22. Chapter 22

Jayna laughed and joked with Mermaid Buwan, whose human name was Rani, and a half-dozen other mermaids who had also participated in the Merathlon. They made their way as a group down the enormous strip of white sand known as Pokapū Beach. They were joined by several thousand others who had come to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Manutai's founding.

Lively, energetic music floated on a warm tropical breeze that was filled with the aroma of food from around the Pacific. Out over the ocean, a constantly changing aerial drone light display stretched for kilometers.

The group stopped to watch a man and woman who were twirling flaming staffs to the rapid beat of drums. A booming male voice said, "Hey, who let those mermaids out of the tank?"

Kalani approached the group, followed closely by Pala and a few other mermen. Jayna gave Kalani a hug, and in typical mer fashion there were hugs all around. Jayna hesitated briefly as Pala hugged her.

He must have sensed her discomfort because he furrowed his brow. "You okay?"

"Um, yeah," Jayna said. "I'm…I guess I'm just relieved you aren't still mad about today."

"Oh, he's mad," Kalani said. "Mad he didn't think to reanimate his ahi first."

Pala punched Kalani's shoulder in a way that was clearly playful but with enough power that Jayna knew it had to hurt. Kalani laughed it off and gave Pala a quick slap to the back of his head.

"I'm happy for you," Pala said. "Though I'm glad they're updating the rules to close that loophole in the future."

Kalani said, "I've been looking for you. There's a streamer who wants to do an interview with the winning mermaid. I told her I'd keep an eye out for you."

Jayna had spent nearly four hours doing interviews after her win, and several of the streamers had expressed interest in doing an in-depth follow-up. "Really? Who is she with?"

Kalani shrugged. "Mondialist or something like that."

It was a stream she hadn't even heard of, and she felt a twinge of disappointment. But every bit of publicity helped, so she put on her best performance smile. "Okay. Where did you say they are?"

"I'll show you."

Jayna followed Kalani through the crowd, grateful she had decided to wear the silky dark-blue floral print dress she and Emmaline had found during their shopping adventure. It was an amazing look for her. Sid had told her so the night they nearly wore matching outfits to dinner.

The thought of him warmed her despite the cooling action of her u-suit.

Kalani led her to a small, well-lit canopy that had been set up over a couple of folding chairs. An attractive woman with shoulder-length blond hair wearing a simple but well-tailored pant suit stood and motioned for Jayna to join her.

"Jayna Cooper?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Wonderful!" She sat and motioned for Jayna to do the same.

Based on the simple setup, Mondialist was clearly not the most sophisticated streaming show, but the host and her cameraman seemed nice enough, and Jayna was happy to help someone starting out.

"I'm here today with Jayna Cooper—aka Mermaid Aaramere—star of the Sirens of Atlantis show at the Realms of Neptune theme park and winner of the Manutai Merathlon. First, congratulations on your win."

"Thank you."

"I understand this is the first international competition for bionic mermaids. That must have been exciting."

"Yes, it was." Jayna prepared herself to answer all the same questions about the Merathlon, her career as a mermaid, and some of the controversy around bionic tails and their use in competition.

But the host went in an entirely different direction. "I also understand you are here in Manutai as a guest of Obsidian Hayes, and that earlier this week he purchased the Realms of Neptune. Is that correct?"

She instantly went on alert at the unexpected question. "I am," she said warily, "and he did."

"That's interesting. Why is it, do you think, that someone who makes his money tearing manufacturing companies apart and selling them off for parts would be interested in buying an amusement park, of all things? And why would he then try to turn around and sell it to the park's employees at cost?"

Jayna had wondered the same things, but her experience dealing with difficult interviewers asking inappropriate questions clicked into place before she could be tempted to speculate. "I have absolutely no idea. I'm just a performer at the park. You need to ask Mr. Hayes to find that out."

"So, you aren't worried about him replacing the performers with swimming robots?"

"No. Mr. Hayes has a very good relationship with the performers."

"He obviously has a good relationship with at least one performer. The two of you seem to have grown quite cozy lately. Swimming hand in hand and singing love songs to each other. Tell me, was that all an act? A way to gain some leverage for your plan to buy him out?" The interviewer raised an eyebrow. "Or are you actually in love with him?"

The question was so ridiculous, Jayna found herself at a loss for words. Of course, she wasn't in love with Sid.

Or was she?

Maybe not yet, but she had to admit she was well on her way. The question made her realize that she wanted a relationship with Sid, no matter how dangerous it might be.

Jayna broke out in a sweat, despite the cooling effects of the u-suit. She pulled her lips together tight, unwilling to say anything for fear of letting her sudden overwhelming emotion pour out in a very public way. She peered into the crowd, beyond the bright lights, hoping desperately to find Kalani so he could provide her with some guidance.

Her gaze landed on Sid instead.

He stared at her intently, one eyebrow raised, and the sight of him made Jayna's heart race. Her mouth pulled into a smile, and Sid's lips crept up in response. He was there!

Jayna turned back to the interviewer, whose name she hadn't learned. In her best Dr. Tierney voice, she quoted a line from Aurora 293. "I'm sorry, Madam, but the nature of our relationship is none of your business." And without another word, she stood and marched across the sand towards Sid.

She took him by the arm and led him away from the party and towards the edge of the water. Behind her, she heard Kalani's raised voice. "No, I really think you should stay here and let them be."

She fought the urge to turn around, and instead walked with Sid along the shoreline. The warm tropical waves gently lapped at their feet, and the lights and noise of the party seemed a world away.

She had to talk to him. She had to let him know what she felt.

But first, she had to figure out what her feelings were.

After another minute of walking Jayna let go of Sid's arm, but as she lowered her hand down to her side her fingers somehow became intertwined with his, and her heart raced even faster. Yet her feelings warred inside of her, and Jayna's mind begged her to let go of his hand and run back into the crowd. As the noise of the party faded and the cool ocean breeze surrounded them, Jayna's heart won out.

"I wasn't expecting to see you yet," she said, her voice barely a whisper above the sound of waves gently crashing into the nearby reef.

Sid stopped and turned towards her, moonlight showing only kindness on his face. "Sorry if I surprised you," he said. "I didn't mean to cut short your night out with the mermaids. It's just…" A strand of her hair broke free in the wind, and Sid reached up to tuck it behind her ear. His touch sent tingles clear through her body. "I couldn't wait to see you again."

"I've been looking forward to seeing you, too," she said. "And I'm glad you showed up when you did. That was getting awkward."

"Yeah, I'm really sorry about that." He placed his hand on her back, and they resumed their walk along the beach.

She wrapped her arm around his waist and pulled him gently to her. "No need to apologize. I'm the one who agreed to an interview with a random streamer without checking her out first. That's not your fault."

"True. But I should have known she would try something like this and kept her away from you. Or at least warned you about her."

Concerned, Jayna stopped walking and faced him. "You know her? The Mondialist streamer?"

Sid shook his head. "I've never heard of Mondialist, but the woman who interviewed you is named Crystal Haddon-Steen."

Jayna immediately recognized the name, and the odd interview made a lot more sense. "She's the one who posts all of those nasty things about you."

Sid nodded grimly. "I should have realized she'd try something like this. But pretending to be a streamer so she could interview you? That's a new low, even for her."

Jayna looked in the direction of the party, but she couldn't see the lighted canopy. "Do you want me to go back and punch her out? I can do it, you know."

Sid laughed. "I would love that. But don't. It wouldn't do either of us any good. I think the way you handled her was perfect."

"Thanks. I guess it wasn't that bad, not when compared to some of the awkward interviews Mermaid Aaramere has done."

Sid chuckled. "I bet." He paused for a moment and then said, "I was curious to find out if you are in love with me, though."

Jayna felt her face flush. "Oh, um…"

Sid gently pressed his finger to her lips, and a tingle ran down her spine at his touch. "But I don't think it's fair for me to ask you how you feel without first sharing my feelings with you."

He took a half-step towards her, and their faces were excruciatingly close. Jayna's heart pounded in her chest. When he spoke, his voice was soft, and she felt his breath on her face. "When I'm around you, I am better than my best self, and when I'm not with you I can't think of anything else but being with you again. I realize we met less than a week ago, but I feel like I've known you my whole life."

Jayna held her breath. She felt the same way about him—like they were lifelong friends and not a couple of near strangers. She stared into his eyes, her pulse thundering in her ears nearly blocking out the sound of waves crashing behind her.

What should she say? This was all so sudden. Yet it all felt so right. Did she dare risk letting this man into her life the way she wanted to? Could she even keep him out if she tried?

Sid's brow furrowed. "Are you going to say something?"

In that moment, she knew there was only one thing she could do. "No," she said. Then she placed her hands on either side of his face, raised up on her toes, and pressed her lips to his.

He responded without hesitation, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. With her body pressed firmly against him, she felt the last of her resistance disappear, swept away by the ocean breeze as it gently swirled around them.

Sid's lips parted and she responded immediately, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. The sounds of the beach party faded into the distance. Her fingers tangled in his thick black hair while her other hand explored his muscular back.

When Sid finally broke the kiss, he pulled her close and gently tucked her head to his chest. His heart was pounding as hard as hers.

She breathed in the smell of him as it mingled with the tang of the ocean and soaked in the warmth of his body against hers.

Sid drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, then he gave her a quick squeeze before releasing her and gently separating from her.

The corner of his lips turned down slightly, and there was a wrinkle between his brows.

A knot formed in her chest. That kiss had felt so right. But had it been a mistake?

"What's wrong?" she asked.

His lips tightened, and his eyes were filled with concern. "I need to tell you something."

The knot in her chest squeezed tighter, and she winced. Way to make a mess of things, Jayna.

Sid put a finger under her chin. "Hey."

Hesitantly, she peered up at him. His scowl had been replaced by a smile. "It's nothing bad." He leaned down and gently brushed his lips over hers. "Let's go for a walk."