Page 53 of Something Real with the Sea Monster
I stoop to pick up my phone, but he beats me to it, scooping it up with the tip of one tentacle and passing it to me.
“Come on. My truck is parked over there. Let’s get you out of the rain. I drove past a hotel about five minutes up the road that was advertising vacancies.”
I shiver. “Fine, but I’m not getting out of the shower until I’ve used up all the hot water.”
TWENTY SIX
Jack
True to her word, Tegan doesn’t emerge from the bathroom for forty-five minutes. I walk to the nearest convenience store, load up with salty and sweet snacks, and return to find her still in the shower. I towel off as best as I can, and once I’ve dried enough to shift back, I wrap the towel around my waist and sit on the beat-up checkered sofa chair, which is the only piece of furniture in the room other than the double bed. I turn the heater up full blast until the windows fog up and I wait.
I have a bag in the truck and could get out a change of clothes, but I want to be here when Tegan finishes her shower so we can talk.
If she’s still talking to me that is.
The bathroom door opens, and Tegan emerges in a cloud of steam with a towel wrapped around her head and another around her body. She glares at me. “I hope you weren’t expecting hot water.”
“Nope. I don’t need a shower anyway. This was all about you. What do you want to do? I contacted NRMA, and they’ll be out in an hour or so and can have you back on the road. If that’s what you want.”
“I don’t know what I want,” she says quietly, and it kills me how flat her voice suddenly is.
“To yell at me some more?” Please let her yell at me if that’s gonna bring some of her fiery determination back.
That draws a small laugh. “Maybe later.” There’s a pause. Tegan walks over to sit beside me on the bed. “How did you know that my car died or where to find me?”
I shrug. “Fate.”
She laughs. “Bullshit.”
“Honestly. The guy at the gas station told me about your car, but I just happened to stop there. The only reason I knew you were there too is because I started glowing.”
She shakes her head. “Fate.”
“Are you still mad?” I ask.
“Yes, but you get a lot of points for all this.”
I grab the bag of snacks and tip them out on the bed. “And these?”
“Awww, you got Clinkers. I love Clinkers.” She snatches the bag and tears open one corner. “I could really use a drink, but sugary snacks are good. What now?”
“Do you still want to go back to Sydney?”
She sighs. “Yes. No. I don’t know. I don’t think I can live in Kraken Cove forever, Jack. I just don’t know if it’s me.”
“It could be you. I know it could. If it’s not I could…” I trail off, not sure if I could really leave my hometown and my family behind.
Tegan takes my hand, and I thread my fingers through hers. “You don’t have to do that for me.”
“I want to. You deserve my everything, Tegan. I honestly mean that.”
“I believe you.” For a while we just look at each other, and I try to read the meaning behind her softened expression. “I think you’re the first person in my life to say that and mean it.”
That gives me a little hope.
“Would you come back with me? Just to see? Can you leave the Inlet Views for a little while?”
I nod. “Of course. My parents will look after the place until I get back. I’ll follow you anywhere if you’ll give me another chance. A real chance.”
