The Sweetest Summer(154)

            He tried to concentrate so he could get the words out. “Is she—?”

            “Yes! You saved her life! You saved her!”

            He didn’t have the strength to keep his eyes open. Such strange thoughts . . .

            “Clancy, can you hear me? I knew the second you went in the water . . . if you didn’t come up, all the joy would disappear from my life. You and Christina are the most important things in the world to me. I love you. I love you! Do you understand what I’m saying? You are the only man I’ve ever loved and the only man I ever will.”

            He tried to wrap his mind around what had happened. Down there, down in that watery world below the surface, what had been real and what had been illusion? Which was worse—a brain without oxygen or a bowl of ’shroomer chili? Maybe the psychedelic result was much the same.

            But some of it was real—the searchlights, jumping from one boat to the other, the shock of the freezing water against his flesh, the pain in his lungs, the graceful propulsion of the . . .

            Uh-oh.

            His eyes popped open. Clancy clutched Evie’s hand and pulled her closer. He had to tell her. She needed to know. It was important that she understood they were real. He had really, truly seen the beautiful creatures, he had touched them! And if he and Christina were alive, it was because of them.

            He pulled on Evie’s sleeve.

            “What is it, Clancy? Are you all right? Tell me.”

            “Mermaids,” he whispered. “Beautiful mermaids everywhere.”