Page 13 of Mermaid For You

“Sure thing… toots.”

She halts in her steps, and I’m pretty sure her teeth are cracking. She looks over her shoulder and gives me the most go to hell look.

For the next couple of hours, Ava practically snarls at me between beaming at customers. It’s eerie how quickly she can turn on the charm and then immediately transfer into a she-devil. Margie appears and Ava becomes an angel in her presence.

“Kids, I have some exciting news. We got a new bubble machine. Van, you’ll have to load it and start it because Ava has her tail on.”

“Fun!” Ava beams.

“That’s going to make the pictures even better.”

“That’s the plan. Alright, I’ll leave you two to it. Wait. Y’all having a good time together?”

“The best!” Ava grins yet somehow manages to still side-eye me another go to hell.

I opt for a thumbs-up, to which she rolls her eyes.

Margie looks to us and slowly nods. “I had a feeling about you two. I knew y’all would work great together.”

Some intuition. Margie leaves, so I walk over to turn on the bubble machine. Bubbles immediately fly out, spraying me in the face. I cough and swat as I escape the iridescent soap attack.

“I hope you choke on bubbles.”

I turn quickly at Ava’s sour mumble, but she only gives me a sickly sweet smile. Alright. So this is how it’s going to be.

Bring it, angelfish.

Chapter Six

AVA

It’s Tuesday! Taste of Magnolia, here I come! I’m practically walking on air as I skip to my favorite food truck. Cora Delaney is a gift to humanity. I look forward to Tuesdays more than any other day.

Right on schedule, I find Alexi waiting for me on the sidewalk that leads to the parking lot where Taste of Magnolia parks. “About time. I’m staaar-ving.”

“So dramatic.”

Alexi shrugs. “Greeks invented drama. What’d you expect? You know what else Greeks are known for? Eating. We like food. We like giving and receiving food. I would like to receive food. Or give you food. Either way, as long as I get to eat.”

“Uh-oh. Have we reached the point of no return?”

“Yes. My stomach is eating itself. Ava, I love you, but if I don’t eat within the next ten minutes, you’re going to have to call my mother to explain my demise.”

I loop my arm through his muscular one. Alexi may look like a hitman for the mafia, but he’s a muscled-up teddy bear. We made out once when I was tipsy and feeling frisky. I might’ve been drinking, but I was sober enough to realize it was weird. We both agreed right then, while awkwardly wiping spit off our lips, that we are better as friends.

We pass Van, who narrows his eyes on our arms. I can’t help but groan.

“Don’t let that prick get under your skin,” Alexi says.

“I’m not. I haven’t given that pigheaded jerk a single thought.” That’s a lie, but I’ll never admit it.

Alexi shakes his head. “Just don’t get crushed again by some dumbass. I still want to kick that Blake fucker’s ass.”

“Which is unnecessary.”

“That’s debatable.”

“Changing the subject—are you excited for Go Fishing Day?”

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