I reach down and offer him my hand. He stares up at me, his brown eyes filled with wonder as he looks at me. My heart clenches as I take him in. No one has ever looked at me like that. Like I’m incredible and I try to block it out as I pull him up onto deck.
“Mermaid,” he says as soon as we’re safely on the dock.
“What?” I ask, wondering if he’s drunk or hit his head or something.
“Are you a mermaid?” He asks, his voice coming out a little raspy and he coughs slightly.
“Uh, no. Are you drunk?” I ask, inching over to my phone and keys.
“No, I’m not much of a drinker.” He says, shaking out his hair.
Drops of water hit me in the face and I glare at him.
“Sorry,” he says with a sheepish smile.
“Look here,” I say, clicking on the little flashlight attached to my keyring.
I check his eyes, making sure that he’s alright before I turn it off and stand.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, thanks to you.”
“Okay, well have a good night,” I say, turning and grabbing another box before I head on deck of my boat.
I turn when I hear another set of footsteps and see the guy is following me with a box in his arms.
“I’m Owen, by the way.”
“Andie,” I say, leading him on deck and over to the other pile of boxes.
3
Owen
This woman is incredible.
Maybe it’s just been so long since I’ve been around other people but Andie seems different than anyone I’ve ever met. She’s strong and capable. So tough and sarcastic and unapologetically herself. I’m also pretty sure that she’s a mermaid. I mean, when she dove in after me, her black hair fanning out around her head as she swam after me. Not only that, but she swam like a fish.
“Have you always swum like that?” I ask as I help her carry some more boxes onto the ship.
“I’m not a mermaid,” she says without even turning around.
“Whatever you say,” I say, tripping over one of the steps and stumbling onto the deck.
“Sit down, I’m going to get the flashlight and check your eyes again.”
I chuckle at that.
“No need to be concerned. I’ve always been this clumsy.”
“Great,” she deadpans, taking the box from me and setting it on top of some others.
We make one more trip before everything is put away.
“Why are you out here?” She asks, taking a seat on the railing on the deck.
“I’m starting my first diving class tomorrow and I just wanted to take a look around.”