Merman's Kiss (Merman's Kiss, Book 1)

Chapter One

My head throbs like someone smashed it against a pile of rocks.

I try to move my limbs, but they feel like they’re buried in cement. When I pry my eyes open, I’m blinded by something bright and strong. The sun? My eyes snap shut and tears seep out.

The throbbing travels from the back of my head to my forehead. I moan as images come. Memories. It all rushes back to me. The killer waves this morning, almost as high as towers. The itchy sensation pricking every nerve of my body as I imagined riding them. My stupid self ignoring the warning bells telling me it was too dangerous. Paddling into the ocean and popping onto my board. Getting swallowed by the massive wave. Thrashing my arms and legs as my mouth desperately sought oxygen, only to get salt water instead. My limbs growing weaker until I blacked out.

Something touches my fingers. No, touching isn’t the right word. Rubbing, maybe? It feels nice. Soothing. Slowly, I open my eyes. A face stares down at me. The sun shines behind his head, creating a halo.

An angel? Am I in heaven?

He has dark blue eyes and long, golden hair brushing his shoulders. Definitely an angel. I am in heaven.

“Cassie!” a voice calls.

The angel disappears and I hear a splash. I try to raise my head, but the throbbing turns into hammering, and I groan. When I turn my head to the side, I realize I’m on some sort of boulder in the middle of the ocean.

“Cassie!” the voice calls again. It sounds like my best friend, Leah. I hear an engine. She must be on a boat or Jet Ski.

I open my mouth to call to her, but nothing comes out. The action alone takes up so much energy that my eyes droop.

Through the fog in my head, I hear the engine approach. A hand shakes my shoulder. “Cassie? Are you okay?”

I open one eye. “Leah?”

She’s sitting on a Jet Ski, dressed in her wetsuit. Her green eyes are wide in alarm. “Thank God you’re alive.”

When I try to sit up, my head spins. “Easy,” she says, climbing out of the Jet Ski and settling near me on the boulder. She wraps an arm around my shoulder and helps me into a sitting position. “We need to get you to the hospital.”

“I’m fine,” I mutter. “What happened?”

“You wiped out. I saw you go down and I grabbed the Jet Ski to go after you. I’m taking you to the hospital. You have a nasty bump on your head.”

I finger the spot. Ouch. “How did I end up on the boulder?”

Her eyebrows crease. She scratches her dark brown hair. “Did you swim here and pass out?” She takes me in her arms, hugging me close. “You have no idea how freaked out I was when I saw you lying here. I’m so glad you’re okay.” She pulls out of the hug. “I was searching forever. I really thought…” Her voice cracks. “I really thought you died. Don’t you ever do anything like that again!”

I stare down at the small waves hitting the boulder. “There was a guy. An angel. An angel saved me.”

“An angel?” She surveys the area. “I didn’t see anyone.”

“Maybe I went to heaven.”

She doesn’t say anything. I know what she’s thinking—that I hit my head and am talking nonsense. Am I?

“And when you called my name, he disappeared. I’m telling you the truth, Leah. I’m not crazy.”

“O-kay. What did Angel Guy look like?”