My bookings have been steady, and for once, I’m ahead instead of just staying afloat. I’ve paid off my credit cards, and I’m finally able to set money aside for my next trip—something strategic to boost my social media presence. The goal is to invest in a few top-tier custom tails and hit some of the most iconic beach locations in the United States I follow other pro mermaids online to track trends—new tail designs, choreography, even waterproof makeup hacks. It’s not just about playing dress-up—it’s a brand I’m building, and every splash counts.
I’m sitting on the bench in the break room enjoying a chicken salad between performances when Chloe walks in to grab her pink seashell bra from her locker.
“Hey, Chloe. Thanks again for covering my shift the other weekend last minute.”
She smiles, tossing her long raven hair over her shoulder. “Happy to. Alice said something about a trip to Vegas with a hot guy?” she asks, watching me with her steely green eyes, wanting me to spill the tea.
“Yeah,” I nervously chuckle and take a bite of my chicken salad. “He invited me to see a concert. It was a blast.”
“Sweet.” She tucks her pink bra gently into her bag. “Rachel, me, and some other mergirls were thinking about going to the Mermaid Con in Maryland that’s coming up. Do you wanna join? We can all share a hotel room.”
I take another bite, chewing slowly to buy a few extra seconds. Chloe’s the same age as me and has been a mermaid for three years. She’s talented, even landed a commercial for sunscreen a few months ago. Sometimes we perform in the same shows. Rachel’s about three years younger than both of us and still fairly new. She passed her deep dive certification just six months ago. Part of me knows I should be more social with the other mermaids and make more of an effort to connect with them, to be part of the team. But deep down, I’m focused on my solo career—and it’s hard not to see them as competition.
After taking a sip of water, I reply, “Thanks for the invite. But I need to check my calendar.” A polite way of saying no thank you.
She scratches the purple octopus tattoo on her left forearm. “No worries. Just let me know if your schedule clears up.”
As Chloe walks out, Alice breezes in, smelling of violets and vodka.
“Shouldn’t that be tuna?” she mocks, opening her locker and grabbing an apple to snack on.
“Don’t start.” I point my fork at her.
She sits beside me and takes a giant bite out of her apple.
“Can you not chew like a horse? Geez.” I flick a piece of apple that landed on my leg to the floor.
She swallows, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “What bit your ass today?”
I scoop another bite of chicken salad onto a cracker and sigh. “I’m sorry. I like being busy, and all these events mean my name is getting out there, but it also means no sleep.” I shove food in my mouth before saying more.
Alice bumps her shoulder against mine. “I hear you, girl. Respect for all this hard work you’re doing.”
“How are you and Emily?”
Alice turns her apple and sinks her teeth into its red skin, but doesn’t bite down. “It’s complicated. We’re too alike.”
“Dating yourself can be exhausting.” I squeeze her thigh. “I think you two are cute together.”
Alice shrugs, losing interest in the apple, and drops it into her lap. “There’s no argument there. Did you see the pics I posted? We’re gorgeous.” She adjusts the arrow ring around her middle finger. “I just don’t want to lose our spark if we get serious. You know?”
“Yeah.” I give her a side hug. “It’s fun to hook up and fool around, but sometimes the heart does want to settle and focus on one person.”
She leans her head against my shoulder, scrolling through her phone. The words between us trail off, as if the air’s been sucked out of the conversation, leaving it suspended in awkward silence.
Suddenly, Alice sits up so fast it makes my heart leap. She covers her mouth with one hand, her eyes wide as saucers.
“Listen to this,” she says in a sing-song voice. Her lips curl in a mischievous smirk. “Playing my guitar on the beach while missing my girl.” She shows me a picture of Sully with a red wooden guitar on his lap staring out over the ocean.
A sinking feeling takes over as if the bench suddenly turned into quicksand and is swallowing me whole. “He could be talking about anyone.” I pop the last bite of cracker into my mouth and stand, hoping to avoid seeing Sully’s gorgeous face anymore.
But I’ve been avoiding him. The week’s almost over, and I still haven’t replied to him.
“I don’t know. People are commenting, asking who the mystery girl is, and he’s replying. In one, he writes,I might not have known her long, but she’s the type of person who just fits into my life. Like she belonged there all along, and now the puzzle is complete. Now I sound cliché.And in another, he talks about your eyes.Evergreen eyes stare back at me. Full of secrets and sorrow, yet sparkle brighter than the most priceless jade when she laughs.He’s pouring his heart out on social media. Kinda sounds like a Hallmark card, but he’s trying.”
The floor beneath me seems to drop, as if everything around me is shifting out of place. My phone buzzes, cutting through the chaos of thoughts spiraling in my mind.
Dinner tonight? I can pick you up. Promise not to bite. Unless you want me to.
