Page 34 of Beauty and the Beach

“That’s how they breathe underwater,” a mother in the row ahead of them, stage whispered to her son.

Once Ana came into the tank, Makoa couldn’t take his eyes off her. She never reached for a hose, but she was never on the stage for more than a few minutes either. It was a fun play and Makoa would have enjoyed it if Ana wasn’t in it. Her makeup was garish and she didn’t look like the woman he had been just slow dancing with. She looked like the passionate muse of love poetry like her biography said. A mermaid like that would never be interested in him.

He was trying to figure out who she really was. Was she a human in a mermaid costume like the other women in the tank or was she a creature of the sea who signed a contract to be human when her acting career didn’t take off?

As the show went on, Makoa could see where the costumes attached to the women’s torsos. It took a while, but he saw that Ana’s tail was made of the same material. He felt sick. Did she lie to him? Or was he really that stupid?

He could picture Hani and Kai teasing the shit out of him.

“Get this! Forest Chump over here thought his girlfriend was a real mermaid. She’s just a chick in a costume.”

He heard their voices and their howls of laughter in his head. He looked down into his clenched fists in his lap. They were right. He was an idiot. Holt would never have been duped like this. Dude and Marcus surely would have seen right away that Ana was a beautiful woman, not a beautiful mermaid. How could Ana have let him believe she was a real mermaid?

Was this more acting for her? See how long the lolo moke would buy into her bullshit.

After the show, he didn’t say anything to Holt and Joely. They watched as the mermaids rolled outside in electric wheelchairs. They set up under a pavilion behind the building and signed autographs and took pictures. He smiled at the joy on a little girl’s face when Ana picked her up and sat her on her lap to take pictures with her.

“What skin does Tetsuo have in this game? He owns a shit ton of properties. What’s his deal with Ana?” Joely asked Holt.

“The director, that guy over there.” Holt gestured with his chin to a weasely looking dirt bag who was touching all the mermaids’ shoulders and playing with their hair as he passed by them.

Makoa noticed the women’s smiles became forced and they tensed up when he singled them out.

“His name is Donald Kramer. He was an upcoming power player in Hollywood, but he couldn’t keep his dick in his pants and his casting couch ways got him black balled. Anyway, he owes Tetsuo a lot of money for gambling debt. He’s running this show to pay it off.”

“I was wondering what the hard sell was all about. I haven’t been hustled like this since we went to Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica for our honeymoon.”

Makoa’s eyes narrowed as Don headed towards Ana. No way. Not on his watch.

They reached her at the same time. Makoa ignored the line of people and stepped up behind Ana, putting himself between her and Don.

“Hi,” she said, a big grin that hurt him stretched across her face. He wanted to believe it was genuine, but he wasn’t sure.

“I’m sorry. You’re not allowed to be back here, sir.” Don tagged on the sir at the end because people were watching, but it dripped with scorn. That was okay. Makoa was looking for an excuse to get some aggression out.

“And you’re not allowed to get handsy with my girl. Eh haole boy, you like beef?” Makoa said.

A few people in the crowd hooted and clapped.

Don just looked confused. “We don’t have any beef, but there are plenty of mermaid cookies.”

“Don, just go away,” Ana said, tiredly waving her hand.

“Actually, you and I have to have a conversation.” He tried to step around Makoa.

Good luck with that, brah, I outweigh you by a good fifty pounds.

Don did manage to get a hand on the back of the wheelchair.

“I got that,” Makoa said, jamming an elbow into his solar plexus.

Don let go real quick and Makoa easily pushed Ana away from him.

“Eros will be right back,” Don wheezed, waving to the disappointed fans.

“The breakroom is probably the best place for our talk. Can you stay?” she asked Makoa.

He read the fear in her eyes and even though he wasn’t sure about anything anymore, he was damned sure not going to leave her alone in the room with this faka.

---