to.
The rest of the evening was spent with Nana, Karma, Major, and Bodie in the hospital room. Coach Cross even stopped in to check on me. He told me to take as much time as I needed to recover, but I planned to get back in the pool as soon as I got out of the hospital.
I sent everyone back to the hotel to get some sleep. They didn’t want to leave me alone but I finally convinced them I would be fine surrounded by the doctors and nurses. When I closed my eyes that night, I was incredibly thankful to be alive and whole.
I was cleared to leave the next morning. We all loaded into Major’s truck and he drove us back to Bay State. I was excused from classes for the rest of the week. But the day after we got back, I went to the pool during morning practice. Nana came with me to watch. My teammates were happy to see me and told me they were glad I was okay.
Nana left the next Saturday. Major and I drove her back to the airport in San Francisco. I was sad to see her go but Major promised me he would fly her back out for Thanksgiving.
Instead of going back to the university Major took me out to dinner. While we were waiting to order he looked nervous.
“Are you alright?” I asked him after the waitress took our drink order.
“Yeah, I’m good. Do you know what you want to eat?”
I took another look at the menu and decided on the grilled chicken and walnut salad. The waitress came back with our drinks and we ordered.
“Major, I can tell something’s on your mind. Please tell me.”
We were in one of those u-shaped booths and he slid over so that he was right next to me.
“I do have something I need to tell you.” He swallowed hard and took my hands in his. “I want you to know that I figured out what I’m about to tell you before what happened last weekend. Actually, it was the kiss we shared that morning that made me realize it. A mermaid’s kiss changed my life.” He grinned and I smiled back. “Kayleigh, I love you. Knowing you has made me a better person and I’ll be forever grateful that we met that first day on the beach.”
My smile turned into a full face grin. “I love you too Major. I think I have for a while now but I was afraid to admit it. You have helped me so much and I’ll never be able to repay you.”
“You repay me every day just by being you. I have something for you.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small box and handed it to me.
I opened it and a tear escaped my eye. It was a beautiful mermaid necklace. I don’t know how there were so many colors in the gold but the tail shone just like a real mermaid would have.
“Major, it’s beautiful. I love it. Thank you.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Can you put it on me?”
“Of course.” He took it out of the box and clasped it on my neck.
I hugged him. “How did I get so lucky?”
“It was fate. You were just in the right place at the right time to meet all this fabulousness,” he said gesturing to his whole body.
I snorted out a laugh but I couldn’t disagree.
We finished dinner and drove back to the university. Major held my hand the whole way back. I didn’t think the night could get any better until I walked into our dorm room. There was soft music playing and candles everywhere.
“Karma?” I questioned.
“Yeah. She’s a lifesaver. Dance with me?”
I nodded. We swayed to the music and everything felt so right. Major kissed me and the gentle kiss quickly became so much more. We spent the rest of the night exploring each other’s bodies. It was sexy and sensual and hot. It was a night I’d never forget.
“I love you,” Major said, as he covered us with the blanket.
I laid my head on his chest and put my arm over him. “I love you, too.” I closed my eyes with a sense of happiness I felt would last forever.
Epilogue
Kayleigh
It had been almost a month since Wes had kidnapped me. I’d decided to see a therapist after all and she was helping me a lot. I hadn’t realized at the time how much that event would affect me afterward.
Major and I were still doing great. He’d been spending so much time at our dorm that he’d gotten us a bigger bed. It was probably against the rules, but then Major Davenport wasn’t exactly a fan of rules.
It was Thanksgiving Day and we were at Major’s parent's place. He’d kept his word and flown Nana in for the weekend. I had been nervous to meet his parents but it turned out I had nothing to worry about. I liked them immediately and they seemed thrilled to meet the woman who’d made such a difference in their son’s life. Karma was her usual charming self and won them over in a matter of minutes.
As we were sitting around the dinner table I took a moment to appreciate the positive things in my life and I was grateful for each and every one of them. I was thankful for having a wonderful Nana to raise me and for meeting Karma when I was just a shy kid. I was thankful for the ability and opportunity to swim which had led me to move halfway across the country to Bay State University. Finally, I was thankful for giving Major a chance. He had helped more than he’d ever know and I would never forget the feeling of thinking I’d never see him again. I was going to live my life to the fullest and be grateful for being alive every day.
I leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“What was that for?” he asked smiling.
“Just for being you.”
He gave me a quick kiss back. “If you’d asked me a few months ago if mermaids existed, I’d have said no. But a kiss from one changed my life so I know they are real. I’ll believe in mermaids for the rest of my life.”
He had a way with words that made my heart flutter. “I love you,” I told him.
“I love you too.”
I smiled at him and glanced around the table. I knew I could handle anything with the support of the people sitting here with me. I looked forward to seeing where life would take me and I welcomed the future with open arms.
The End