Page 7 of Something Real with the Sea Monster (Kraken Cove #3)

SEVEN

Tegan

I snap a heap of pics and selfies for the ’gram as Jack gives me the tour. I can’t wait to post. All my friends will be so jealous of my detox retreat. They don’t need to know I’m here licking my wounds after being dumped.

I don’t mean to spend the whole morning at Inlet Views, but somehow Jack and I get talking, and when he has to go back to reception to check out guests I sort of tag along.

I don’t have anything else to do since Mia is busy today, and I like Jack.

I like the way he listens when I have something to say.

I’m afraid that means I do a lot of talking, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

While he’s busy, I go back to room three and take pictures of the view from the balcony from every possible angle. I do a thorough assessment of the website and make notes from the closest competitors in the area. Then I watch Jack check out the last guests who are leaving today.

“What’s the plan for the rest of today?” he asks the chic couple in their early sixties who stayed three nights in room one.

They look at each other with a smile. “We’re heading up the coast. We haven’t decided where we’ll stay tonight. We heard good things about a place up at Mollymook, but they’re booked out for months.”

Jack checks their booking and shows me how to tell whether it was paid in advance.

This couple didn’t, so he gets out the machine for them to scan their credit card.

“You know, there’s a little place up at Lake Conjola.

It’s small, but I know the owner. It’s a historic homestead that’s been converted.

Lake views and you’ll see every star in the night sky, it’s so quiet out there. ”

The couple give each other another look. “Well that sounds amazing. We might have to check it out.”

Jack turns his computer screen and brings up the website. It’s basic, like the one for the Inlet Views. Another family-owned business I’d guess. The setting looks exactly as he described. Rural, tranquil, surrounded by natural beauty.

“Oh that’s gorgeous.” The woman gets out her phone and makes a note. “Thank you. We’ve really enjoyed our stay here.”

The man puts his arm around his wife’s waist. “I think it’s safe to say we’ll be back.”

“I’m so glad to hear that.” Jack tears the receipt from the machine and offers it to the couple, who decline.

“If you take the little coastal road from Uludulla to Conjola, you’ll pass through the national park, and there’s a beautiful little beach there with a very scenic picnic spot.”

“Thank you.” They leave hand in hand with big smiles on their faces, and Jack makes a note on his bookings spreadsheet.

“I’ll send them a follow up email in a week asking for a review and with a discount for a second booking.”

I’m impressed. “I can see why your ratings average over nine out of ten.”

He shrugs. “We like people to enjoy themselves.”

When the rush of morning checkouts is over, I return to the website and Jack goes to supervise the cleaner.

I’m part way through opening a new Instagram account for Inlet Views when an email pops up on my phone.

It’s from Mark.

The subject line is blank.

I frown. It’s Saturday. But I rang in early this morning for Monday. Then I followed up with my two weeks’ notice. I don’t plan on going back. I’m sure I can find a doctor to give me stress leave while I wait out the time.

I guess maybe that’s why he is contacting me. Unless…

Against my better judgment, I open the email.

Tegan,

I’m sorry to disturb you while you’re on leave. I was hoping we could talk. I received your resignation.

Mark

He wants to talk? What does that mean?

Jack comes back into the office and catches me glaring down at the phone in my hand.

“Everything OK?”

I look up. “Oh. Yeah. I mean no. I just…” I trail off. He doesn’t want to hear about my problem. I sigh. “Just have to make a phone call.”

“Sure. Well, I was just going to go make some lunch. You want me to make you something?”

God, this guy. So sweet. My stomach is in knots, so I shake my head. “No thanks. You go ahead.”

With a worried look over his shoulder, Jack heads up the stairs to the residential apartment above the office, and I press call with a shaking hand.

Mark picks up after a few rings. “Tegan.”

“Hi.”

There’s a long pause.

Finally Mark clears his throat. “Thanks for calling, I wanted to talk to you.”

“I know.” My heart is picking up pace as the silence on the other end of the phone extends into a tenuous cord tugging on my chest. Is this the part where he says he’s sorry?

Where he says he made a mistake? Do I even want that?

A few days apart and the shock of a broken heart has made me see lots of things about the situation I had been glossing over before.

The way he never messaged me first. The way he never made plans in advance like I didn’t matter. Like I’d just drop everything and be available to him whenever he wanted.

And I did.

“I didn’t want it to come to this.”

“Me neither,” I say, my voice cracking.

“Listen, I feel bad about the way things ended. I just wanted to check that you’re OK.”

“Oh.” I wasn’t expecting kindness. I can’t form the words to answer around the lump in my throat.

“And you won’t… you know? Say anything to head office?”

The lump disappears in an instant as a flush of heat settles over my whole body.

Not kindness, just more self-interested bullshit.

“Well, I wasn’t going to, but this phone call sure makes me want to.

What the fuck did you think I was going to do, Mark?

Broadcast to everyone what an idiot I am to fall for you?

Let them all know I violated company policy? ”

“Right. I mean good.”

“No, not good, Mark. Really not good.” I don’t realize I’m shouting until Jack opens the door and sticks his head out with a concerned look.

“Is everything OK?”

I let out a breath and pull the phone away from my ear so I can ignore whatever Mark is saying. It doesn’t matter anyway. “No. Yes. It will be.”

What am I even doing letting him drag me down more? I press the button to end the call and shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I never should have taken that call.

“Want to talk about it?”

“No. I’m going to go now. I’ll be back in the morning like we talked about.”

“Right. Yeah. Thanks.”

I turn to go.

“Hey, Tegan?”

“Yeah?”

“He’s an idiot.”

“Huh?”

He nods his head to indicate my phone, which is still in my hand. “Mark? Idiot.”

“How do you know? I mean he is, but how do you know?”

“He fucked things up with a woman like you, that’s how.”

Jack’s sweet words stay with me as I drive up the hill to Mia’s house.

They shouldn’t, but they really make me feel better, which is good evidence I’m not in the right headspace to be alone.

Luke left out a spare key for me, but instead of waiting in the house by myself until Mia and Luke get home, I stop at the first place I find with people gathered on the way there, the local pub.

A cheeky afternoon drink or two won’t hurt. In fact, that’s an excellent idea to get my mind off Mark and all the reasons I came to Kraken Cove in the first place.