Short story about the complicated love of a man and a merman

(ManxMan Content) When a curious sea-drawn marine biologist takes his leisurely sea trip by himself in his ship, he happens upon his strange origins... and a new love.

"Out of all the things that could wash up on the beach, it had to be a merman" -Bryant Novoa

Book 1 After being a researcher for over six years, Parker finds himself in a very awkward situation. It had nothing to do with his income, friends, or family...but it did have something to do with his job. At the end of a long day of work he decided to come by the docks and say hello to a good fisherman friend, Kenton. It was meant to just be a quick visit, then back home to start dinner. But nope, he stayed just one minute too long after his friend had left, did the one thing he swore he'd never do, and now he was heading home...with a darn merman!

Afibia is dying. The rich vibrant cove of merfolk has been under the wrath of pollutants, poison, and disease. A decision made by the cove's elders requires all merfolk within the region to evacuate within twelve new moons, but Omi, a young merman cannot imagine living anywhere else. Afibia was his home, and the only one he'd ever known. A series of events leads him to the surface world where he tries to strike a deal with Ryan Logan, a man he was convinced could do something about it. - Ryan was confused. For one, he was just a marine biologist with no influence what so ever in his field at large, but the pain in the creature's eyes compelled him to agree. - Cover by @ferret-bird