Merman 8

Eddie tossed his shirt onto a chair and sat at the edge of the bed,

the hotel’s warm yellow light flickering across his bare shoulders.

“What’s wrong with Dave lately?” he muttered.

“It’s like he’s somewhere else. I have to say his name three times before he even looks at me.”

Laura, already in her nightgown, slid beside him and ran her fingers through his hair.

“He’s always been that way, hasn’t he? Like his mind’s somewhere far away. Another world, maybe.”

“Yeah,” Eddie said softly. “Like he’s bouncing through time.”

Laura smiled faintly, resting her chin on his shoulder.

“Forget about him for a second. Next week’s our big day.

My assistant confirmed the open garden venue — everything’s ready.

I’ve dreamed about this wedding since I was a girl.”

Eddie turned, kissing her temple. “I just want you to be happy, Laura.”

She squeezed his hand. “I am. You make me happy. We’re about to start a family — how could I not be?”

Eddie kissed her again, a little deeper this time.

“You seem excited,” she teased, breathless.

He smiled against her lips. “I am. More than you know.”

But the warmth faded as a thought crossed his mind.

“Do you think… we did the right thing? Not inviting him?”

Laura’s expression shifted. She looked down at their hands.

“Now that I’ve met him — yes. He feels unpredictable, like he’s walking through

some storm only he can see. I just want our wedding to be peaceful. No drama.”

“But he’s my friend, well…as you know, more than a friend.” Eddie said quietly. “He’s important to me.”

“And you’re being there for him,” Laura said gently.

“When he bought that lagoon property, we came all this way to support him.

That counts, doesn’t it? Spending time with him, even if it’s not in a ballroom.”

Eddie rubbed the back of his neck. “He’s been asking again. About the half million.”

Laura’s face stiffened. “Did you tell him?”

“No,” Eddie sighed. “How could I? We’re supposed to be investment experts — not idiots who fell for a midnight scam.”

Laura met his gaze, her tone soft but unyielding. “We made a mistake. It happens. We’ll fix it.”

Eddie exhaled slowly, staring at the ceiling. “Yeah. But he trusted me.”

Laura turned off the lamp. The room sank into half-darkness, their reflections faint in the window —

two figures holding each other, surrounded by the quiet hum of guilt.