Page 27 of Sanctuary

We stopped walking and I leaned against the railing, gazing out at the illuminated falls as I considered Mia’s question. The roar of the cascading water filled the air, drowning out the sounds of the city behind us.

“Hmmm. One thing no one knows about me,” I mused, a wry smile tugging at my lips. “That’s a tough one. I’m not exactly known for keeping secrets.”

She bumped her shoulder against mine playfully. “Come on, there must be something. Some hidden talent or embarrassing story you’ve never shared.”

I chuckled, running a hand through my hair. “Alright, alright. But you have to promise not to laugh.”

She held up her hand solemnly. “Cross my heart.”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “When I was a kid, maybe 8 or 9, I used to... I used to pretend I was a mermaid.”

Her eyebrows shot up, a grin spreading across her face. “A mermaid?”

“Well, merman.” I nodded, feeling heat creep up my neck as she busted out laughing. “Yeah. I’d spend hours in the bathtub, splashing around and singing made-up songs about life under the sea. Even fashioned myself a tail out of my mum’s old curtains.”

Tears of mirth streamed from her eyes. “Sorry! I’m not laughing at you, I swear. It’s just... I can’t quite picture it.”

I shrugged, a smile on my face. “Yeah, well, I was a weird kid. But hey, at least I turned out alright, I think.”

Mia’s laughter subsided, and she looked at me with a warmth that made my heart skip a beat. “I think it’s sweet. And for what it’s worth, I bet you made a very handsome mermaid.”

I laughed, feeling the tension ease from my shoulders. “Why thank you. Now it’s your turn. Tell me something no one else knows about you.”

Without batting an eye she blurted out, “I once stole a car when I was fifteen.”

“Wait,” I said, “You’re telling me you actually stole a car when you were a teenager?”

Mia grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Borrowed, technically. And in my defense, I did return it. Eventually.”

“Is that how you learned to drive so well, outrunning the cops?”

She shook her head. “No, I learned to do that after a hit.”

I squinted at her. A hit? That sounded suspicious when she apparently is just a librarian. She must have seen the questions on my face because her eyes widened as she realized what she had just said. A nervous laugh escaped past her lips. “I mean, after I hit... a deer. Yeah, I hit a deer once and had to learn how to handle a car better after that.”

I raised an eyebrow, not quite buying her explanation. If she was fifteen when she ‘stole’ the car, how many times did she drive one without a license. Considering she needed to be sixteen to even start the process of getting one. There was clearly more to Mia’s past than she was letting on. But I decided not to push it - at least not tonight. We were having such a nice evening, and tomorrow was a big day.

“Well, remind me never to let you behind the wheel when there are deer around,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

She relaxed, the tension leaving her shoulders and a grateful smile spread across her face. “Deal. Though I promise my driving skills have improved since then.”

“I can attest to that!”

We fell into a comfortable silence, watching the mist rise from the thundering falls. After a few moments, I felt Mia shiver beside me.

“Cold?” I asked, shrugging off my jacket.

She protested, but I draped it over her shoulders anyway. “Thanks,” she murmured, pulling it tight around her.

As we turned to head back to the hotel, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness. Whatever Mia was hiding, whatever danger she was in, I was determined to keep her safe. And maybe, just maybe, earn her trust enough that she’d feel comfortable sharing the whole truth with me.

Back in our suite, the reality of our situation began to sink in. One bed. One very large, very inviting bed.

“I can take the couch,” I offered, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

She shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous. That bed is big enough for both of us. Besides, we’re getting married tomorrow. Might as well get used to sharing a bed, right?”

I nodded, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach at her words. “Right. Of course.”

---