What had gotten into her?

“Uh, Mom?” Lucy called down the stairs. “I do need help with the zipper.”

Mom ran upstairs as I walked in the living room and within moments, Lucy walked down in a strapless, emerald ball gown, flowing and long, adorned with beads and sequins sewn along the top. The fabric along the bodice was folded and curved, resembling that of a rose bud.

I gasped, bringing my hand to my mouth. “Oh, my gosh. You’re gorgeous.”

Lucy turned around, smiling. “I think so, too.”

My jaw dropped open. She actually liked the dress?

“The other girls’ are a shade lighter, just to set off the maid of honor, and all,” Mom said.

Lucy curtsied.

“Lovely, my dear. Just lovely,” Gran said.

“I can’t wait to wear it,” Lucy finished. “But I should probably take it off so it doesn’t get ruined.”

“I’ll help you.”

Once Lucy and Mom left the room, I pressed a couch cushion to my mouth to exuberantly squeal. What had happened to change Lucy’s attitude?

“It’s going to be such a beautiful day,” Gran said, startling me before she returned to the kitchen.

I jumped up and spun in a small circle, marveling at everything that had happened. This would be the wedding of my dreams. We’d done it. We’d integrated.

“I’m going to my room for the night,” I said to Gran. “Goodnight.”

“That’s a good idea, dear.” She walked over and kissed me on the forehead. “You need your beauty sleep.”

I took the stairs by twos and rounded the corner to my room.

“Going to bed already?” Lucy came into the hall, back in her street clothes.

“Yeah. I’m kind of tired.” I started to rub my stomach, then dropped my hands to my sides.

“You’re not going to watch that zombie show with me?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. She never asked to watch TV with me. “Maybe tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

I stared at her in shock as she walked into the bathroom and shut the door. Mom walked past, smiling and headed downstairs. So surreal. I returned to my room. Once closing my bedroom door, my phone started to ring.

“Hey, my Ginger Girl,” he said. “We made it okay. How was your bachelorette party?”

“Fine.” I could hear the guys making noise in the background along with waves.

“You going to be okay for the night?”

“Yeah.” The bathroom door opened and Lucy started singing.

“The girls waiting for you?” he asked.

“Uh… yeah,” I lied.

“Well, get outside. I’m not hanging up until you get to the water and go with the girls.”

“Okay.” I didn’t want to tell him I’d changed my mind. “I have to change first.”

“Put me on speaker and tell me everything you’re doing.” His voice grew husky.

My cheeks burned. “Fin! Stop it!”

He laughed. “No one is listening.”

I heard Jax laugh in the background. Had they been drinking or something? “You like to do that to me, don’t you?”

“It’s adorable when you blush. But hurry. Badger is about to steal my phone and chuck it in the Pacific.”

I quickly changed into a dark blue nightgown and opened my window. The evening breeze blew inside, pushing against the curtains. Scanning the parking lot and the street connecting our houses, I didn’t spot Mr. White Van, thank Poseidon. I pocketed the phone and climbed onto the roof, then down the trellis.