Roman felt like the blood slowed in his veins, and the beat of his heart thumped loudly in his ears.
“Are you saying they are?”
“I’m asking what you believe.”
“Like I said, I’ve never given it much thought. I think that since there’s so little evidence mermaids exist, my assumption has always been that they don’t.”
“Why do you say there is little evidence?”
“I mean, there’s no pictures. No video. No scientific studies done on how they would breathe or exist in the ocean. What do they eat? How do they mate? Do they form societies? What are their rules? Is there a hierarchy like in wolf packs? Just, you know, about a ton of questions to be answered.”
“Yet for thousands of years, in almost every culture or society that has lived by the water or been seafaring, there are tales of mermaids. Stories abound through the centuries about mermaids. Sirens and mermaids are woven into the fabric of the myths and legends of the ocean. Do you think those stories have come across time from imagination only? Before the internet? Before societies even knew there were other humans across the world from them? It wasn’t like people were consistently working together, thousands of years ago, to create a big myth about mermaids that would forever implant itself as one big practical joke for generations to come. Don’t you think that, when you look at the data as a whole across all populations, there are too many accounts and eyewitnesses to dismiss?”
“Hmmm.” Roman was at a loss for words as his mind whirled with the possibilities.
“It’s easier to explain away something you don’t know, something that makes you uncomfortable, as just, you know, a dolphin in the water, than it is to entertain the possibility of something more. But I feel like you wouldn’t do that. Not really… not when you’ve just had an experience like you did. What do you say, then, Roman? Are you Team Skeptical or Team Believer?”
“I…well, I can’t dismiss what just happened to me. But I’m also a skeptic, just in the fact that I like to gather data about what I don’t understand.”
“That’s fair. I can offer you more data. Or send you to a lovely store downtown that has some books and information on our local legends. But tell me…” Irma stepped forward and pressed her hand to Roman’s chest. “What do you feel?”
“I feel like I was given a great gift tonight,” Roman said, surprising himself, and yet he knew it to be true. Even if he’d been a fool and strode right into the ocean, ready to swim into darkness to find the one singing that incredible song, he knew he’d been given a rare glimpse into something he didn’t fully understand.
“It is a gift,” Irma said, stepping back, a smile on her face. “Use it wisely.”
“Irma… what are you?” Roman whispered, his gaze trailing over the glow that seemed to hover over her skin. In the light of the moon she easily could have been a mermaid or a sea goddess, the waves dancing at her feet.
“I’m an everywoman, Roman. Of the sea, the earth, and the stars. She who walks the land and dances on the water.”
Roman had no words as Irma all but floated away, as ethereal and lithe on the beach as the everywoman she described. For a moment Roman felt his heart stop as the song, now embedded in his soul, rose from the water once more. It stopped as quickly as it had begun, leaving Roman aching for something… more. When an image of Avery flashed through his mind, he shoved it away, instead lingering by the water, hoping against hope that the sirens would sing for him once more.
Chapter 15
“What do you think the challenge will be today? Climbing a tree to get a coconut?” Avery asked Cherylynn the next morning as they got ready for another day of filming. The night before had been draining, with tearful goodbyes to the three women who had to leave – though why the girl who had fought with Mindy over the red wine incident was suddenly hugging her and crying about her leaving was beyond Avery. The level of fakeness in this group was certainly rising.
“Oh god, I hope not. If they demean us with another dumb exercise, I’m going to be annoyed,” Cherylynn said, teasing her blond roots with a comb.
“I don’t feel like they’re setting the bar very high on these so-called challenges,” Avery said, settling back onto the bed to watch Cherylynn put herself together. She’d already put on her Ruby-approved outfit and had thrown her curls up in a high ponytail. Though Cherylynn had made tsking noises at her lack of makeup, Avery didn’t really care. All that mattered was that she had a healthy dose of sunscreen covering her and that she was mentally prepared for whatever the producers threw at them today.
Thinking of the producers, Avery wondered where Roman had gone last night. She’d seen him briefly, filming the beginning of the goodbye ceremony, but then he’d disappeared. Did he get to take breaks while filming? Wasn’t it his job to be on top of what the cameramen were doing? Annoyed with herself for even thinking of him, she tuned back into Cherylynn’s chatter.
“Beckett looked hot last night. What do you think of him?”
“I think… well, I think he seems very nice,” Avery said carefully.
“He does seem nice. And hot,” Cherylynn offered.
“I also think he might just be on here to promote his business.”
“Duh, that’s what most people come on here for,” Cherylynn laughed, not fussed that Beckett might be using these women as a tool for promotion.
“But… doesn’t that bother you? Aren’t we supposed to be falling in love and all that?”
“I think everyone is here to play the game.”
“I just… doesn’t this all feel a little weird? The fakeness of it all?” Avery wondered as she plucked at a loose thread at the edge of her shorts.
“Not if you know what you’re getting into from the beginning. I think where it goes wrong is when people don’t have the appropriate expectations. If anyone comes on here truly looking for love, their feelings will probably get hurt in the long run. But if you manage your expectations – play the game and see where it goes – you’ll come out of this none the worse for wear, your heart in one piece, maybe much richer, but overall you’ll have something cool to add to your list of life experiences.”
“I admire your ability to look at things that way. I haven’t watched enough reality shows to understand if people are really thinking they’ll fall in love or not. But from all the crying and carrying on, it seems like a lot of people get their feelings hurt.”
“I suspect a lot of it is their egos getting hurt, hon, not their hearts,” Cherylynn observed.
Avery marveled at her – this Texas straight-shooter who dropped advice bombs like a mini-Yoda.
“I guess looking like a fool on national television has to sting a bit,” Avery admitted as she stood and followed Cherylynn out of the room.
They trailed behind the other girls leaving their rooms, down the deathtrap of a staircase, and out to the pool deck where Jack, Beckett, and Roman already waited. Avery immediately noticed that Roman was looking at her, but she couldn’t read his expression; his eyes were covered once more by his aviator sunglasses. He seemed tense today, and she wondered why – or why she felt like she could read that energy from him across the pool.
“Good morning, ladies,” Jack announced, signaling the beginning of another day of filming. Avery glanced longingly at the coffee station behind her, but straightened her shoulders and placed a smile on her face for the cameras. “We hope you got a good night’s rest after the events of last night. Cherylynn, congratulations again on making the cut to stay.”
The group cheered as Cherylynn smiled and performed a dramatic bow.
“Today we’re sending you off on a bit of an adventure,” Jack said with a smile. Avery noticed he was careful with his words – never revealing too much. She’d picked up on that yesterday, when he’d neatly avoided answering questions from the group. “You’ll be able to pack a bag to bring with you on this adventure, and I’d say plan for an overnight. That means bring your glasses, contacts – anything tha
t is vitally important to you for an overnight stay.”
“Where are we going?” one woman piped up.
Jack just leveled a look at her. “You’ll find out more about your adventure as you go along,” he said evenly, and turned to Beckett.
“Ladies, I’ll be joining you on your adventure, to get to know you each a little better,” Beckett said. He looked rested this morning. “The more time we spend together, the easier I’ll be able to see which one of you lovely ladies is the one for me.”
Great, Avery thought, but kept the comment to herself.
“Is this an outdoor adventure?” Lisette asked.
“It is an outdoor adventure, so you’ll want to bring what you think is necessary for the climate here.”
The women were dismissed to pack and get ready for their day, and they immediately began discussing their outfits. Avery beelined it to the snack basket and loaded her bag with granola bars. Filling her reusable water bottle, she stopped by the coffee station to fuel herself with caffeine for the day ahead.
“Good morning, Avery,” Beckett said at her side.
Avery turned to smile at him. Technically he’d been nothing but nice to her, and she needed to put on a show for him.
“Good morning, Beckett. Are you excited to explore a bit of the island today?” Avery asked.
“I am. They flew me in right before filming started so I haven’t had much time to look around. It seems pretty sick though.”
Avery hesitated for a moment, then remembered that West Coast people used ‘sick’ to mean ‘cool.’
“It does. Plus a change of scenery will be nice. How are you getting on? Is it a lot to remember everyone’s names and keep up with it all?” Avery genuinely wondered how he managed.
“Not too bad. I’m used to remembering a whole slew of names each week as we get new kids in at camp, so this isn’t too rough for me. I think it’s more trying to decide who’s being fake and who’s being real,” Beckett admitted, leaning one hip against the counter as he studied her.
“Ah, you can sense that as well? I wondered how you would know,” Avery said. She was surprised that he had picked up on the acting skills of some of the women. She’d found some men to be blinded by beauty.
“Let’s just say that I have no illusions about why many of the women are here. I’m doing my best to cut through all that and find out more about each woman.”
“Best of luck on that one.” Avery found herself laughing up at him.
“I’ll need it. Why are you here, Avery?” Beckett smiled at her, softening his inquiry.
“Honestly? Because I’d been stuck in a rut and needed to be pushed out of my comfort zone. I’m not sure this is the exact way I wanted to do it, but nevertheless, here I am.”
“That’s probably the first honest answer I’ve heard to that question.” Beckett laughed and looked around the room before his gaze landed back on her.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be hurtful,” Avery said, quickly realizing she probably should have said she was looking for love, or something along those lines. “But I do think it might be tricky to learn to love someone under these circumstances.”
“I do too. But at the very least, maybe I’ll be able to determine if I have a strong attraction and a liking for someone. I think that could eventually blossom into love after the cameras are gone, don’t you?”
“I… I truly hadn’t thought about it like that.” Avery was surprised by Beckett’s introspection. Perhaps there was more to this one than met the eye, she thought as she added some cream to her coffee.
“It’s a starting point. And hey, if it does work out, you’d have a really cool ‘how we met’ story to tell your children.” Beckett smiled at her and straightened, nodding at Jack, who was waving to him from across the room. “I have to go. See you later, Avery. I enjoyed talking to you.”
“You too, Beckett,” Avery said, and blushed when he dropped a kiss on her cheek and sauntered away.
Looking up, she saw Roman studying her from where he stood in the kitchen, and she froze at his expression. Ignoring the touch of annoyance that tightened in her gut, she nodded a good morning to him before heading up to her room. If they were going off on an adventure, Avery wanted to be prepared – not fumbling about and fawning over a man. Pushing Roman from her mind, she raced into her bedroom and dumped the granola bars on her bed. Going to the closet, she pulled out her emergency provision suitcase.
“Girl, what are you doing? You think we’re packing for a wilderness safari?” Cherylynn put her hands on her hips and studied Avery, who had dropped to her knees and was digging through her bag.
“I like to be prepared. Notice they didn’t say luxury yacht or spa day. They said adventure. I’m just going to bring a few things that could be helpful.”
“I mean, a first aid kit is smart. But mosquito netting? Is that a hammock?” Cherylynn laughed.
“You won’t be laughing if you have to sleep on the ground tonight. I have an extra.” Avery raised an eyebrow at Cherylynn when she snatched it from her hands.
“You’re right, I’m wrong, and you’re amazing,” Cherylynn decided. “Let’s see what we can both fit. Here I was so focused on outfits and makeup that I didn’t even think we might be sleeping outside.”
“We might not. But I’m on top of it, if we are.”
“Have I told you that I think you’re incredibly smart?”
“Probably, but you can tell me again.”
“You’re brilliant, Avery. I’m glad you’re my friend.”
“And I am glad you’re mine. Now get your pack, I want to see if we can fit extra water in.”
“You can’t be serious – you think they won’t give us water?”
“I’ll bring a knife in case we have to crack open coconuts,” Avery decided, missing Cherylynn’s eyeroll behind her back.
Nevertheless, when the call came that it was time to leave, both women felt ready to tackle whatever Siren Island might throw at them.
Chapter 16
“It wouldn’t be a trip to an island in the Caribbean without a treasure hunt,” Jack said, standing by the pool.
The women were gathered on the deck around the pool, staring at Jack like he was insane. Aside from Cherylynn and Avery, most of the woman were wearing slinky dresses and sexy sandals. Avery had gone with performance-wear shorts that dried quickly, a loose tank top, and a sun shirt that was tied around her waist. Completing her look was a broad-brimmed straw sunhat, her backpack, and Teva sandals that were easy to walk in, both in and out of the water. She watched as realization dawned on the women’s faces and they glanced down at themselves. “You must divide into three teams immediately.”
Lisette, Cherylynn, Avery, and Sara, the carpenter from the last challenge, all nudged closer together and sent nods to each other. Avery wasn’t entirely sure what skills Lisette would bring to the table, but despite her outwardly ditsy vibe, Avery had found the woman to be fairly easygoing.
“Now that you have your teams, you’ll each receive a map and set off on your treasure hunt at once. Beckett will join each team in turn as you head out on your journey. Best of luck!” Jack smiled his blindingly white smile at them. Avery imagined he would be kicking it poolside with a martini about five minutes after they left the villa.
One girl, in a sequined beach coverup, raised her hand to ask, “Can we just have a moment to return to our rooms quickly?”
“I’m sorry, but that isn’t an option. Your challenge starts now,” Jack said, and motioned for the women to head toward the beach where Beckett stood, maps in hand. The cameramen followed the group as the women glanced warily around and realized they just might not have properly prepared themselves for their task.
“Well, I don’t think I’ll be needing these,” Lisette decided and quickly took off her platform sandals, tossing them beneath a nearby lounge chair.
“Are you okay to go barefoot?”
“Sure, no problem. I’m a California surfer g
irl. We run around barefoot all the time. I know I look high maintenance, but I can hack the elements,” Lisette said, casually braiding her long sweep of hair and tying it off with a scrunchie she pulled from her wrist. Pulling a trucker-style hat from a woven bag slung over her shoulder, she tucked it on her head and smiled at the group.
“Perfect. What about you, Sara? Are you okay?” Avery studied the carpenter, noting that even though she wore a short fitted black dress, she also had a small bag on her shoulder.
“I’m fine. I can slip my flip-flops off if we’re mucking through the water, and I brought a change of clothes, water, and sunscreen with me in my bag.”
“I’d say we’re more prepared than most. Let’s saddle up and ride, ladies,” Cherylynn said, a jaunty cowboy hat tucked on her head.
Beckett smiled at the group as they approached him, already lagging slightly behind the others, and held up the last map.
“I believe I have the key to your treasure, my ladies,” Beckett said, his smile flashing white in his tanned face.
“And I have the key to your happiness,” Lisette said smoothly, arching her back and preening for him. Beckett’s grin widened as he took in Lisette’s considerable assets before handing the map over to Sara without even looking at her. Sara rolled her eyes, and Avery bit back a grin, liking the woman more and more. It was nice to know that not every person here was fake or catty. Sleep had been difficult for her last night; she’d spent a lot of time thinking about comfort zones and what she was doing here. Avery missed talking to Ruby, who, despite her impulsive and headstrong nature, had always been a solid sounding board for her. She felt adrift here, Avery realized, and though she was doing her best to be involved in the game, it all felt so inauthentic to her. Was she just wasting her time?
“Care to take a peek, Avery?” Cherylynn asked, brandishing the map. Avery snapped out of her reverie, though she wished she’d had another cup of coffee, and moved closer to study the hand-drawn map. It was artfully aged to look like an old pirate map. Avery imagined some intern in an office spilling coffee on the paper and burning the edges to make it look worn and old. A rough outline of the island filled the page, with a large X marking a spot toward the south. In the bottom, there were clues written in what they must have thought was how pirates spoke.
A Good Chance (The Siren Island Series Book 3) Page 9