Earlier in her bedroom you hadn't told her the whole truth because you weren't sure how she'd react. Now you knew she was okay with it. You took a deep breath and looked Lydia in the eyes.
"Yes. Or at least I think so. Every guy has a fantasy. Mine is a mermaid. The only thing better than you Lydia would be you as a mermaid. But changing you forever...if you didn't like it you'd hate me. It's not something we ever talked about, it's not something I ever thought could happen. So when I stumbled upon this genie I just made the wish. He only let me chose between changing you forever or changing you once, temporarily. My exact words were..."
You think back to your encounter with the genie. Much of it is already fuzzy in your mind but you recall exactly what you said when you made the wish.
"I said 'I have long had a fantasy about making love to a mermaid. I wish for you to transform my girlfriend temporarily into a mermaid so I can fulfill this fantasy with her.' So after our first time together I guess you change back..."
Lydia looked down at her chest, at her hands, at her tail, at the pool. Then she looked back at you.
"I really like this. It's so strange but so good. Especially when I'm swimming. But would I still like being a mermaid all the time in a week? In a month? In a year? Hard to dance at your prom or your wedding without legs. How would I explain this to my parents? And I've got a swim meet tomorrow. Would they even let me swim like this? Though I'd love to see the look on the other girls' faces if they did though, especially Monica's..."
You both laughed. Lydia told you about her rival on the swim team before.
"I remember genies in stories are tricky; they twist words. Maybe it will last longer than you think? I like it. I like that you like it. But consequences... If only you'd found this genie on our honeymoon instead."
You share a smile. As much as you like Lydia as a mermaid, she's right. And really, as much as you'd like her to stay a mermaid for awhile longer you'd really also like to fulfill your fantasy.
"I got you into this without letting you deciede, Lydia. It's your decision when you want to try to get out of it."
Lydia decieded...