"Hey, Adrian," she asked when they hiked back to her car. "I have arequest."
"Name it," Adrian said. He'd do anything to win her over at thispoint.
"I want to sleep on the beach tonight," she said. "Have a bonfire, maybe grill some stuff. The sound of the waves helps me think, and sleeping under the stars just sounds...romantic."
It did, kind of, but Adrian wanted to know what she was getting at. "I'm cool with that," he said. "There's a spot I know where we won't bebothered."
Gathering supplies took longer than either one of them thought it would, because when they got back Adrian wanted to play his Atari a bit more, and while grocery shopping they couldn't agree on what to grill. Isa wanted hamburgers and Adrian, of course, insisted on fish, so they agreed to disagree and got differentthings.
It was past eight o clock and the summer sun was setting when they finally made it back to the beach. Adrian took her to his secluded spot by his cove and started a fire while Isa laid a collection of pillows and blankets all around. She burned charcoal on the portable grill they'd brought, and when the grill was finally hot enough Adrian tried to show off and told her he'd do thecooking.
That was a disastrous idea. The fish and the burger were both blacker than the charcoal when Adrian got through with them. Isa laughed and took over, making dinner herself. By the time they finally ate the moon was rising and stars had already dotted the expansivenavysky.
"It is so peaceful out here," Isa said, sighing with contentment. She inhaled, lied back against the blanket, and said, "There's nothing I love more than the smell of the sea. It's like you can almost taste the saltwater."
"Nothing?" Adriansmiled.
"Maybe the feel of a board, and riding a wave." She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "I don't need much. Despite what everyone says about me being highmaintenance."
"What do you want out of life?" he askedcuriously
"A shack on an island. One where I'm preferably left alone," she said under herbreath.
Adrian moved closer to her. "I don't think youmeanthat."
She put her head against his shoulder. "Don't take it that way. You're different, Adrian. You're not like anyone I've everknown."
"Isn't that a goodthing?"
"It's a hell of a good thing. I'm happier for it." The fire crackled, and she said, "But Adrian, I think I need to ask yousomething."
Was this it? He hoped she didn't ask if he loved her. He couldn't tell her that. "What is it?" he asked, heartpounding.
Isa swallowed. "I know what you are. And I don't think it's fair for you to hide it from meanymore."
Adrian was in full-on panic mode now. "What doyoumean?"
"Don't play dumb. I saw you change the day at the docks. You're amerman."
Adrian's innards bottomedout. "I'm..."
"Please don't lie." Isa turned to face him. "I get why you wouldn't tell me. I mean, it's kind of crazy, isn't it? But I really want to know more about you. I know it was you that day I saw you in the water on my uncle's tour boat, and I've figured out the only way you could’ve saved me after I nearly drowned that day was if you could swim better than a human could. But we've been in the water all day and I haven't seen you change once. What'sgoingon?"
Adrian swallowed. "Okay. You figured it out, I'm amerman."
Isa's face went from certain to unsure. Disbelief crossed her eyes, like she couldn't believe her crazy theories were actually true. She pointed at the water. "Show me," she said. "Show meyourtail."
"I can't," he said. "Itwon'twork."
"Are you playing a prank on me?" Isa's face grew slightly pink. "Because if you are, it's reallymessedup."
"No." He grabbed her hands. "I swear on my life, I'm telling the truth. But I can't change back right now because I made a deal with someone to becomehuman."
"Why would you do that?" she whispered. "You had everything. You were mythical. You could live in the sea forever. Why would you want to come on shore and be withhumans?"
"Because," Adrian started, "after I saved you, I really wanted to spend more time with you. And the only way I could do that is if I had legs, not fins. In my mermaid form I can change into a human for a short time, but it wasn't enough. A few hours goes by like seconds when I'm with you. I neededmoretime."
"When you were naked on the beach... did you just change then?" Isawondered.
