Evergreen (Mer Tales, Book 2)

by Pandos, Brenda

  “Yeah, you’re fine. Stay on highway 40, then go south on 283. We’ve got about 200 miles or so to go.”

  She turned and settled in her seat, watching the horizon as if we were high-tailing it from the police. I shook my head and went back to the map on the phone. Instead of checking out the lay of the land, I zoomed in on Tahoe. The little pin I’d placed on top of her school ridiculed me. She was there, surrounded by the deep everblue of Tahoe, and I wasn’t. The growing anxiety I’d made a mistake left me filled with dread. Should I have fought harder to stay?

  I took out her picture and reread her letter once more. Just a few more hours, then I could call. The time ticked on slower, as if it were doing it on purpose.

  Dad said to focus on the future. Mom suggested to take things one day at a time. I didn’t think I could do it. Ash was my air for life. Without her, I’d surely shrivel up like a fish out of water and die.

  I was never going to survive this.

  Never.

  4

  :::

  ASH

  Tuesday afternoon, April 12th

  I slammed my bedroom door shut and sunk to the floor, out of breath. I’d run the entire way home from Gran’s store, marking off every hour in my notebook until this moment. I willed the phone to ring.

  “Ring, darn it!”

  The phone finally came to life in my hands.

  “Fin.” My throat accidentally pushed out a painful sigh.

  “There you are, my ginger girl,” he said, relief lacing his voice.

  I closed my eyes, wanting with all of my might to crawl into the phone and into his arms. His voice was sweet to the taste, like melty marshmallows in my mouth, crispy from a campfire. I tapered back another breath threatening to explode from my lungs and grinned. “I’ve missed you so much.”

  “Me, too.”

  Our souls entwined over the line as a heavy tear trickled down my cheek. Muscles in my throat constricted and I worried he’d hear how torturous today had been, day three of our separation.

  “It’s so good to hear your voice,” he said.

  I gulped as another tear followed the first. “Yours, too.”

  “It’s going to be okay, Ash. We can do this.”

  “I know—”

  “Please don’t cry.”

  The pain in his voice wracked my chest. Why couldn’t I control myself? I never cried.

  I swallowed again and forced everything deep. “I’m okay. Where are you?”

  “Oklahoma, the Sooner state, though I’m not sure what a Sooner is exactly. We’re at Lake Altus—”

  I jumped up and typed in the address on Google maps on my laptop. I zoomed in on the lake and imagined I could see him.

  “—how was your first day back at school?”

  I bit my lip as a guilt-drenched vision of Callahan’s disappointment flipped through my mind like a fish out of water. I didn’t get a chance to settle things before swim practice. “It was okay.”

  “Did people ask about your miraculous recovery at practice?” Fin repressed a snicker.

  “Kind of.” I eased into a rhythm with his humor, my emotions under better control. “My tattoo, though, glowed in the water during my shower this morning. I had to put on a Band-Aid to cover it up. I thought maybe someone might see it, especially at practice.”

  “How could you cover up the symbol of our love with a Band-Aid? Where’s the ring I gave you?”

  “It wouldn’t fit now. I had to move it to the other hand, Sorry.”

  He chuckled. “Didn’t I tell you your promising tattoo would glow underwater?”

  “No.” A grin pushed up my lips. “But… yeah. I’m going to need to keep a stash of Band-Aids close by—”

  “Or you could wear a sparkly white glove.” He broke out in a rendition of Michael Jackson’s, Billy Jean.

  I snorted and started to laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “I can moon walk. Want to see?”

  “Oh, puh-lease.”

  The phone jostled as if he were actually dancing wherever he was. He made a high-pitched squeal.

  “Any other requests? ‘Cause you know I’m bad, I’m bad, you know it. Who’s bad?”

  “Goofball.” I moved to my bed and snuggled up in the covers. This was the stuff I’d miss—I couldn’t believe he wasn’t next door anymore. I hesitated, afraid to tell him about our new FAU stalker. “There’s something I need to talk to you about—another problem.”

  He snorted slightly. “Besides the fact that you hate my singing? Hit me.”

  “I don’t hate your singing.” I giggled, enamored at the fact he could always make me smile, and clutched the phone tighter to my ear, still worried about his reaction to what I’d say next. “I just found out Georgia is going to Florida Atlantic.” I let the words hang in the air, hoping the admission would make them untrue. His silence unnerved me. “Apparently, she thinks going to the same college as me would be a good idea.”

  “Hmmm,” he said plainly.

  My gut pinched. “I’m sorry. I promise I didn’t encourage her. I wanted to warn you now. She’s going to follow me everywhere,” and never stop talking, “I know it.”

  “Does she sing, too? ‘Cause I’m looking for some back-up singers.”

  I frowned. “Seriously?”

  “Well, I hadn’t planned on sharing you that much, but if she insists, she can tag along with us, but only at school and band practice.”

  I blinked. Did he say he’d be at school with me? “Don’t you think that’ll be awkward?”

  “How else are we going to rehearse if she’s not there?”

  “Stop joking. I meant the being at school part.”

  He snickered. “Well, what else did you expect me to do all day? Hang out at the boring beach house with my parents and text pester you?”

  “Well—”

  “If I can’t stalk you in class, then I’ll legally attend. I’m sure the Dean of Students would love for me to join their fine establishment, how’s that?”

  “It’s not that simple. You need to apply, and I think the deadline has passed—”

  “Deadline, shmedline. With my amazing mer mind-powers, I’ve got it under control.”

  I bit my lip and tried not to smile. “I thought you could only erase memories.”

  “Oh, my dear ginger, there’s a vast array of things I can do.” He laughed evilly.

  My mouth hung open. “Really?”

  “I’m able to plant thoughts. How about I persuade a boyfriend for Georgia? That’ll keep her busy.”

  My gasp couldn’t be withheld this time. “You can do that?”

  He laughed again—problem solved. Elation pulsed throughout my body, making me shiver. Though I’d never be able to concentrate with him sitting with me in class, I couldn’t imagine a better idea. “I kind of like the way you think.”

  “Believe me, that’s all I’ve been doing in these muck holes across your beautiful country the past three days. I figured I should at least learn a trade if I planned to care for you the rest of your life.”

  A trade? “Why would you need a trade?” I asked.

  “Because I like to do things on my own merit whenever possible.”

  “But you said you were going to use fishy powers on the Dean.”

  “Sometimes I make rare exceptions, but as a human, I won’t have my super fishy powers any longer.”

  “Human?” I swallowed hard and sat up. Though I wasn’t sure who’d convert to whose race in the end, I didn’t expect him to choose humanity over his mer life—at least not that easily. “When did you decide this?”

  “Well, I haven’t officially decided, but I figured I should be prepared just in case.”

  “But you said, if you were to change into a human, the promise bond would break. What if you forget—?” I couldn’t make my lips say it—that he’d forget he loved me.

  “Never. I adored you before the kiss, and I’ll adore you even more after, especially at night.” He laughed ev
illy again, making my belly quiver. “You’re stuck with me, Ashlyn Frances soon to be Helton, whether you like it or not. I plan to be happy and in love forever, surrounded by our kids or merlings—however we do it is your choice.”

  I gulped again, giddy and sad at the same time, my throat way too dry for this conversation. Too much pressure. How could I choose? Either way, one of us would say good-bye to our family and friends, and shed the thing that made us who we were and what we knew. Neither seemed win/win. I wouldn’t feel right if Fin sacrificed everything to join my human world, and I didn’t want to become a fugitive of Natatoria.

  A deserted island sounded more blissful. But eventually, we’d need to live somewhere practical and provide for ourselves and children apparently. Which world would be most supportive of our relationship? Which was worthy of our sacrifice? I wanted parts of both.

  “Now you’re freaking me out, Ash. Did I scare you?”

  “Well, kind of.”

  Fin exhaled in defeat. “My ginger girl, there’s no pressure. We’ll work this out when you get to Florida. I’m sorry I mentioned it. We have lots of time to decide.”

  I pressed out a sigh. Easy for him to say. I gnawed on my nail, anxious to change the subject before my brain imploded. “Too bad you can’t use persuasion on me.”

  Fin launched into an unexpected coughing fit, propelling me upright in bed once again. “Wait. Did you? Before?”

  “Yeah… well, but I can explain.”

  “You’d better.” I pursed my lips in an attempt to sound upset. “What did you do to me?”

  “Nothing big.” He laughed some more.

  “What?”

  He couldn’t stop laughing.

  “Fin. What?!”

  “Okay, okay. When we were kids, we were swimming and Tatch thought it would be funny if I showed you my tail and—”

  “And?”

  “You freaked out. Like I was Jaws or something. Screamed bloody murder. We had to swim after you and calm you down.”

  “I screamed? Really?”

  “Yeah… it’s etched in my mind forever, believe me.”

  “And you erased my memory?” I gulped. “What else did you make me do? Tell the truth, Fin.”

  “Nothing else. That was the only time, I swear.” He continued to laugh nervously, which made me believe there was more to the story than he let on.

  “Humph.” I tucked one arm under the other. He needed to be punished a while longer for keeping such a huge secret from me.

  “Ash, please. I promise. If you were here, you could look in my eyes and know I didn’t do anything else. At least not that day.”

  “What?”

  “Kidding!”

  I softened in response to his adorable voice. How could I not believe him? “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

  “Because you’d freaked, and I was afraid you’d do it again. And I can’t persuade you now.”

  “Well, that’s good to know, unless—” I squinted my eyes. A traitorous smile cracked on my lips. “Is there something you’d like to persuade me to do?”

  His laugh, nervous and deep, tickled my tummy. “Now that you mention it… ” He breathed in slow.

  “All you have to do is ask.” My heart galloped at my words, at my boldness.

  “Oh, do I now.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “If you were here, there’s no telling what I’d want.”

  I giggled, my cheeks warming as I snuggled back into my covers. “Too bad I’m not, or else… ” I paused, secretly hoping his mind would wander the same direction mine was.

  “You’re such a tease,” he said before he groaned. Then a ripping noise flooded the speaker as something crashed in the background. Fin’s voice sounded further away. “Oh, crap.”

  “What? What’s wrong?” I threw off my covers and jumped up.

  “I—crap—I did it again.”

  “Did what again?”

  He groaned. “Missed the sunset and busted through another pair of jeans.”

  “You what? Oh.” I repressed a chuckle, visualizing the sight.

  “I need to get in the lake before anyone sees me.”

  The image of Fin dragging his tail behind him like a seal toward the water, danced through my mind. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kept you so long.”

  “It’s my fault,” he said. “I lose track of time when I’m talking to you. Until tomorrow?”

  “Yes, please. Same time, same station.”

  “Remember I love you—now and forever, Ash.” Goose bumps spread over my skin.

  “I love you, too. Please be careful.”

  “Always. Goodnight.”

  As the phone went dead, a piece of my sanity shredded like his jeans, and I clutched my chest. This torture would be the slow death of me. I turned to the window and noted the sun beaming sickening happiness over the tops of snowy mountains. Different time zones. Different worlds.

  “Ash,” Mom called from downstairs. “There’s someone here to see you.”

  I shoved my phone in my pocket and breezed down the stairs expecting to see Georgia, and stopped mid-stride. Colin, Fin’s traitorous cousin, stood on the porch. Mom’s lips were propped in a weird smile.

  “Colin’s here to see you.”

  I narrowed my eyes. What the heck does he want?

  He grinned, his dimples pressing small divots into his cheeks, and tilted his head. “Hey, Ashlyn.”

  I walked over, my fists balled up at my sides. Why couldn’t the sun have set here, too?

  Unfortunately, it made sense why he’d showed up. Yesterday, after I thought all the mermen had vacated Fin’s house, I’d spotted him spying on me from the deck. We met a few weeks ago, but now I knew what he was—a merman like his cousin. He’d been responsible for turning Fin over to the bad mer guys of Natatoria. Did Colin know I was promised to Fin? Was he here to quiz me? It didn’t matter. No amount of his fishy mer mojo would get me to spill. I was looking forward to watching his attempts fail.

  Mom cracked a sappy smile and nudged my shoulder, pushing me toward him. He must have used some on her to get her to be so cordial. I shooed Colin away and joined him on the porch, closing the front door behind me.

  “What’s up?” I planted my hand firmly on my hip.

  “I’m wondering if you know where my cousin Fin went?”

  A spark of anger ignited inside, and it took all my control not to slap his cocky smirk off his face. I pushed my lips into a fake smile. “He went somewhere?”

  “You’d seemed friendly before. Thought he’d tell you where.”

  “He told you we were friendly?” I smiled. “That’s news to me.”

  I knew exactly what he referred to—the night he’d betrayed Fin and Tatchi at the beach.

  “Oh, I must have been mistaken.” Colin flashed a confident smile. “You wanna go out sometime?”

  “Really?” I squinted at him in disbelief.

  His cockiness melted away. “Well, yeah. Why not?”

  I fluttered my eyelashes innocently, enjoying my power over him. His cuteness might have worked on me before, but now I saw through his mer swagger. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”

  His nostrils flared while he clenched his jaw. “Wow.” He turned toward Fin’s house and took a deep breath.

  “You seem surprised.”

  “Well, yeah. I mean, the last time, you were all over me—” He furrowed his brow.

  “You’re delusional.” I turned my head to the side and sneered. “I’m taken. So… sorry.”

  “Poseidon!” he barked and then before I could do anything, musical words came from his lips. “Dump whoever you’re seeing and go out with me!”

  I didn’t expect him to mojo me so quickly. I tried not to react and kept a straight face while my brain screamed for me to tell him to shove it. But I couldn’t. Not unless I wanted to reveal I knew his precious secret and that my promise blocked him.

  “All right.” My stomach clamped in disg
ust. If Fin knew I was entertaining a date with the enemy, he’d come back to Tahoe tomorrow and rip Colin’s head off. But curiosity captured the reigns. Why, if I said I knew nothing, would he want to date me?