Page 11 of Beauty and the Beach

“If we go to the Megaplex in Kahului, I should be all right.”

“All right from who?” he asked, leaning in. “Is there a dangerous man out to get you? Or merman?”

Ana laughed. “No, not dangerous. I just can't be recognized as a mermaid walking, you know?"

"Roget dat."

"I know it seems stupid, but Don makes the rules.”

“Don.” Makoa looked off in the distance. “Like a mafia Don? Only underwater?”

“No, not really,” Ana said. “He’s my boss.”

“He’s the kahuna?” Makoa said. “Do I have to ask his permission to date you?”

“No,” she scoffed. “It’s none of his business who I date or where I go. To be honest, he’s been acting really flaky and if it wasn’t for my contract, I’d be out of there.”

“Your mermaid contract?” Makoa said, swimming with her towards shore.

“Yeah, one more month unless I decide to sign on again.”

“Are you going to?”

Ana rubbed her hand up and down his muscular chest. “I don’t know.”

"Why did you become a mermaid?"

"It was my last shot. It was either that or go home to Alaska."

"I think I'd become a mermaid too. I'm not built for the cold." Makoa held her to him and jumped up into a wave.

"Whee," she said, and rested her cheek on his chest while they slowly floated back to shore.

"What did you do before you were a mermaid?"

"I was a bartender."

"I sometimes think about giving up my job for the ocean. Not like a mermaid, though."

"It's not a hard gig. Beats pouring draft beers to bad tippers."

“I hate bad tippers. If you decide not to stay a mermaid, you can always come and work at Palekaiko. We hire all the time. Room and board.”

“Yeah?” she perked up.

“Of course, it’s nothing like being a mermaid. I love the ocean. I’d never leave it if I could. I wish I could become a merman.” He suddenly clamped his hands over his mouth and looked at her in alarm. “I didn’t mean that,” Makoa said from behind his fingers.

“It’s okay,” Ana reassured him. “I’m not sure Don wants the competition.” She was darned sure she didn’t want Maud and the other girls ogling all over her new boyfriend.

“I wish things were better for you,” he said. “You can use that as my last wish instead.” He glanced down at his legs and wiggled his toes.

She hugged him. “If only wishes came true. I’d be a Hollywood movie star.”

“Wishes do come true. They just don’t come free.”

“Hey,” Ana said, breaking out into a smile. “I know that. That’s from Into the Woods. Stephen Sondheim’s musicals are my favorite. They’re always so real with darkness lurking all around. I would love to be Mrs. Lovett from Sweeney Todd.”

“I don’t know nothin’ about dat.” Makoa shrugged. “I’m not going to become a merman, right?”

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