Page 41 of Something Real with the Sea Monster
Jack
Fuck!
This is exactly what I was afraid of. I pushed too hard. Lucky I didn’t tell her the fated mates thing after all. At least I still have a small chance of working this out.
My hope dwindles when she calls in sick the next day. The day after that she leaves early, claiming an appointment, and I start to get a really bad feeling.
I’m about to resort to desperate measures and ask Luke and Noah for advice, when I get a phone call and the new hot tub is being delivered. When it arrives I have a moment of panic, thinking it’s going to be too big for the space after all, but by the time they have it installed and Luke has been around to confirm that the balcony will hold and everything is sound, I’m feeling pretty pleased with it.
I can’t wait for Tegan to see how good it looks. It was all her idea after all.
This gives me an idea of my own.
I snap a few pictures and attach them to a new message:you should see this. Looks amazing. You’re a genius.
I wait, hoping, and sure enough, a few moments later, Tegan replies:it really does. I’m so glad it turned out well.
There’s a pause. The three dots appear and disappear, appear and disappear again.
Finally:I’m sorry about the other day and about not working yesterday. I just needed some space
Before she can say more, I quickly type:I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to be pushy
Tegan:you weren’t. I’d just hate to hurt u. You’re a really nice guy
I’m not so sure being a really nice guy is enough. It certainly seems like a consolation prize in this situation, but at least she doesn’t think I’m a fuckboy. It could be worse.
Then again, wasn’t she telling me fuckboys are the guys she always falls for…
I sigh.
Not going there. Even if treating her badly might give me a better chance of winning her, that’s not a battle worth winning. That’s not what she needs.
I’m leaning over the balcony of room one, trying to compose my next message to Tegan, and I can’t get the words to come out right.
At that moment, Luke shouts up from ground level. “Hey, you still up there? I’m about to head home. You wanna come round tonight for a barbeque?”
I shove the phone into my pocket; I can’t think of what to say anyway. But I’m not feeling like socializing. I hang over the edge of the balcony. “Nah. I might just have a quiet one tonight. Maybe later this week?”
“Sounds good.”
I trudge back to reception and stare listlessly at my screen instead of doing actual work. Isn’t this supposed to be easy? After all, what’s the point of fated mates if you have to chase so hard? Yeah I know that’s not the way it works. I saw what both my brothers went through. And if I have to do the same, at the end of the day it’ll be worth it, but I could use a little help from the powers that be.
I’m not really expecting it, but when I check my phone again there’s a new message from Tegan.
Tegan: should I come round later and take some pictures for Instagram?
My heart beats a little faster in my chest. Is this fate actually stepping in? Is she suggesting more or is this really just about photos? I’m going to assume she means just photos, but at the very least, she’s going to come and spend time with me again. That has to be good.
Jack: that’d be great. What time?
Tegan: I think we want to get some sunset colors, so let’s say 7:30
I smile to myself. Sunset and a hot tub. I wonder what else I can do to make it more romantic. For Instagram of course. And if it works on Tegan, so much the better.
By seven thirty, I have candles stashed everywhere, sparkling grape juice on ice, a small table with strawberries and chocolates in a little dish. Stacks of rolled towels are neatly arranged. The bright blue of the sky is just starting to fade, and I’m debating whether or not I should have tried to find a bathing suit.
There’s a tapping at the door of room one and Tegan calls out. “Hey, it’s me. Is everything all set up, want me to—oh!” She steps out onto the balcony and looks around, eyes widening. “This looks lovely.”
