Page 9 of Something Real with the Sea Monster (Kraken Cove #3)

NINE

Jack

I have an early morning meeting with the company that supplies our linen.

This is the third time they’ve raised prices in two years, and it’s getting to be too much.

I’d rather not have to look for another supplier, but I’m not at my best and the meeting ends with no resolution on the discount I requested.

When I open the door from the office, I see Tegan coming down the stairs from the apartment. “Good morning. How are you feeling?”

She’s typing something on her phone and doesn’t look up. “Fine.”

There’s a pause. “Did you want a coffee or tea? I was about to make one.”

“No thanks.”

I hesitate. She hasn’t outright said it, but there’s something not right here. Her body language is screaming I want to tear your head off. “Did you um… did you have a good sleep?”

Finally she looks up to glare at me. “No, not really. I woke up wondering where I was and why I was alone. And then I remembered how you rejected me.”

“Uh…” I shift uncomfortably. I don’t think now is the right time for the conversation I know we need to have, but it feels like the yeti in the room.

“Plus I had about ten missed calls from Mia who was worried about where I was and why I never came home last night.”

Oh shit. I didn’t even think that Mia would worry. Stupid. Of course she did. The only thoughts tossing through my head all night like seaweed on a rough ocean were that she’s my fated mate and how do I tell her? “I should have messaged Luke.”

Tegan sighs. “It’s my fault. I’m kinda shit at being responsible. I know that.”

There’s another pause. “So are you OK now?”

“Yeah. Fine. Brilliant. I’m getting so used to being rejected that it just rolls off me like water off a duck.”

“Tegan.” I run a hand through my hair, struggling for the words. “I’m not good at this stuff. I’m no good with women.”

Tegan scoffs. “Because we’re a whole other species, right?” I open my mouth to reply that she kind of is, when she holds up a finger. “OK, fine. One point to you, monster boy, but kraken females can’t be that different to human women.”

I shift uncomfortably. We’re dancing around the real reason I’m no good with females, and I’m nervous about how she’ll take it when she finds out. “There are some key differences.”

She folds her arms across her chest. “Oh?”

“Listen,” I say softly. “I’ve really only had one girlfriend before, and that was a long time ago.”

Some of her defensiveness falls away and her eyes widen. “Really?”

“Really. Like, a long time ago.”

“How long ago?”

Now I’m starting to feel uncomfortable all over again, but in a new and fun way. “Well, when I was about twenty.”

She blinks. “How old are you now?”

“Thirty.”

“Ten years! Jack, are you telling me you went ten years with no sex?”

I laugh too loudly, hoping she doesn’t push this. “Well, no, not ten years. No.”

There’s a pause. “How long?”

I clear my throat. “Technically, I’ve never had sex.”

She blinks. “Never?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re a virgin? You’ve never had sex?”

I wish she would stop saying it like that. I have my reasons.

“OK, alright. My brothers already give me enough shit for not having a girlfriend. If they knew... I’m not a complete loser, I’m just waiting.”

“For marriage?” She gapes at me. “No. Wait. You’re a kraken. What is it called again?”

“Well it’s more or less the same thing, but with kraken there’s something even more serious than marriage.” I watch her face carefully as I say the next part. “We have fated mates.”

“Oh shit. That’s right. Mia told me. So you’re waiting to find your fated mate?”

“Something like that,” I mumble.

“Oh, well why didn’t you say? That changes everything.”

“It does?” Maybe I made a mistake not just telling her last night.

“Of course it does. Aww, Jack. That’s adorable. God if I wasn’t in this shitty town to clear my head and detox from guys, I’d be feeling a lot more jealous of whoever that is.”

I open my mouth to tell her she doesn’t need to be jealous, but then the rest of her statement sinks in. She’s detoxing from guys? Well now I’m confused. “Uh, but last night—?”

She chuckles. “Last night I was very drunk and horny.” She winces. “Which is kind of on trend for me. Listen, I’m really sorry. That probably made you really uncomfortable and was all kinds of inappropriate. I get that.”

I don’t want to tell her it did in case it makes her feel worse. Her words make me wonder, though. “Do you often drink that much?”

“It’s not that much,” she says quickly. There’s a long pause. She twists her mouth into a grimace. “Well, anyway, I’m detoxing. Starting today.”

I’m quiet for a moment. “Is that what you want to do??”

“Yeah, just for a month or so. It’ll be over before I know it.”

“Want company?”

Her pained expression clears. “You mean you’ll give up drinking with me?”

“Sure. If it would help. I’ll give up men too if you like,” I joke.

She laughs. “Well thanks. I appreciate that, but you don’t need to suffer just because I make bad life choices.” She smiles at me. “Friends again?”

Friends? That was not the word I would have chosen. I have a sinking feeling this conversation has not gone at all the way I wanted it to. But I’m glad she’s not mad at me anymore. “Friends,” I say. After all, it’s a step in the right direction.

From the sounds of it, she could use a friend right now. Not someone trying to push his feelings and his agenda on her.

Tegan grins. “Well, if we’re friends, you should totally let me find you a date. You’ll never find your fated mate if you don’t get out there. And trust me, she’s out there. A sweet guy like you? You’ve got to have a fated mate.”

“A date?” Wait, this is not in the script.

“Are you on Tinder? Bumble? You’ve got to be on something. I’m sure there are lots of lovely ladies—or men—out there.”

“Ladies,” I say quickly, lest she get the wrong idea. Maybe my joke before wasn’t the best idea. I shake my head. “I’m terrible with those apps.”

“I can help! Oh please let me help. Let me make it up to you for being such a grouch this morning and for coming onto you so hard last night.”

I stare. She wants to help me date other women?

I’m sure this can’t be a good sign, but there’s a light behind her eyes and her grin stretches all the way across her face, and I’m finding it hard to resist. I’m finding it hard to think about anything other than the way I wish I hadn’t turned her down last night.

“Well I guess it wouldn’t hurt to make a profile. Maybe you can help me with that.” Maybe the excuse to spend a little time together would be a good thing. After all, if she's willing to come round after work and hang out with me, that counts as getting to know each other. right?

I ignore the inner voice which whispers that this might just be the worst mistake I’ve made in a long time.

She claps her hands together. “Yes! This is gonna be great. We’ll find your fated mate in no time.”

I laugh ruefully to myself. “Yeah. I bet she’s closer than I’d ever guess.”

The dating apps are even worse than I remember. It’s a quiet afternoon, so between phone calls and emails, we chat while Tegan fills in details on the profiles she made for me on no less than five apps. I didn’t even know there were that many.

When I say that, she just laughs at me. “Well I didn’t sign you up for any of the dodgy ones. Or the kinky ones. We’ll keep it mainstream. I just know we’re going to find you someone.”

I nod meekly, sneaking peeks at her over my shoulder while I pretend to work.

She twirls a lock of long blonde hair around her finger, and I get a little lost in the shape of her lips as they curve into a little smile. “OK, how tall are you? Six one?”

“No. More like five eleven. I think. What’s one eighty-one in feet and inches?”

“I’m putting six foot,” she says.

A moment later she taps me on the shoulder, and when I turn, she steps close, staring into my eyes for a moment. “Hmm. Green or blue? Somewhere in between I think. I’m putting green. And body type is muscular.”

“More like dad bod,” I mumble.

“What are you talking about?” She steps closer, taking a handful of my shirt. “May I?”

“Uh, sure.” I should not be loving this as much as I am.

I do my best to keep still while she tugs the hem of my shirt up and lifts it so my belly and chest is exposed.

And I try not to let it go to my head when she makes a low, appreciative noise and runs her hands up my abs making the muscles jump.

“Yep. Definitely muscular. I’m putting muscular.

God, I’m starting to regret my detox.” She drops my shirt and turns away, which is lucky because there’s an inconvenient bulge starting to form in my jeans, and there’s no way I was going to stop her myself.

“Sorry. Sorry. Tell me about you. What are you into? Do you have any interesting hobbies? Talents?”

I laugh. “Not really. I make really terrible craft beer, and I fish sometimes.” I shrug.

“I’m putting those down. That’s good. You’ve got a whole vibe going on.”

“What vibe?”

“You know…” She waves her hands and I laugh.

“I really don’t.”

“Small-town hipster boy next door. It’s a whole vibe. It’s hot.”

She thinks I’m hot. I have to stop myself from grinning like an idiot. I cough and turn back to my computer. “Thanks. I think you’re wasting your time, though. I doubt I’ll match with anyone.” How can I match with anyone knowing the one I’ve been waiting for is right here?

Tegan just waves away my comment. “Now don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re a catch. Tell me what sort of ladies you go for.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t really have a type.”

“Come on. Everyone has a type.”

There’s a pause. I turn, holding her gaze as I say, “You.”

She blinks. “Really?”

I nod. “Yeah. You’re just my type.” Let her read into that what she will. I hope she reads all the things into it.

We look at each other for another long moment, then Tegan laughs. “Well of course I am. I’m everybody’s type. How about I just put tall, blonde, and curvy?”

“Yeah.” It doesn’t matter what she puts. The girl I’m looking for is standing right here. I just have to find a way to convince her to see that. Right after she heals from what she’s been through recently.

That’s OK. I’ve waited this long to find her. I can wait a few more months for her to be ready for a relationship. Waiting doesn’t seem so bad when I know I’ve found her.