Page 67 of Sworn to My Heart
“I need your help with something,” I throw to Mariano as he flops onto the couch across from my desk, melting into it with exhaustion.
“The first time you ask instead of demand... I’m curious now,” he suddenly sits up on the couch and looks at me with a sly grin.
“I don’t think you understood correctly, you’ll help me whether you want to or not,” I declare with a smirk, and he laughs as he gets up and walks over to my desk. I turn my laptop screen toward him, showing him what I’m looking for.
“The days where I can finally get revenge on you for all the times you mocked my sticky relationship with Cora have comesooner than expected. Congratulations, you’ve joined the softies club,” he taunts, taking the laptop from me and quickly jumping back to the couch before I can land a punch to him. He should consider himself lucky he’s good at what he does.
I know I hurt Alin when I lost myself yesterday, but I’ll prove to her that I’m ready to blend our worlds if that’s what she needs. I won’t let her go anywhere else; her home is only with me.
“I need you to keep this between us. None of the men can know. Alin’s secret must be kept,” I emphasize again to Mariano as he makes a call to get more information.
“Softie,” he throws at me again, laughing. I really have softened; in the past, he would’ve gotten bruises for such jabs. Maybe I’ve grown tired. I chuckle to myself at the thought, excited like a little kid about the surprise I’m planning for her. I remember the day I gave my mother her necklace, holding the pendant around my neck as a promise. This time, I won’t let her go. I’ll keep my so-called weakness close to me.
Alin
I wake up, realizing I’ve fallen asleep again after all the intensity with Luca. This time, I think he needed the release more than I did. I look to the other side of the bed, but there’s no sign of him. I stretch, look at my phone, and see it’s late afternoon already, and I have many missed calls and five new messages. I furrow my brow, thinking about all the hours I slept, feeling swollen from sleep but relieved that the sharp headache is gone.
I read the three messages Luca sent me.
Had a meeting. Be ready by 5. I’m coming to pick you up.
11:00 AM
Everything okay? You better not have run off again!
03:00 PM
Abert updated me.
03:03 PM
I look at the screen and laugh to myself, even he doesn’t understand how I managed to sleep so long. I reply to him quickly.
The Little Mermaid has woken up. Looks like the morning’s satisfaction exhausted her too much. What’s happening at 5?
04:05 PM
The phone immediately vibrates again, and I smile widely at his response.
More like Sleeping Beauty. Your prince will be there soon to wake you with a surprise.
04:17 PM
I laugh at the charming mix of fairy tales he created for me. A mermaid and a criminal, we could definitely write a new adult fairytale about that. Who would believe it?
I quickly step into the shower, washing my face while standing, but in my excitement, I momentarily forget about my tail. I slip and fall hard onto the small step next to the toilet, where the toilet brush sits in its ceramic holder. The ceramic holder wobbles and falls, shattering into shards that cut my back upon impact. I groan in pain, but instead of crying, my laughter cuts through the air, wondering how excited I must be to forget such an important detail. I’ve gotten too used to life on land.
I stretch my back carefully, avoiding leaning my hands on the broken ceramic pieces.
“Are you okay? I heard a loud noise!” I hear Abert pounding on the door. Panicking, I reach for the towel rack on the sink wall, fearing yet another man in my life discovering my tail.
I respond immediately, before he breaks down the bathroom door, “Yes, clumsy me, I slipped on the water in the shower. I’m fine.” The pounding stops, and for a moment, I’m almost sure I heard Abert chuckles as he walked away from the door. I sigh in relief and finally reach my towel on the rack, pulling it toward me. I dry my face and reach for the sink. The water turns on instantly, and with its help, I knock down my toothbrush and paste from the edge of the sink, starting to brush my teeth.
Simultaneously, I draw the water from the sink and wash myself thoroughly, applying the soap that’s on the shower floor.I feel a stinging in my back but ignore it.
I could get used to this; there’s enough room for my tail on the floor. I may be short in human form, but my tail is very long, even in the bathtub it curls almost up to my head, creating a kind of circle in the air.
I laugh, remembering the first time I got into the bathtub in my previous apartment. It took me so long to find a comfortable position.
