Page 57 of Something Real with the Sea Monster
“Just a bar downtown. Maybe dancing afterward.”
He groans. “I’m a terrible dancer.”
I spin and wrap my arms around his neck, swaying us a little. “That’s not what I remember. Come on. It’ll be fun.”
“If that’s what you want, then I’m in, just leave me in charge of minding the table or something.”
I resolve to get him tipsy and on the floor, but I keep that thought to myself. I have a feeling it won’t go down well if I say it out loud. Jack tipsy would be adorable. I mean he’s adorable usually, so tipsy would just be the icing on the cake. He’d get all cute. Well, cuter than he is already.
My phone is buzzing with messages all morning, and I’m a little bit distracted. Suddenly everyone is looking back through my Instagram feed and commenting on my Kraken Cove pics.
Brent comments on one of the hot tub pictures I posted:hot new bikini
I grin. I really do like the pink bikini I wore that day. Apparently I’m not the only one.
Saskia jumps on:your ass is fire in that. I can’t believe you were out there vibing with the cows for a whole month. It’s like country girl is your whole personality
That irritates me. I mean would it be so bad if country girl was my whole personality? Why does she have to be so judgy?
I conveniently forget every negative thing I’ve been thinking about Kraken Cove for weeks.
I put on my thrift shop designer dress and snap a pic in front of the mirror, tagging Saskia in the post.
@sassy_buns I think this Rebecca Vallance is my whole personality now
I almost cancel our plans tonight when she replies a moment later:it’s giving B&S chic babe. I love that for you
“Oh fuck off!” I slip the dress off and toss it over a hanger in my closet in irritation.
Jack looks up from his coffee. “Everything alright?”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah. Maybe I forgot how much my friends piss me off sometimes.”
He laughs. “So are we still going out tonight?”
“Are you kidding me?” I drop my phone on the couch and wriggle into his lap, flinging my arms around his neck. “We’re going and it’s going to be amazing and they’re going to be so jealous when they realize I have the best man—the best monster—in the world.”
It feels so good to be all dressed up and looking good and even better to have somewhere to go where I can show it off. I catch the way Jack looks at me as we leave the table at Kings and make our way through the crowd and out onto the street. I smile. If there was ever a guy who could make a girl feel amazing just by looking at her, it’s Jack.
I’m still kind of pissed at Saskia for her stupid comment earlier, but I’ve tried to hold my tongue and not start an argument. Pretty sure I’ve grown as a person during my time in Kraken Cove.
“Did you know Jack makes his own craft beer?” I say to no one in particular. I’ve had a few, and I’m feeling loose and happy.
Jack laughs. “I never said it was good.”
“I bet it’s amazing.” I give him the kind of gooey smile that can leave no one in any doubt about how happy I am, which makes me feel like I probably should have actually tasted his craft beer. I add it to my mental to-do list, just as soon as we’re back in the Cove.
“Are we heading to Eclipse or what?” says Saskia, changing the subject. Rude.
“Sure. I know you want to flirt with the new DJ,” I tell her. “Let’s go so we don’t have to spend all night listening to you talk about how hot he is.”
She says something to Brent in a hushed voice, and I catch enough to suspect she’s complaining about how I haven’t stopped talking about Jack all night, but I choose to ignore it. She’s not going to spoil my night. I refuse to let her.
At Eclipse, the music is pumping. The bass settles in my chest like a second heartbeat, and I drag Jack onto the floor and wipe my mind of Saskia and her bullshit for a few songs.
Eventually I can tell he’s had enough, so we wind through the crowd toward the bar.
“Want some water?” he asks me, dipping his head so he can yell into my ear.
