Between the Land and the Sea - By Derrolyn Anderson Page 0,102
at my place. I’m not working today. I can bring you home later.”
“OK, fine, if you’re sure,” I said, “I’ll just be a few minutes.” I was starting to feel like a burden. I didn’t want Ethan’s pity, I wanted to go out surfing with him. I wanted my normal life back. I wished I’d never seen Lorelei and never found out about the aquatic side of my family. I limped down the hall to tell Cruz about the change of plans. I managed to bathe while keeping my feet dry, and slipped into jeans and a pair of soft sheepskin boots that were roomy enough to keep the pressure off my bandages.
Cruz dropped us off and Ethan insisted on carrying me up to his apartment, sneaking a kiss in on the way up the stairs. We settled down on the couch, holding hands and talking about anything but mermaids, when we were both startled by a knock on the door. Ethan went to get it, and I could hear Long’s voice ask if he was up for some surfing. I felt a twinge of guilt. I knew there was a contest coming up and Ethan was eager to get back to the waves. I was starting to feel like a real drag on him, and I hated it.
I came up behind him, shocking Long with my sudden appearance, “You should go– you can drop me off at home on the way. I want you to go,” I said, “You have to get back on that horse, right?”
Ethan turned to look at me, calculating, “Only if you come too, and promise to stay on the beach.”
Long just stared. He’d kept his distance from me ever since Shayla’s near drowning, and I got the feeling he thought I was some kind of witch.
“Long, you remember Marina,” Ethan gestured to me. Long nodded, avoiding eye contact. I got the impression Ethan thought it was very amusing.
“Why don’t you just take me home?” I said, dreading the thought of facing all the surfer girls.
“No can do,” he said annoyingly. “We agreed, remember?” Now Long was really confused.
“Fine,” I said, not wanting to argue the point in front of Long.
“I’ll meet you guys there,” said Ethan. Long took off quickly, like he couldn’t get out of my presence fast enough.
I groaned, “They all think I’m some kinda freak.”
Ethan laughed and put his arms around me. “You’re my kinda freak,” he said, and kissed me until I didn’t care anymore.
We went to the beach on the far side of the pier, having to pass by the cement path at the base of it. He made me wait in the truck while he hauled his gear down and came back to carry me down.
“Doctor’s orders,” he said, but I made him promise to put me down at the sand so everyone didn’t see me being carried around like an invalid. When we got to the place on the pavement where I had cut myself I tried not to look. The glass had been swept away, but the dark stains on the cement made me shudder. Ethan looked down and back at me wide eyed. You could clearly tell where I had stood, sat on the curb and even see the blackened dried blood footprints leading to the trash can.
“It’s always worse than you make it out to be,” he said grimly.
“Call me an optimist,” I said, looking around, “Now put me down.” We approached the little group of surfers. The guys greeted Ethan and nodded at me. They all knew about what had happened with Shayla, and viewed me with a strange mixture of suspicion and respect.
There was a group of girls that hung out and watched; I was ashamed to be in their ranks. I sighed in frustration, wishing that my feet were healed so I could be alone with Ethan, playing joyfully in the waves. It probably wouldn’t be such a good idea now that I knew the mermaids wanted me. Ethan took out a blanket from his bag and spread it out on the sand for me to sit on.
He stripped down to put on his wetsuit, and I could see all the girls watching him. I couldn’t blame them, because he was hard not to look at, but I felt a twinge of jealousy anyway.
He dropped to his knees and looked me in the eyes, “Are you going to be alright?”