“Who?”
She gives me thisI’m not stupidlook. “You’ve been here for hours helping me. I promise I’ll be okay. I’ve got Carson anyway. So go.” She flicks water at me.
“I’m not going to look for him. I’m sure he’s busy, so?—”
She waves more water with the back of her hand. It almost lands on me before I move out of the way.
“Go,” she orders.
“You know I’m older than you, right?”
“I’m not sure what that has to do with anything, but don’t make me cuss you out. I’m a mermaid and we don’t do that.” She smiles primly.
I roll my eyes. “I’m just going to see what he’s doing, but I’ll be back.”
“Please don’t.” She sounds too excited as I walk away.
There’re too many people and so many things, I don’t think I’ll ever spot him. I don’t even know why I’m bothering. I should go home, and I almost turn the other way until I hear his voice.
He’s standing a little farther away from everything and when I pivot my head a little more, I see he’s not alone. He’s with two people, an older man and woman.
Whatever they’re talking about is none of my business and just as I’m about to look away, Daniel’s eyes connect with mine. I must be hallucinating because he looks relieved to see me.
You need to leave! You need to walk away!a voice screams in my head.
But my legs do the opposite.
31
DANIEL
“I gotbusy but it’s not a big deal. Nothing is for certain anyway.” My chest constricts, making it hard to inhale or think.
“Muy ocupado para contestar nuestras llamadas también?”Dad’s thick brow quirks up, and he folds his arms over his chest.
My tight smile almost wavers. “Sus llamadas? La única que me llama es mamá.Unless your phone stopped working and you’ve been using Mom’s?”
He hates when I do that, switching languages. I didn’t mean to, but it happened and I’m sure he’ll find a way to make it seem like I’m starting something. Though I did give him a smart-ass reply, so I guess I did start something.
I try to breathe in again, but I can’t and now my hands are trembling at my sides. I feel dizzy. My head is spinning and I feel like I’m both drowning while simultaneously feeling like I have a ton of bricks on my chest.
He takes a step forward, dropping his arms to his side, but Mom places a hand on his chest, stopping him from getting any closer.
“You better watch how you’re speaking to me,” he threatens, voice dropping an octave.
I want to speak, but my lips feel glued together and…fuck…I can’t breathe. I inhale again, desperately, urgently, begging my lungs to work.
“Julio, that’s enough.” She pierces him with a discontented look and then pins me with the same look. “Both of you. Why didn’t you tell us about the email?”
White dots dance in my vision, my heart and lungs slowly shutting down from the lack of oxygen until I lock eyes with my favorite pair.
Breathing becomes a little easier, but still the rest of my body is trying to catch up and work together. Some days it takes me longer to feel somewhat decent, but right now everything is working as is. Still, something looms in the corner. My hands are still shaky and sweaty, my heart is racing, and I still feel a little dizzy.
But for the most part, I feel steady, grounded, and I’m able to breathe.
Then she approaches us and once again I’m struggling. There’s never a day that goes by without thinking about being around her, but right now is not one of those days.
I don’t want Josie to see me like this or to think that I’m broken because I’m not.
