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

Chapter Two

“I still have no clue where I’m going this fall.” Leah bends down and picks a pebble off the beach.

I shield my eyes as I stare out toward the ocean. The waves are flat this morning. Leah and I hoped to squeeze in some surfing, but the ocean has a mind of its own. Most of the other surfers have gone back home. “You need to decide soon,” I say. “It’s mid-June.”

Her fingers close over the pebble. “I won’t let Frankie pressure me into following him to New Jersey. I won’t. New Jersey? That’s so far away.”

We pick up walking again. I miss doing this—strolling along the beach, enjoying the beauty of nature and the company of my best friend. The only times I’m at the beach is when I surf and when I’m teaching my surfing class.

“He shouldn’t pressure you to leave Florida,” I say. “If he loves you, he should try to make a long distance relationship work.”

She tosses the pebble into the ocean. “Why do men suck?”

I kick my toes into the wet sand. “Because they are made of suck.”

My dad pops into my head, followed closely by my ex, Kyle. I shake my shoulders, hoping to cast the memories into the ocean.

After a few seconds of silence, Leah says, “You okay with living alone?”

I shrug. “It’s growing on me.”

“She loves you, you know.”

Yeah, I know. She had me when she wasn’t ready. Now she has a chance to start over. Maybe any mom would do the same.

“Hey, Cass?”

“Hmm?”

“What’s that down there?”

I shield my eyes again as I squint in the distance. I can’t make it out, but someone—or something—is lying by the tide.

“You think it’s some drunk?”

I squint again, but the sun makes it hard to see him clearly. “I’m not sure.”

We head over to him, it, whatever, and I stop short when I can see him clearly. And I say him, because—

“Holy shit. He’s naked.” Leah clamps her hands over her mouth. “He’s naked.”

I jump back like his lack of clothes might inflict me with a contagious disease. The guy looks around our age, maybe a little older. His skin is very light, like he hasn’t spent enough time on the beach. His arm is draped over his face, so I can’t see if I know him. But based on his body type—nope.

I know he’s alive, because his chest rises and falls.

“Oh my God, those muscles. And that hair.” Leah’s eyes are ravaging his body.

“Maybe we should call the—oh my God.” I fall down on my knees and push his arm off his face.

“Cassie, what are you…?” She grabs my arm. “Don’t touch him!”

That beautiful face. The golden hair. My mouth hangs open. “It’s him.”

“Him? Him what?”

“Angel Guy.” I look up at her. “This is the guy who saved me.” I stare down at his face. I didn’t hallucinate. I didn’t imagine him. My heart flutters in my chest. He’s real.

Leah releases my arm and falls down next to me. “This is the guy who saved you?”

“Unless you’re hallucinating with me, yes, this is the guy.”