Page 28 of One Whopper of a Love Story

“I’m glad that it’s obvious what I want, and I can’t say I’ve ever been accused of creating a messy puddle of swoon. Is there a merit badge for that?” I picked up the ground beef and other items that needed to be in the fridge and stepped away from her.

She rubbed my back. “You’re a good guy, Nico.”

For her, I wanted to be.

She looped her pinky around mine as we walked out to the garage. “You never asked why I was in a mermaid outfit.”

I laughed, realizing she was right. “I guess I didn’t. Why were you in a mermaid outfit?”

In the garage, she sat on the concrete floor and crossed her legs. “I’ll tell you the story while you do your stuff.”

Focused on stretching, I began my normal routine.

“I work at the doughnut shop, but until recently, I also had another job where I dressed up as characters for kids’ parties and hospital visits. Stuff like that. It was fun, and seeing the kids brighten when their favorite character comes to life is just...” She pressed a hand over her heart and sighed.

“So you were a mermaid and made a little girl’s birthday memorable.” I dropped to the floor and started doing pushups.

Layla quieted.

“I’m listening.” I glanced up.

She fanned herself, making a show of her admiration. “Uh-huh.”

Having her around for workouts would be good. It guaranteed that I’d push myself.

“Anyway. I was booked for a job as a mermaid. It was kind of a mess, though. The normal costume that I wear has a top that is like skin color—not exactly my skin color, but close—and has the bikini part just a different color. But that costume wasn’t available, so I had to wear the other one with just the bikini top. And the space at the bottom for the feet is smaller. All of that was sorted out, but when I arrived at the party, I realized that nothing about that booking was good.”

The change in her tone had irritation knotting my insides.

“It wasn’t a kid’s party. It was a bunch of college guys. Frat boys, I think. Needless to say, they didn’t care about my balloon animals or my singalong.”

Fueled by anger, I continued doing pushups long after I’d lost count.

“I didn’t stay long. It was a good thing I didn’t wear the bikini top that tied in the back. I made that mistake once, and some ten-year-old thought it would be funny to untie it. His mom didn’t think it was funny. I bet he still hasn’t gotten his Xbox back. That’s why I was on that road. I left the party early and headed home. The next day, I quit that other job.” She leaned close to me. “Um, shouldn’t you like take a break or something. Consider me impressed. You don’t have to do a thousand.”

I pushed up off the floor and stood, anger still thumping in my chest.

“Whoa.” She stepped in front of me and stared me down. “I’ve heard of red flames and blue flames, orange and yellow. But now I know what brown flames look like. I’m okay. Nobody hurt me.”

“How do you expect me to react when I hear stuff like that?” I laced my fingers together and rested them on my head, feeling the burn from pushing myself and wishing my eyes didn’t give so much away.

“I didn’t tell you so that you’d run off on a rampage and hurt people. I’m just telling you about my life.” She pinched her lips and inhaled. “Lots of people see me as weak and air-headed. I’m used to it, and I handle it.”

“You aren’t either of those things.” I rested my hands on her waist. “Those people are wrong.”

She avoided my gaze, her lips pursed. “If I wanted to be stronger, would you help me?”

“Do you want to start today? I’ll help you get stronger and teach you self-defense moves that are more about balance and technique than strength.”

“I’d like that. Because the part I didn’t tell you was that there was one guy who helped me sneak out, and if it weren’t for that guy—and for a lucky kick that probably left a toad singing soprano—that party might’ve ended differently.”

I lifted her chin so that I could meet her gaze. “After what you’d just been through, I’m surprised you weren’t...” I wasn’t sure how to finish that statement.

I wasn’t like those guys, and just the thought of her fear, which she’d tried hard to brush off, made my chest burn. But she didn’t know that about me when I’d found her on the side of the road.

“Afraid of you? At first, I was too panicked because of the allergic reaction to think about that. I needed help, and you appeared. Kissing you was the first idea that popped in my head when I realized you needed a distraction.” She crossed her arms. “Then I got a little caught up in being swept off my feet. Staying the night at your place was reckless. But, in my defense, the nurse did tell me you were a good guy.”

“Really?”

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