“Of course I’ll say yes,” Griffith growls. “But why the fuck do you think you have any say in our relationship, Carl?”
“I’m her brother,” he sputters.
“And he said you can have me in exchange for a mere five kegs of beer,” I add with a cheery grin. “A bargain deal, good for the next five minutes. Better act fast.”
“Done,” Griffith says.
Carl’s face flushes red, and he hangs up on his best friend without even a goodbye. I burst out laughing so loud that Shrimp joins in with a howl.
“You’re the worst,” he mutters.
“And now you have to put up with me even more.” I giggle, then push myself to stand and stretch my arms over my head, the humor of the moment another type of healing.
“You heading to Local Brew?” Carl asks.
“In a bit.” I glance toward the darkening sky, visible through the window. “Since I’m healed and it’s a dark moon night, thought I might take a swim.” Our eyes meet, and I spy the understanding in them. “It’s been too long.”
I worry he’s going to give me a lecture about safety. Claim that it’s too great of a risk that a hunter will show up and catch me in a net or something.
Instead, Carl nods, then scribbles an address on a scrap of paper. “This is Samantha’s.” He names the chief of police, who is also a mermaid.
After the few interactions I’ve had with her since being back in town, I’ve decided I like her a lot more than the past chief, who threatened to arrest me on a weekly basis when I was growing up.
“She lets me use her dock. I’ll give her a heads-up. She won’t mind.”
“Thanks.” I fold up the paper and slip it into my pocket. “For everything.”
He shrugs. “I’m your brother.”
Leaning over, I give him a tight squeeze around the shoulders.
“You’re the best family a girl could have.”
24
CLEMENTINE
The water calls to me,and I can find my way from the road I park on to the shore based on the enticing song alone. Stray roots keep snatching at my feet though, so eventually, I pull up the flashlight on my phone to navigate to Samantha’s dock.
Carl’s boss is kind to let him use her lake access—and me in extension. There are a lot of mythics in this town who go out of their way to support others in need. For the longest time, I only ever thought about the ones who condemned me for my juvenal rebellion, but looking back, I remember plenty trying to help.
People bringing food over. Inviting us to their holiday gatherings. Teachers willing to work with me after hours to get my grades up.
But I was too furious with the world to accept.
Now though, I appreciate the safety of a support system. Having someone to turn to when life gets dangerous. I thought I was keeping myself safe by staying separate, but in the end, hiding didn’t help me. Being surrounded by people who understand and care about me does.
Shrimp orbits me as I navigate through the forest, staying within hearing distance but enjoying the freedom to sniff in the underbrush. I’ll have to brush him when we get back to Griffith’s, untangle all the twigs and debris he’s likely collecting on his adventures.
“Oh,” I gasp. “Look at that.”
Slipping through a break in the trees, I find myself on a stone path down to the bank, where black water stretches out before me. Clicking my light off, I let my eyes adjust, loving how the stars reflect on the surface, making it appear as though there were two skies.
The air smells crisp, the spring night hanging on to the last bit of chill. Rainstorms have filled Lake Galen to the brim, and I can already imagine the cool slide of fresh water over my scales.
The dock bobs slightly with each of my steps, floating rather than fixed. The sway is like a welcoming wave, and my nerves tingle in anticipation.
“Shrimp!” I summon my dog as I begin disrobing.
