Page 3 of Something Real with the Sea Monster
“You wanna talk about it?”
I pause. I’ve been worried about telling her about me and Mark. I guess I’m expecting her to judge me. After all, he was still technically living with his wife. And yeah, maybe I’m judging myself a little bit. “It’s a guy.” I try to sound dismissive, but the waver in my voice is painfully obvious.
“Oh bleh. What guy? I didn’t think you were seeing anyone right now.”
I hesitate. I do really want to talk to Mia about it, though. I hope she won’t be offended. I remind myself my situation is totally different than her shitty ex-boyfriend, Oliver, who I caught cheating on Mia. Besides, Mia has a gorgeous kraken husband now, and she’s happier than I’ve ever seen her. “I got involved with this guy from work, Mark.”
“Mmm.” I can’t tell from Mia’s hum whether she’s already figured out how this ends. To me it feels obvious.
“Things were really great. We were talking about getting serious but…”
“But?”
A tear trickles down my cheek. “But he just messaged to say he’s getting back with his wife, and it feels like a total blindside.”
Mia stays on the phone with me until I’ve cried it out. By the time I’m done sobbing to her my throat is sore and the rest of the bottle of wine is calling my name. I pour it all into my oversized wine glass and take a large gulp.
Why do I even bother with relationships? I’m no good at them. Men are no good at them. Seems like no one but my best friend is any good at them.
I need a Mia. I need a wife who will be loyal and forgiving and comforting and understanding. Not for the first time, I wish I was gay.
I’m really not, though.
How am I going to face work tomorrow? Just the thought makes me gag on the last piece of pizza. I can’t do it. I can’t even think about seeing Mark walk past my office as if nothing happened. As if he hasn’t just broken my heart. I certainly can’t sit in a meeting and look at him across the table and know I’ll never get to touch or kiss him again.
I wish I didn’t want to, but I still really do.
Impulsively, I reach for my phone again and send a text to Mia. It’s late and she’s probably gone to bed, so I don’t call. I hope she and Luke won’t mind.
Tegan: I’m coming to stay for a few days. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. T xx
TWO
Jack
The phone rings, interrupting what I’m saying. I suppress my sigh. The lady on the other side of the counter isn’t really listening anyway. She’s trying to stop her baby from snatching the oversized sunglasses from the top of her head while she keeps one eye on the toddler slowly plucking leaves from the potted plant in the small seating area. “Alex, honey, we don’t pick other people’s plants, OK?”
“Would you excuse me one moment?” I keep my warm smile in place, despite the fact that there are now tiny white pebbles scattered all over the carpet along with a trail of soil and Alex appears to be moving on to ransack the stash of tourist brochures on the magazine stand.
“Huh?” She blinks at me, and her baby makes another swoop for the glasses.
Taking advantage of her distraction, I scoop up the phone and bring it to my ear. “Inlet Views Kraken Cove, how may I help you?”
“Good morning.” The male voice on the other end of the line is polished and proper. Internally I guess a Sydneysider. I don’t say anything out loud except, “Good morning.”
“My wife and I are arriving to stay at the Inlet Views today, and I wondered if it would be possible for us to check in early? It looks like we’ll get to Kraken Cove at about lunch time.”
I wonder to myself what time that means. In my experience it could be anywhere from 11:30 to 2 p.m. It doesn’t really matter of course. The customer is always right. “Let me see what I can do for you,” I tell him calmly, grimacing as Alex’s mother scoops him off the white armchair before he can perform a backward flip onto the floor. “What name is it under?”
“Chesterfield.”
On the computer, I bring up the booking and sigh. I have the new couple in the same room this family is currently checking out of, and I can tell without looking there will be extra cleanup. If I divert the cleaner to prioritize that room, I can have it ready by one, but I usually try to have her do the room refreshes for the ongoing guests first. I guess that can wait. I’m about to answer when Mr. Chesterfield speaks again. “Oh, I see. Hello? Are you still there?”
“Yes, sir.”
“It seems we’ll arrive at eleven. I hope that’s not too much trouble.”
I’m sure my eye is twitching, but I keep my voice friendly. “Of course not, sir. I can have the room ready for one, and in the meantime, I’ll reserve a table for you at our in-house restaurant, The Snapper. How does that sound?”
