“Hi, Darla. This is my girlfriend, Coral.”
The woman sticks out her hand to me, too, so I mimic what Gio did. It feels strange, though, and I wonder if I’m doing it wrong. Why do humans do this? What does it mean?
“Nice to meet you, Coral. I’m Darla Wilson. Come on in.”
Inside, there are more flowers — on the walls, in containers on tables, on the throw pillows, on the rug. It reminds me of the reef, with dozens of different corals fighting for attention. Even the air is thick with the heavy scent of flowers.
A tiny animal with white curly hair comes dancing up to me, its nails clicking on the wood floors. When it puts its front feet on my leg and makes a barking noise, I yelp, and it scurries away.
“Bob, Gio’s here with his girlfriend, Coral.” The woman looks to a large man struggling to get out of a puffy chair. His belly sticks out like he’s pregnant, bending the stripes on his shirt into curves, making me wonder if human men can carry babies, too. His shiny head is hairless on top with a ring of brown hair above his ears.
He holds out his hand as he wobbles over to us, breathing loudly, eyeing Gio and then me. Gio and I take turns shaking his moist hand.
“Bella, your brother is here,” Darla calls out.
“Gio, I’m so glad to see you’re back, safe and sound. Bella tells me you were shipwrecked!” Darla puts a hand on her chest.
They chatter on about the boat and the island for a few minutes. Gio makes no mention of my presence there, and fortunately, the Wilsons don’t get around to asking any questions about me before Bella appears.
Bella comes around the corner, her bronze skin, dark hair, and black clothes looking out of place amongst all the soft-colored flowers. I notice how pretty she is and feel a touch of jealousy. Her hair curls in soft waves, and her makeup is perfectly applied. I realize now how much skill that takes. I still haven’t mastered that. Today I settled for just foundation, blush, and lipstick.
Bella’s expression is carefully blank, but her thoughts tell me she’s anxious. When her eyes flick to me, I smile at her, but she doesn’t smile back. She’s surprised to see me and wonders why I’m here. She doesn’t like me, although she doesn’t have a good reason why. She just resents my presence in her brother’s life, as if we’re in competition for his attention. Are we?
“There’s our little rosebud.” Darla turns to Bella with a kind smile, putting her arm around her shoulders. Bella flinches.
“Hey Bella, good to see you again. You remember Coral?” Gio makes his normally-gruff voice as soft and friendly as possible.
“Why is she here?” Bella curls her lip in a snarl.
Gio frowns but quickly hides it. “I wanted you two to get to know each other better.”
“Whatever.” Bella rolls her eyes.
“Hi Bella, it’s nice to see you again,” I mimic Darla’s polite greeting, holding out my hand, but I drop it when it’s obvious Bella’s not going to shake it.
“Bella, please be polite. Coral is my friend.”
“Hi.” Bella says blandly, her face slack.
“I’ll have her back in a few hours,” Gio promises the Wilsons.
We head to the truck, and Bella climbs in before me, putting herself in the middle between me and Gio.
“Bob and Darla were pleasant. I thought they might be upset that I’m trying to get custody of you.” Gio starts the truck and turns down the radio.
Bella pokes at the buttons, changing the station. “I haven’t told them that’s what you want.”
Gio raises an eyebrow at her.
Bella shrugs, her long, silver earrings brushing her shoulders. “It’s up to me, not them. Where are we going, anyway?”
“To look at boats. I want to see what you think.” Gio smiles, but Bella rolls her eyes.
“Why would I care about boats?” Bella finds a song she likes and turns the volume up, but Gio turns it down again.
“Because I’m thinking maybe we can live on one.”
I can’t prevent the gasp that pulls back my neck at Gio’s words and the images in his mind. Bella looks just as surprised.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“No, I’m serious. Why not? I need a new boat with room for my crew so I can go diving again. Why should I waste money on a house when I’m going to spend half my time on the boat? I’ll just get one that can serve both purposes. That way, I won’t have to worry about leaving you alone when I’m gone. I’ll just take you with me.”
Gio is thrilled with his idea, but I’m not sure. I love the idea of long trips with all the guys on board, but if Bella’s there, will I have to keep our relationship hidden? And how can we keep her from finding out that I’m a mermaid? Does Gio plan to tell her? I trust the guys with my secret, but I don’t know if I can trust her.
She doesn’t seem too keen on the idea, either.
“What about school?”
Gio shrugs. “We’ll go during your vacations and in the summertime. Or you can do homeschool.”
“What about my friends? How will I ever see them if I’m stuck in the middle of the ocean?” Bella crosses her arms and glares at him.
“We’ll only be gone for a few weeks at a time, Bell. You’ll have plenty of time to be with your friends when we’re in port.”
Bella still looks leery, and Gio sighs and scrubs a hand over his head, a nervous habit. Now that his hair is longer, his rubbing leaves it mussed. He looks comical with his hair sticking every which way, but I suppress my laughter. He’s too anxious right now to tolerate being teased.
“Bella, I really want this to work. I want us to be together again. I thought you’d want that, too. Was I wrong? Would you rather stay with the Wilsons? They seem really nice.” I can tell it’s killing Gio to admit that, but more than anything, he wants Bella to be happy, even if that means she never lives with him. I can empathize; I feel the same way about him.
“They are nice. Darla bakes cookies and Bob goes to my basketball games. They have a dog named Peaches. They watch Wheel of Fortune together every night and compete against each other, but Darla always lets Bob win the final round, even though she knows the answer.”
I don’t understand most of what Bella says, but it must mean something to Gio because his face gets stiffer with each sentence as he tries to hide his emotions. When she’s done, Gio looks at her with storm cloud eyes.
“I can’t give you any of that, Bella. I’m a 23-year-old, ex-military bachelor with a few bucks in the bank and a dream of something better. But you’re my only family, and I want to do right by you, whatever that is.”
Bella taps the plastic dolphin hanging from the rearview mirror, making it sway. Her mind drifts fondly back to the day he took her to see the dolphins and bought the toy as a souvenir. She loves her brother, and she knows he loves her, she just hasn’t spend enough time with him to know him that well. “Would I have my own room?”
Gio’s face relaxes, and he grins. “Of course. A girl needs privacy, especially if she lives with a bunch of guys.”
Bella looks intrigued. “Those guys who were at your apartment, that’s your crew? They’d live there, too?”
“Not full time, but they’d go on expeditions with me. They’re cool, I think you’ll like them.”
Bella rubs her hands up and down her jean-clad thighs and smiles. “The blond one was kind of cute.”
I suck in a breath, my eyes going wide. Gio narrows his and growls. “No way. My crew is off-limits. He’s too old for you, and besides, he’s already taken.”
Gio glances at me, and I press my lips together to hide my grin. Bella rolls her eyes.
“Will you let me date if I live with you?”
Gio clenches his jaw and the steering wheel, staring straight ahead. “That depends.”
“On what?”
Gio turns and glares at her. “On who the guy is.”
We pull into the marina then, boats of all different sizes bobbing lazily on the dark, calm water. I breath
e in deeply as soon as I get out of the truck, the sea air and the sound of the water instantly taking me back to the island. Sea gulls flutter around us, taking short hops from one spot to another as they search out food.
Bella walks close to Gio, their elbows brushing. I stay a few steps behind them till Gio notices and reaches for my hand, pulling me next to him.
Gio leads us to a large boat, plain and unattractive, the drab green paint scratched and dull. Bella scrunches her nose. “This looks like a piece of crap. Why don’t you get one like that?” She points to one of the shiny pleasure boats that gleam in the orange glow of dusk.
“This is a working boat, Bella. Those are just toys. Come on, let’s go aboard.”
He helps Bella and me onto the boat deck then raps on the cabin door and hollers, “Hey Rod, it’s Gio. You aboard?”
A thin, older man, with hair the same bronze color as his wrinkled skin, wearing a rumpled tee shirt and shorts, comes out a few moments later. “Gio, good to see you again.”
He sticks a cigarette between his lips then holds out a hand. Gio shakes it. “Rob, this is my sister, Bella, and my girlfriend, Coral. I wanted to show them the boat. See what they think.”
“Well, it’s not much to look at, I doubt your ladies will be impressed, but it’s a mighty fine ship. Perfect for a dive crew.”
“It’s twice as big as my old ship, and faster, too.” Gio pats the hull lovingly.
“Go on, have a look around.” Rod waves his hand.
Gio leads us on a tour of the boat, pointing out the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms. They’re plain, like Rod said, but I don’t mind. The thought of all four of the guys living here together is the only thing I care about. But Bella seems less convinced.
“What do you think, Bell? Maybe this one could be your room?” Gio says when we get to the nicest of the rooms.
“What about her?” She lifts her chin towards me.
“Coral? She’ll stay with me.” Gio’s tone is cautious, hesitant, but the meaning of the words is clear.
Bella scowls. She looks around at the dingy walls and small window then sits down on the narrow bed. “At least there aren’t any flowers in here,” she mutters, and Gio chuckles.
“I take it you’re not a fan of Darla’s decorating style.”
Bella shakes her head and rolls her eyes, a hint of a smile on her lips. Gio sits down next to her and takes her hand, making my stomach pinch. “What do you think, Bella? Could you live here with me? If not, I’m willing to give this all up and get a desk job, buy a house in the suburbs, if that’s what you need. I just want to make you happy.”
His words, so tender and sincere, would warm my heart if they were meant for me. Instead, they douse it in cold water. As much as I believe Gio cares about me, Bella will always come first. And I love him too much to ask him to give her up. I back out of the room slowly, not drawing any attention to myself, so they can talk in private.
When Gio comes out, he looks discouraged, and his thoughts tell me Bella hasn’t offered him any promises. She’s still torn by the idea of leaving the home she’s been in for several years and moving in with a brother she barely knows and a complete stranger, a woman she sees as competition.
Gio doesn’t really understand her hesitation. All he can see is how badly he wants this. I hate to see Gio so unhappy. I have to find a way to help.
Gio thanks Rod for letting us look at the boat and tells him he’ll be in touch later. We head back to the truck as the sun starts to sink into the water.
“Want to get a pizza?” Gio’s voice is hopeful.
“Sure, that sounds good,” Bella concedes.
Gio drives to a tiny, brick restaurant with green and white striped fabric draped above the windows and the word “PIZZA” written in bold letters across the front. I don’t know what pizza is, but the aroma makes my stomach growl as soon as we walk inside. The smell reminds me of the spaghetti that Jude made. I liked that, so hopefully I’ll like pizza, too.
Gio picks a table in a corner and holds out his hand for me to slide into the wide seat. Gio sits next to me, and Bella sits on the other side. A man about Gio’s age with blond hair swooping across his forehead, dressed in jeans and a black tee shirt, comes up to the table. His smile grows wide when he sees me.
“Hey, what can I get you all?” His eyes never leave mine.
Gio glares at him and slips an arm around me. “We’ll take a large pepperoni, two Cokes, and a water. Is that okay, Coral?” His eyes swing towards me.
I nod. He’s not really asking for my opinion, it’s just for the waiter’s benefit. Gio can’t read his thoughts like I can, but he can sense that the man is attracted to me. I smile at Gio’s possessive behavior and take the opportunity to cuddle up to him. The move generates a glare from Bella, though.
Gio peppers Bella with questions about school and home while we wait for the pizza. She blossoms under the attention like Gio is the sun. I know how she feels. Even his body next to mine is enough to warm me. He eats up her happiness, glowing brighter with each smile.
When the pizza arrives — a giant circle, steaming and bubbly — Gio slides a slice onto a plate and hands it to Bella then does the same for me. I stare at it nervously, wondering how I’m supposed to eat it.
Bella picks up a long, white object and peels it open, revealing a knife and fork. Then she carefully holds the pizza in place while she cuts off a bite. She slides the fork under the cut-off piece and lifts it to her mouth, closing her eyes as she savors it.
How am I going to do that? I’ve barely mastered stabbing things with a fork. Balancing the food on top of it seems impossible. I glance at Gio, and he’s doing the same thing.
“What’s wrong, don’t you like pizza?” Bella quirks an eyebrow at my untouched food, secretly hoping I don’t.
“It’s just really hot.” It’s a good excuse. Steam is still curling from the pizza in white wisps.
Gio glances at me and notices the way I’m holding the silverware awkwardly in my hand, knowing I’ll embarrass myself if I even try to use it. He nudges me with his elbow then puts down his own silverware and picks up his slice of pizza with his hands, tearing off a bite with his teeth. Relieved, I do the same, taking a tiny bite and rolling it around in my mouth to test the flavor.
“Umm, this is really good! I like pizza!” I swallow and smile.
Bella shakes her head and flicks her eyes up in a hint of an eye roll. “You act like you’ve never had it before.”
I busy my mouth with chewing to avoid responding.
“So Coral, what do you do?” Bella asks.
I’m taken aback by her sudden interest and confused by the question. Thankfully, Gio jumps in.
“Coral is part of my crew.” He gives me a knowing smile.
Bella’s face falls, then she screws it up into a sneer. “Is that such a good idea, dating your boss?”
Gio flinches then clenches his jaw. “Bella.”
She smirks but doesn’t press the issue. Instead, she asks me, “So how did you meet?”
I stop breathing and my eyes widen, but Gio jumps in again. “She answered an ad I put out, looking for crew members.”
“Why do you keep answering for her? Can’t she talk?” Bella glares at him.
“Because English isn’t her native language. She’s from… the Baltic Islands. She just moved here, looking for work.”
Bella cocks an eyebrow at Gio’s made-up story, but she doesn’t question it.
“So, were you a professional diver back home?”
I shake my head, hoping she doesn’t ask how I got my diving experience.
“And you hired her with no experience? Geez, you must’ve been thinking with the wrong head.”
Gio chokes on his pizza and scowls at her. “Bella.” He gives her an embarrassed look. “She didn’t do it professionally, but Coral is an excellent diver. She’s the one who found the shipwreck and the gold. She’s an invaluable member of the team.”
His
words warm me, even though they annoy Bella. She searches her mind for another probing question but can’t think of one.
We eat our pizza, and eventually Gio excuses himself to use the bathroom. As soon as he’s gone, I look at his sister and make my case.
“Bella, I know you don’t like me, but you don’t need to be worried. The thing your brother cares most about is you. You’re all he ever thinks about, talks about.”
I dip my head and close my eyes, summoning the strength for what I need to say next. “If you hate me, I’ll leave, but please give Gio a chance. Don’t say no to him because of me.”
Bella opens her mouth but then closes it again. She stares at me for a moment before dropping her eyes to her plate and poking at her pizza. “I don’t hate you. I don’t even know you. You’re a total stranger to me.”
“I know. But I don’t want to be. I’m not a stranger to Gio.”
She flicks her hair and her eyes. “Obviously. I’ve never seen him so interested in a girl before. You must be good in bed.”
I hold back a laugh. Of all the guys, Gio has shown the least interest in me, especially when it comes to mating. I shake my head. “Gio and I have not mated.”
Her eyes bug out, and she snorts. “Ooo-kay then. Thanks for telling me. And nobody says mated, the word is fu—”
“Bella.” Gio returns to the table, glaring at her.
Bella’s eyes flash with guilt, but she covers it with a smirk. “What? I was gonna say make love.”
“Either way, it’s not appropriate. That part of our relationship is none of your business. Quit antagonizing Coral.”
I cringe, worried that I’ve made things worse. Now Bella will think Gio is favoring me over her. The silence between us is awkward, so after a few minutes Gio asks us if we’re ready to go.
On the drive back, Bella touches up her makeup, coating her lips in more red lipstick and dabbing powder on her nose. I watch as she does it, impressed by her steady hand.
“You look really pretty, Bella. I’m just learning how to put on makeup. I’m not very good at it yet, but you are very good.”
She looks at me for a moment, judging my sincerity, before she finally says, “Thanks. I could help you sometime, if you want.”
The Mermaid's Journey_A Reverse Harem Page 17