Free Everblue by Brenda Pandos Page B

nonchalantly. “I was just expressing some new ideas I had about how we can turn our frowns upside down.”
    “Is she okay?” Tatiana mumbled.
    “Oh, just wait.” Mer had hearing like a hawk and Tatch had to have heard the prior conversation. Obviously, her hunger overcame common sense to wait longer and avoid Mom’s “hurray for Natatoria” pep talk.
    Tatiana blew out a gust of air. “Look. I get it’s safe and all wonderful down here, but don’t you see what the cost is? Azor’s going to be outside this house as soon as I leave for the palace in an hour and stalk me until I agree to his hand. He is the prince after all. How is that the ‘land of opportunity’?”
    “Tatiana, don’t be so dramatic. I was just going to suggest your brother escort you from now on and I’m also going to have a talk with Azor. Just because he’s the prince doesn’t mean he can bend the rules. No mermaid is to be alone with a single merman, period, and he knows that. He’s not swimming all over me because your father isn’t here. Besides, I was suggesting to your brother you hook each other up with dates anyway.”
    Tatiana coughed. “Find Fin a date?” She howled in laughter.
    “What’s wrong with that?” Mom asked and raised her eyebrow.
    “Yeah,” I chimed in.
    She smirked and went back to shoveling food into her mouth while standing at the counter, like she planned a quick exit, too.
    Mom huffed. “Can’t we all eat at the table please? Come sit down, both of you.”
    Tatch and I exchanged glances. A layer of fear lay behind her eyes, hidden beneath a tough exterior. For Mom to think Tatch would suddenly embrace Natatorian culture just because she asked was crazy. That in itself would require an act of God, especially since the night before, Mom had promised her something completely different.
    Mom took our hands once we joined her. “I love you both and want what’s best for you. It’s hard enough for me to be without your father, but I can’t deal with four to five months of constant pouting and bickering. We’re a family and merfolk. So let’s accept this, find the good, and stick together.”
    “Fine,” I lifted up my hands and went back to my breakfast.
    “Yeah, sure, but I don’t need Fin’s help to find a date,” Tatiana said with a smirk, letting go of Mom’s other hand.
    “Me neither,” I muttered with a mouthful of food as Tatch stuck out her tongue.
    “Good,” Mom said.
    Tatch started in on her breakfast again. “So you’re all of a sudden okay with this because you want to be a grandmother?”
    “Well, something Portia said yesterday about her daughter’s new little merling on the way got me thinking.”
    “Good sea snails,” Tatchi exclaimed. “But what about last night? You promised me I could go to college and date a human guy.”
    “Well . . .” Mom took another swig of her coffee. “That’s not entirely out of the question. But for now, I want you to try to make things work here. You never know, you might just like it.”
    Tatiana sighed dramatically. “Yeah, well—I’ll play nice for now, but I refuse to be trapped here forever. And so far, there hasn’t been one solitary merman like Dad who’s cute and enjoys the land more than the sea. So, I’m going to be taking you up on your offer, Mom.”
    Mom shifted in her seat. “That’s fine as long as you two look out for each other.”
    Tatiana and I glanced at one another, and she stuck out her tongue. I jabbed her arm with my elbow. Though we were cordial again, the pressure still lingered right under the surface. Without Dad things would continue to remain tense, as Tatch’s desire to leave grew stronger. My only hope was she’d meet someone. If not, her ultimate decision to leave was going to break my parents’ heart. And mine, too.

 
    13
    ASH
     
    I sat in English, heart pounding as I slyly watched each person walk through the doorway, anticipating Callahan’s entrance. Georgia entered with a grin,