The Bad Boy And The Mermaid novel Chapter 25

Hunter

When Blue and I returned to the lunch table, we acted like we hadn’t tried to eat each other by the fountain area just a moment ago. Instead, I picked up my mini-pizza and took a large bite off it, and reached out to get the Tuna Greek salad wrap. Elaine and dad knew what had happened of course; their faces told me they weren’t oblivious. If anything, they appeared to be content with this new development, i.e: me getting serious with a woman in my life. The mermaid part, they didn’t need to know.

I noticed Elaine’s plate filled with her usual vegan food. Not that I hated vegan food, it’s just that I couldn’t make a habit of eating it to save my life.

“Blue and Hunter were swapping saliva out there. I saw you.” Elliot spoke to me with a mouthful of sausages.

Aunt Paige sighed and shook her head. She picked up her plate, and reached out to grab Elliot. “Let’s go sit and eat with Hannah, sweetie...”

Elliot pulled his hand away. “No. I’m sitting here with Blue.”

“Come, Elliot.” Aunt Paige warned having had enough.

“Nooooooo....”

“You’re not going to the Carnival next Sunday.” Aunt Paige said. She’d pulled an ace out of her sleeve. I realized she must be doing this often.

Elliot jumped down from the table. “Where’s Hannah? Let’s go sit with her.”

I watched as the mother and the kid walked away from the table and that made this even more awkward. At least Elliot played as a good comical distraction between our conversation.

“So Blue, what are you planning to pursue as a career?” Dad asked.

"Haven’t really thought of any career as of now.” She said.

Good girl.

I’d predicted my dad’s list of questionnaire for Blue and had told her specific answers to those questions, so far nothing had been asked out of the book.

“Surely you have something you aspire to become.”

Blue thought of that for a while.

Oh god, no.

This wasn’t even rehearsed. Blue was walking into dangerous territory.

Before I could tap her knee, she said, “I’d like to become anything that Hunter would like me to become.”

Huh?

I could see the surprise on their faces, clear as day. Dad narrowed his eyes at me; even my step-mom was giving me cold stares now. What were they thinking?

“You shouldn’t let Hunter dictate your life. Do what you want to.” Dad suggested Blue.

Right. They thought I was being a possessive boyfriend and keeping Blue from doing what she truly wanted.

“You could also go into modeling. You have the face and the body. Why haven’t to tried yet?”

Blue shrugged. “I don’t know what modeling is.”

“Have you never wanted to be something?”

“A mother. I just saw a mother while I was going to work the other day, and I really wish I could have a child like that, my very own baby that I could watch as he or she grew up. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

I was two seconds away from face palming.

Speechless. That’s how the table was at the moment. I continued to eat my food like Blue hadn’t just admitted to my parents that she aspired to become a mother. Someone needed to tell this beautiful mermaid-girl that ‘becoming a mother’ didn’t constitute as a career option. It was more of a natural way of life.

The dead silence dragged on when dad asked, “How could you?” And that was the first time my father had acknowledged me directly.

“What have you done?” That was my step-mom.

I had to put the spoon of caviar back on the plate that was supposed to go in my mouth. I looked at the two of them. “What did I do? Why are you guys looking at me like I’m some kind of a criminal?” I asked them directly, having had enough of getting the accusing stares and being treated like I had some deadly viral diseases.

My step-mom sighed. Literally fucking sighed, and Elaine never sighed in front of guests unless she was downright pissed. Blue appeared to be folding and unfolding the table cloth, obviously worried and confused about what was happening.

“You do not have a right to spoil a woman’s life, or her career.” Dad bellowed.

Blue was in tears. “I’m so sorry, Hunter. I couldn’t lie to them.”

I raised my hands in defeat, in confusion. My family was going to drive me fucking mad. “I have no idea what you guys are talking about.”

In a soft voice, Elaine asked. “Why didn’t you tell us anything, Hunter?” to Blue she asked, “How many months pregnant are you, my dear?”

“Preg…what?” Blue asked.

I tried to hold in my laughter. I understood why they assumed Blue was pregnant. First, her answer to their question and secondly, it was still hard for them to come to terms with the fact that I would get into a serious relationship with someone, unless….

Well, unless I’d gotten her pregnant.