Page 55 of The Sea Witch's Son

“In that case, the credit goes to your cheerleading. Most people can’t shout over the crowd but you managed remarkably.”

She’s a singer, you imbecile.

Melody blushes prettily, “I can be loud when I want to be.”

“That much is certain.” Finley smiles down at her, “I must admit, I missed talking to you this week.”

“What do you mean?”

He shakes his head, “Marlin made a stipulation that I couldn’t talk to you or else I wouldn’t be able to compete today.”

Her eyes flicker dangerously, “What?”

“It was my rookie challenge. We all have to prove our loyalty some way or another.” He sighs, “I tried to refuse, but you know how he is.”

“He’s a fucking psychopath.” Melody hisses out the words, “You let him tell you what to do?”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

My little saint looks at him for a long time. I can see the frustration in her eyes but also the disappointment. To find out her hero was nothing more than a feeble man...

Quite the disappointment, indeed.

“Did he do this with your friend too?”

Finley sighs, “It was different circumstances. I wasn’t interested in Josie.”

Josie.

The name bleeds through my mind until the search engine generates a response. I think back on my list of conquests, rather long for a town this small, and arrive to one fascinating conclusion.

Finley is a bit of a liar himself.

Melody blows out a breath and takes a step away. The subtle dismissal does not go unnoticed by our hero.

“I better get going. Marlin will be out soon...” He trails off with a shake of his head, “I’m sorry for avoiding you this week. It was foolish of me.”

“I get it.”

“Can I make it up to you?” Boring brown eyes stare into hers, “Let me take you out this weekend. I can show you the nicer spots of town.”

She hesitates, “I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

“Please?”

“Let me think about it.” Teeth gnaw on a deliciously full bottom lip, “I’ll let you know tomorrow.”

Finley smiles, clearly unused to subtle rejections or too stupid to pick up on them.

“Until tomorrow, then.”

“Until tomorrow.”

Melody watches him leave with a painful smile pasted to her face. The moment he disappears around the corner, it slips off her lips.

“Rather cruel, isn’t it? Toying with a man’s emotions.”

She jumps at the sound of my voice. I push off the wall and close the distance between us.

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