Janine's blissful expression dimmed slightly. "What? That's so sad. It's definitely her loss. Stupid girl never knew what she was missing. In fact, if I didn't have Tam, I'd definitely be your girlfriend." Winking at Tam, she added, "No offence."
"Considering what I almost did, I'd say you're entitled," Tam chuckled. "Truth is, I was just thinking the same thing." A worried look played over her pretty face. "Um, I hope you don't mind."
"Mind? Why would I mind? Cleo is hot!" Janine licked her lips. "In fact, that gives me an idea. Why don't we both become Cleo's girlfriends?"
Tam and Cleo both stared.
"Come on, Tam," Janine pressed. "You like her, and I like her. We both need to stick close to her anyway so she can help teach us about being were-mermaids. So why not make this official? Well, not official in a public sense, but official between the three of us. As a thank you." Realizing she was babbling, she fell silent, blushing as if just coming to terms with her own suggestion.
"Are you crazy?" Cleo gasped. "It's hard enough trying to hide being a mermaid. Now you want to hide a lesbian three-way, too?"
"And we don't even know whether I'd stay female when I become human again," Tam added before glancing at Cleo. "Would I?"
The mermaid could only shrug. "I've never passed the curse on to a male before."
"Well, maybe we can just be her girlfriends when we're mermaids," Janine reasoned. "And if you stay a girl, then problem solved."
"Hm, that's true."
Cleo shook her head. "Wait, you're taking this seriously? And you staying a girl is not 'problem solved.' We'd have to create a new identity for you and explain your male self's disappearance."
"If it's that much of a problem, then why did you make me a mermaid?" Tam demanded, hands on her hips.
Cleo reddened and turned away. "I...thought it would be an amusing way to punish you for cheating and leave you to figure it all out by yourself. I didn't think the two of you would take it so well. Ugh, I guess I'm the irresponsible one here."
"Then it's time to take responsibility by agreeing to be our girlfriend," Janine said with a grin.
"That does not solve anything."
Janine giggled and hugged Tam, flicking her tail to bring them both nearer to Cleo. "Oh, it'll solve everything for us. If you want our cooperation, then make us your girlfriends right now."