I don’t think it would. Ross definitely wouldn’t put themself so strongly in front of others that they’d ruin someone else’s life to get what they want. It’s not the mer way.

It’s not my way either.

I grab my duffel and dig out my phone.

“Hey, can you meet me at school? We need to talk.”

     Ross     

I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my lips as soon as I see Sean in the parking lot. I’m leaning against his Prius—I mean, how sweet is it that he drives electric?—and imagining that jellyfish buzzing that’s sure to happen when he takes me in his arms, presses me against his stomach, and kisses me.

But as soon as he’s within arm’s reach, he doesn’t do any of those things.

“I think we need to drop the plan.”

My smile’s instantly washed away.

“What? Why?”

“I honestly don’t think Miguel meant to hurt me,” Sean says, looking like I must have on Avani’s boat. That is to say, about to barf. “Yeah, he was selfish and he didn’t think about me in any of this, but I can think about him. He’ll be crushed if our plan works. Like, I’m actively trying to get his boyfriend to dump him. Who does that?”

“Uh, somebody who had the love of his life ripped away from him in the first place. What, do you all of a sudden not have feelings for Dominic anymore?”

“No, that’s not it. I don’t know how to explain it. Something feels off. The whole setup feels off now. Maybe this should all just wait. I think I’ve been wrong all along.”

“Wrong?” A wave of heat blossoms in my stomach. “Sean, do you realize what you’re saying? You can’t be wrong. If you’re wrong, I’ve wasted more than half my Journey with you.” My heart rate increases; my chest starts to heave. “You can’t just say you need help and then not need it anymore. Who am I supposed to help now? What am I supposed to do?”

I look up at the sky, right at the moon. It’s waxing now, and its ever-increasing light makes my heart sink. I’ve never dreaded the moon before, the perfect partner for the Blue, working with the power of the ocean to create me and all my friends and every last mer. But now it’s a beacon for how close I am to screwing this whole Journey up and losing my mer life forever.

Sean closes the distance, finally taking me in his arms, but I don’t want him to anymore. Not after this betrayal. Not after he’s willing to risk my entire life by dumping this plan and I’m left to scramble to find someone else to help.