"No!" Gage slams his fist down on the table. "You will not be leaving,"

I jump at his sudden anger, my body shaking under the sound of his voice bellowing through the kitchen. I wanted to fight back, I wanted to defend my decision, this was the only way I could make this better for him and for Sammy.

"Gage, she wants me gone," I whisper, my eyes floating to the ground.

"I don't care what Asada wants, she can't control my life anymore," He takes his seat once more slamming his fist against the table again.

"Wait, can't control your life anymore?" Sammy questions, her voice much stronger than mine, but she asked the same question I was thinking. What did Gage mean by anymore, as if she was able to control his life before?

"Asada and I dated, for years actually," He mumbled, his features softer now than before. Sammy and I gasp, a few puzzle pieces fitting together.

"You two... for years?" I point at Gage, those green eyes of his glaring at me as I stare back at him. He nods his head.

"Yes, she is angry because I broke up with her, and I really feel bad about it, but she was so controlling. I just couldn't take it anymore, I apologized about the timing but there was nothing I could do at that point. It was over,"

"So do you think this is all your fault?" Sammy questions, I kick her under the table sending her a glare.

"This is not his fault, this is Asada, she is the reason I am leaving, she wants me gone and if that's what I have to do to keep those I love safe, then that's what I will do," I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes once again. I bit my cheek, chomping down on the skin to distract myself. I wasn't going to cry, I've done nothing but cry the last month over every little thing that went wrong and I wasn't going to do that anymore. This was war now, I needed to man up, and get ready for battle.

"Wait, if you dated Asada for three years, and she is a mermaid, how did you not know about mermaids?" Sammy leans across the table, reaching out trying to place her finger on Gage's chest. Once she realizes she can't reach she sits back in her chair.

"Sammy," Gage takes a moment, trying not to laugh at her short arms, "We never went swimming and honestly there is a lot from that time that I don't remember. I didn't love her, I shouldn't have been with her that long."

"But still, with how hard Oly has been trying to keep this a secret, Asada must have slipped up once or twice while you were dating?" Sammy was pressing further into the topic. I couldn't help but want her too. These were questions that I wanted to ask, things I needed to know. I pulled my hand away from Gage's.

"No she really never did, I'm just as shocked as you guys are, finding out that she is a mermaid," Something about the way Gage was acting told me to believe him. He's done nothing but helps up, he has been there for us. There was no reason for him to lie to us and we needed to stop treating him like he was.

"Okay," I mumble. Hopefully, that would end the conversation where it stood. "Sammy, we should probably get heading back to our own house. Let Gage get some rest, he has had a rough day," I tugged at her sleeve, hoping she would take the bait.

"You guys were gone for three days," Sammy motions towards the calendar hanging on the wall. She had marked off the days just like Gage had previously. When we turned back to her she pointed towards the fridge turning to look at Gage. "I filled your fridge up with food, I bought lots of stuff because I wasn't really sure what you would want when you guys got home," Gage smiled, jumping up from his chair before rushing over to the fridge.

"I thought you said you didn't think I was coming back?" Gage teases back to what Sammy had said on the beach. She rolls her eyes, scoffing. She jumped from her seat heading towards the door to put her shoes back on.

"Come on Oly, I'm done with this guy, he can't even be grateful that I cleaned his entire house for him, I'm not sure he knows how big this place really is," She teased. I followed her putting my shoes on as well. Gage met us by the door, thanking her before she entered the garage. I turn to say goodbye to Gage, his arms wrapping around me as he pulls me into a hug.

He leans down placing a quick soft kiss on my forehead. My heart races in my chest, my body shaking under his touch. I could feel my knees quivering and I had no clue why he did that to me.

"Oly, thank you for saving me today," He smiles, pulling away from me. My body felt warm, but my skin was cold where he once was. I listen closely to Sammy, her shoes thumping against the cement, she must not have noticed that I wasn't following her. I watched Gage closely, my heart sinking in my chest, drowning itself in whatever feelings were going on inside me. Gage was the most attractive man I'd ever seen, his eyes dancing across my face.

"Will you go on a date with me?" His voice stutters the words barely making it out. He was just as nervous as I was. His lips tremble as they wait for a response, but as soon as my brain registers his question my body freezes, there's no way I could muster up an answer. I tried to nod my head but I couldn't move.

I sat motionlessly staring at him. My body screaming at me to say yes.