Tidal Whispers (3 page)

“Father, please, if you’ll only listen.”

Father?

The merman lifted his mighty arms. The room shifted, and colors ran together in a swirling, tie-dyed mix of sights and sounds.

“I beg you, Father, do not harm her for my sake.”

Images smeared. Her grip tore from that of the ghostly specter. He lunged for her, but his efforts were in vain. His arm passed right through her as if she were a vapor. “Tessa … Tessa, I can renounce my claim to …” His voice faded, drowned out by the thunderous pounding of her own heartbeat.

She sat up with a scream. Around her, the familiarity of her room soaked into her reality. Blue numbers on her digital clock flashed 2:53 a.m.

Another dream
.

Unlike the others, the appearance of the formidable sea-god left her shaken and winded.

Palm to forehead, Tessa recounted the details of her fantasies. Ones she’d relived in so many parts and pieces over the years. She fingered the shell pendant on her chest. In her younger years, she’d viewed a faceless, blond boy, swimming, playing, and living life in his ocean city as if she watched a movie.

Later, her fantasies had matured and become interactive. She’d stopped fighting her desires and taken an aggressive role, as evidenced by the wild make-out sessions where she’d behaved like a wonton hussy with a perfect stranger.

Not stranger.
She’d have been lying to herself if she tried to believe that. Somewhere deep inside, she’d known the man her mind conjured was Cameron all along.

Tessa pressed cold fingers to her lips, half expecting to find them swollen from the night’s kissing.

You’re ridiculous.

Eyelet curtains ruffled against the window casing, drawing her attention to them. As she lay down, a gentle breeze cooled the sweat drying on her skin, and she shivered. Head turned toward the glass panes, the fabric billowed up with each new gust.

“I miss you, Cam.”

Unable to keep the tremor from her voice, she whispered to the dark, “I don’t know if I’ll ever find peace again.”

Part 2

Exhausted from a week of nightly dreaming, Tessa sat on the warm rocks and awaited the setting of the sun. The incandescent orb shot its rays out against billowing white clouds, turning the undersides varying shades of fuchsia and gold.

Soft footsteps made her crane her neck around to see who approached. Sunlight blinded her, and she raised a hand to help cut the glare. Her eyes narrowed at the shadow towering above her. As the dark form lowered itself to the seat near her, she gasped.

“Cameron?” she asked. “Oh my gosh!”

Blond hair, green eyes, dark skin.

“Oh my gosh, it really
is
you.” Her face warmed as she realized her lame outburst stated the obvious twice. “Well, of course it’s you. I mean, I’m surprised to see you.” She swallowed around the walnut sized lump lodged in her throat.

“Tess.” Though deeper, his voice still retained the softness she remembered when he said her name.

“I didn’t know if you ever …” she tossed a hand around, “… still hung out here.” She tried for a light tone but shifted her gaze toward the ocean, unable to meet his eyes.

He’d disappeared without a word. Of all the times she’d thought about seeing him, and what she might say, her plans for elegant speech left her.

“We arrived yesterday. My father has given me five days here to … sort some things out. It’s not long enough, but it feels good to walk this beach again, and to see you, Tessa.”

After years of hoping, the coincidence of his sitting with her was surreal. She snuck a glance at him, noting he still studied her with the same piercing green eyes, same scar interrupting his left eyebrow. Broad shouldered, the skin showing around his navy T-shirt was bronzed—the same flawless honey she remembered. He sat on the damp rock beside her, an arm casually draped over his knee, smiling. Questions paraded through her mind like cattle at market.
Who’s we? Where did you go? Why did you leave without saying goodbye?

“I came every summer until college, then, you know, got busy with other things for a couple years. Forever since I’ve seen you though.”

If you don’t count the obsessive dreaming of you at night.

He nodded, face somber. “I ran into Maggie in town, and we talked a long while. She told me about your parents. I’m so sorry, Tessa.”

“Oh. Yeah. Thanks.”

“Your folks were pretty understanding, you know, about all the stunts we pulled as kids. Your dad watched me like a hawk.”

Tessa’s lips curved at the memories. As Cam adjusted his legs, his body moved closer. A wave of jitters tickled her stomach. A mental flash of their dream dancing warmed her cheeks.

“Remember sneaking out to go to that little carnival on the causeway?” Cam poked her arm. “They said you were too young to go alone with me at night.”

She remembered. They rode the Spyder after sharing the same ice cream cone and stick of cotton candy. She’d gotten so dizzy she’d thrown up behind the ticket booth as they exited the ride. Cameron had held her hair back while she puked and taken her home. Not her best moment. “Ugh. So embarrassing. Why’d you bring that up?”

“What about the time you wanted to adopt the sandpiper with a broken wing as a pet. Or the time I let you bury me in sand to my neck? You threatened to leave me there unless I gave you the skateboard we found.”

Tessa laughed. “Hey! That’s not how I remember the story. You totally tricked me into letting you have a first turn that lasted
all
day. It was self defense. You didn’t share very well as a child, you know.”

He grinned at her. “I’m better with that now.”

Tessa folded her arms but returned his smile. “I hope so.”

The moment faded with their smiles, and a full minute passed in silence.

“So,” he said.

“So. Where’ve you been?” She eyed his ring finger. “Are you married or …” Words stalled on her tongue as he reached for her hand. Lifting her fingers between them, he said, “You still wear my ring?”

Awkward much?
She pulled her hand away. “Oh, um, yeah. I’ve always loved it.” She decided she wasn’t up to playing verbal chess with him.

“That’s cool.” Motioning to the shell at her throat, he said, “I’m betting that was a gift from your boyfriend?” Cam inched closer, reaching for the pendant. His fingertips brushed her skin as he lifted the trinket.

The insinuation, along with his touch, super-heated the skin on her face. If water hit her, she’d likely send up a cloud of steam. “No. I found it, actually.”

“And a found necklace makes you blush?” His eyes widened. “Violently, too. I doubt that.”

Her chin came up. “Well, I did. Right around here.” She stiffened as he rolled the shell over. Would he glimpse the world she did as she slept?

“Looks like you could see inside someone’s soul through there.”

When she tried to comment, a horse cough preceded her words. “See? Against those rocks …” She pointed. “I found—”

“Way to change the subject.” He dropped the shell. “You don’t have to tell me.”

“I’m not making it up.” When he peered at her from the corner of his eye, she realized he’d been teasing all along. “Oh you!” She shoved his arm.

He fell over laughing. “Just so you know, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn you have an admirer, Tessa Morgan.”

“Whatever.” She pulled a thread from her sleeve.

Cam brought her chin up with his finger. “It’s very good to see you, Tess.”

She swallowed as his gaze intensified. “It’s good to see you, too.”

The red sun melted into the ocean like sealing wax. Wind gusted around them, driving stinging sand into exposed skin. “Well. It was really great to see you, Cam, and you look great. I mean happy. Great.”
Shut up!
“I mean, it’s getting late. I suppose I’d better get back, see about getting some dinner.” She pushed off to stand, wishing she’d worn pants to cover her pitiful leg.

“Oh, okay.” His voice took on a deflated tone as he rose alongside her.

He made her feel ten years old again. She kicked at a rock with her toe. “You said ‘we’ before, so I guess you’ve got someone to meet as well, right?”

“Yeah.” His hand brushed the hair from his eyes. “No. I mean no,” he said, too quickly.

She lifted a brow and suppressed the nervous laughter building in her lungs. “Well, which is it? You could come along … eat with me if you want.”

“Yes, I’m here with some people, but they’ll be fine on their own.” His voice grew louder as he angled his head toward the ocean with his answer.

Ookay.
She let a small smile play on her lips. “Remember the way?”

“Definitely.”

As they walked along in silence, Cam leaned over and bumped her shoulder with his, just like he used to.

Caught off guard, Tessa’s head whipped up only to see him smirk in her direction. She walked a step or two further and bumped him back.

• • •

Breakfast, lunch and dinner came and went, and every morning, Tessa was thrilled to find Cam still asleep on the couch or sipping coffee on her front porch. For four days, they walked the shore, visited their old haunts, talking and laughing about old times as though they’d never been apart.

“Strange how I thought I had life all figured out,” Tessa had confessed as they sat on the beach one evening. “My father’s dream of my becoming a physical therapist was all but tied up with a bow. When my parents died, I fell apart. I’m not sure of anything anymore. I came back here—to the place I’d been happiest—to try and make sense of everything.”

Cam had listened without judgment, comforted her as she wept. “You’re going to be all right, Tessa Morgan.” He’d brushed back her hair, kissing her cheek. “I promise you.”

Tessa wanted to believe him even as she sat in her favorite spot on the ancient yard swing. Cam slept peacefully next to her, his head resting on her lap just like the old days, when he couldn’t make it to the end of a late movie. He’d slump against her, snoring away until she woke him. Afraid to move, she sat like a stone, puzzling over their evening as she watched the tussling waves.

Sometimes, when he looked at her, she held her breath. Before her was the Cam she’d always known, protective, funny, the best friend she’d ever had, but he was different, too. She’d witnessed a new, sexy, smoldering intensity in his gaze repeatedly over the last few days.

Every night, in her dreams, she met him in the secret city. No sea god came to condemn or disturb their play, and though she never saw another living soul, she was strangely aware of others lurking nearby. Locked in the arms of her ghostly lover, she clung to him as he kissed her breathless, only to wake in her own bed.

In one more day, the real Cam would leave, and sooner or later, she would board a plane for Arkansas, grow up, and get back to the life she’d planned with her parents. All summer fantasies would melt away.

A creak from the screen next door announced Maggie’s arrival outside. She glanced toward the sleeping form on Tessa’s lap and held a finger to her lips. “I’m happy for you dear,” she shout-whispered. “We’ll chat later.”

“Oh, Maggie, no. It’s not like that, we’re just friends.”

With a grin as big as a crescent moon, she waved and retreated inside.

Cam stretched, twisting awake. He shifted to face her, but kept his head in her lap. Rubbing his eyes with the back of his fingers reminded Tessa of his nine-year-old self. “Sorry.” He smiled. “You make a good pillow. Now, what’s this you’re telling Maggie? Are we just friends?”

Tessa’s eyes widened as Cam sat up on the swing.
Are we?
Dream versus reality Cam had become so intertwined, she was having trouble separating the two. The man sitting with her had been her closest childhood friend. Casual flirting didn’t begin to describe the hot make-out sessions she’d been engaging in nightly with the fish king’s son. The passion was amazing, but she didn’t really know that version.

Was the imaginary Cam bleeding over into the real one?

Cameron inched closer until his chest met her arm. Her breath caught. He hooked a finger under her chin, forcing her gaze up. “Look at me, Tessa.”

She swallowed, seeking his gorgeous green eyes, and locked on. The edges crinkled with his smile, and his patient manner eased her frazzled nerves. “I know a lot more about you than you think I do.”

As he shifted against the bench, his head descended until his lips met hers. His arms wrapped around her, encasing her in warmth and safety. She gave herself up to him the way she had in her dreams, hands wandering up his chest. He leaned in harder, his tongue exploring hers. She met his growing passion. Denial out the window, her mouth conveyed years of long suppressed desire.

When he lifted his head, the gleam in his eye made her bite her lip. “You told Maggie we’re just friends, but I don’t think we are.” He grinned. “I care about your happiness, and I know you care for me, too.”

Conflicting thoughts warred in her mind. He lived in California. What of her home in Arkansas, school, the grief she couldn’t overcome? She wasn’t whole anymore, had nothing of herself to offer anyone else. “I do, but … my situation’s complicated.”

Hoisting himself from the bench, he left the seat rocking in his wake. He pivoted and held out a hand. “Will you walk with me? I need to explain some things, and we only have until dawn.”

“Well, that’s creepy and kind of ominous sounding, Cam.” She laughed at her own joke, but he didn’t crack a smile. She cleared her throat, taking his outstretched hand and following meekly as he led her down the shoreline. She tripped, and his arm came around her back in support.

“So.” He stared straight ahead.

“So.”

“When I said I knew you, I meant, I know about your dreams. At night. In the ocean. With me.”

Tessa stopped dead.

Cameron’s arm slipped from her waist to her hand. He squeezed so hard she forced herself not to flinch.

Sure she’d misunderstood, she blinked and said, “Wait. What do you mean? You know about me … um, my … ?” She peered up at the man by her side.

He glanced down and back. “I do.”

What does he mean?
Had she been talking in her sleep again?
Two people can’t share the same dream, can they?
She rubbed her neck with trembling hands. Divided between two men and, as ridiculous as it sounded, two worlds.
This is all in my head, right?
Her skin burned as a headache wrapped its tentacles around her skull.

Cam faced her. Fingers clamped down on her shoulders, holding her at arm’s length. “Time is short, Tessa. You know I’ve got to go. My father set the parameters of my visit. I can’t change them. So I must tell you the truth as it’s long overdue.”

Okay.
She swallowed.
Stay calm, maybe it’s not that bad.

“I know you visit the Merrow under the sea at night. I know all about what goes on, what you do there.”

Nope, it’s bad. It’s worse.
“Uh.” She bit her cheek. His knowing of her romps with his look-a-like was embarrassing beyond measure.

He led her to the place where rock met sea and sat cross-legged, pulling her down with him. She shivered more from nerves than cold, but he wrapped his arms around her and spoke into her hair. “I need to explain,” he said.

Tessa closed her eyes, drinking in the sound of his voice.

“What would you say if I told you that I understand about the guy you dance with because he’s … well, he’s me?”

Her eyes flew open as air rushed from her lungs. She pushed at his chest. “It’s just a dream.” Muscles bulged as his arms tightened about her, preventing any attempt at escape.

“It’s not a dream. At sixteen, my sisters pointed out what I hadn’t wanted to face. I was in love with you, always had been. The bond you shared with your family rivaled the tie I have with mine. I was young and not yet ready to forsake my people. Since I couldn’t explain, I left.” His forehead lowered against hers. “I thought it best to disappear from your life. I tried, but never forgot you, couldn’t stay away. During the summers, I waited here with my sisters, watching you from the water.”

His sisters.
She thought back to the ghostly women’s laughter, the splashing she’d heard on the shore a few days before.