Page 28 of Something Real with the Sea Monster (Kraken Cove #3)

TWENTY EIGHT

Tegan

When Jack finally gives in after five orgasms of mine and cums inside me, it feels like a relief. I kinda wish he would stop being so fucking perfect. It’s starting to make me feel a bit insecure.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s amazing, but I’m not exactly the world’s most perfect person, and I’m sure one of these days he’ll wake up and realize that and have regrets.

I feel bad that I fell asleep on him last night. I was trying to make it up to him this morning. Guess I’ll have to keep trying.

Maybe what he needs is a good night out. Something fun with lots of people, some great music, good cocktails.

Yes.

I start messaging people as soon as Jack gets in the shower, and pretty soon a plan is coming together.

Isla: there’s a new bar open on King St. We could start there, maybe hit up Glasshouse after

Brent: Nah, Glasshouse is dead these days. Go Eclipse

Saskia: I second Eclipse. The new DJ there is hot

Leo: Agree. I went to Glasshouse last weekend. Dead as

That decided, I invite a few more people, and Saskia and Isla agree to do the same. I’m excited. I’m standing at my wardrobe already picking out an outfit when Jack emerges from the bathroom.

“Geez, water pressure sucks here.”

“Doesn’t it? Old pipes. Hey, you wanna come out tonight and meet my friends?”

He walks over and slides his hands over my hips, pressing a kiss to the back of my neck. “I’d like to meet your friends. Where are we going?”

“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.

I frown. “Uh no. I want a proper drink.” Before he can protest, I lean across the bar and wave down the bartender. “Gin and soda please, and a Young Henry’s.”

When he hands us our drinks, Jack looks like he wants to say something, but I’m distracted when I catch sight of Saskia following a tall, familiar looking man onto the dance floor. I don’t see his face, but for a moment I wonder.

It couldn’t be, though. Not here.

I take a big gulp of my drink and try to focus on the crowd of people to pick out Brent or Isla. We all got separated, and now it’s just me and Jack. Not that I mind so much.

It’s funny, but I never really missed my Sydney friends while I was in Kraken Cove. And now I’m back in Sydney, I’m reminded why seeing them in small doses feels like the right amount.

I finish my drink and order another.

Jack’s hand closes over mine on the glass. “Hey, maybe you should slow down. You’ve had a lot.”

I round on him. “So? I’m a grown woman. I can make my own choices.”

“I’m not saying you can’t, Tegan, but it’s not much fun for me just watching you do this.”

“Do what?”

He says nothing, just looks at me.

I raise my voice. “What, Jack? God! Maybe you should just go home then and leave me if you don’t know how to have fun.”

“Don’t be stupid.”

I’m about to tell him exactly where he can shove his opinion when the group of dancers dividing me from Saskia parts and I spot her. But it’s not her I’m staring at. It’s the guy she’s with. Mark leans close, whispering something in her ear, and she tips her chin up like she’s going to kiss him.

What the actual fuck?

I lurch onto the dance floor, drink in hand, pushing people aside. I don’t notice Jack follow me until I feel his hand on my arm. “Tegan—”

I look back with a glare and shake him off. I hardly notice the splash of my drink on the floor.

I stride up to Mark and push him roughly. He lets go of Saskia and turns to stare at me. “What the fuck?”

I stare. The face of the man I’m looking into isn’t familiar at all. It’s a stranger.

Saskia steps in front of him. “What is your problem?”

I shake my head. Everything on the edge of my vision is fuzzy, and for a moment I don’t know myself.

I open my mouth to tell Mark to go fuck himself, then remember it’s not him. My vision is swimming. I’m jolted by another dancer who sways into me, knocking my glass onto the floor with a smash. The movement sends a wave of nausea over me, and what comes out isn’t words. It’s vomit.

I open my mouth and vomit all over not-Mark and Saskia and the floor between us.

Saskia screams. People turn to look.

Someone pulls out a phone, and then suddenly everyone has a phone.

I ignore them. “You’re a lying piece of sh—” Unfortunately I don’t make it through the rest of the sentence before another burst of bile rises and spews from my mouth. I hunch forward, clutching my stomach, but my knees hit the hard floor, and I realize I’ve fallen.

The room is spinning.

I can’t see any of my other friends anymore. All I can see is dark figures hiding behind the flashes of their cameras.

This is awful. I need to get out of here.

Now.

Scrambling to my feet, I stagger through the crowd. Someone tries to stop me, but I’m not listening. I’m not listening to the shouts or the throb of the music. I’m only focused on the patch of blue light on the exit sign over the door.

My escape.

I burst out onto the street, gulping lungs full of humid late summer air. It’s not refreshing. Everything is still spinning. I stumble forward. Headlights flash as a car comes around a corner.

“Tegan!”

The voice calling my name propels me into action. I lurch forward, tripping over the curb and onto the street and nearly rolling my ankle in my heels.

A horn blares. There’s a screech of tires. All of a sudden, I realize I’ve misjudged the gap in traffic and there’s a car headed straight for me.

A strong arm wraps around me from behind. I’m scooped up, spun around, and held against a solid, familiar chest, pulled out of danger as the car screeches past.

A sob creeps up into my throat, but I can’t remember why I want to cry.

“Shhh.”

I try to protest, but he’s already walking. “Put me down.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Jack.” I struggle, but his grip is too strong.

“I’m not leaving you here, Tegan.”

“Why not?”

“Tegan, you just walked out in front of traffic.”

I sob, knowing he’s right. Knowing the only reason he’s not leaving is my safety. The minute he gets me home, though? The minute he has a chance to think about what a fucking mess I am, that’s another story. “You won’t stick around after that,” I whisper, tears welling in my eyes.

He stops. Jack looks down at me with a serious expression. “That’s where you’re wrong. Because I don’t give up on fate, Tegan. That’s who I am. And I won’t give up on you.”

I don’t remember much after that. And to be honest, I’m grateful.