FOUR
Luke
I stand and stretch, placing my hands on my lower back and sighing as my spine cracks. Normally, I would have knocked off already, seeing as it’s after four, but I don’t want Mia to think I was serious about taking too long on this job. I don’t want anyone to accuse me of lingering just so I can spend a little more time in the same house, chatting to her, making her cups of tea, just spending time with her. I don’t even know why I said it, except it’s true and I can’t seem to help blurting things out in front of her.
I scrub my hand over my face. It’s ridiculous. She’s untouchable. She’s engaged. I’m not that guy. I’ve never looked twice at another man’s woman. Yet the sight of her wearing my jumper around the other day haunts me. Fuck. The feel of her in my arms ten years ago haunts me.
I can’t even tell if she remembers me from when we were kids. The first time I spoke to her on the phone about the renovation, she was polite, of course. But she never mentioned knowing me, and I never brought it up.
Besides, even if she wasn’t engaged, she doesn’t know the truth about me.
I never got the chance to tell her all those years ago why I ran off when I got wet and my body started to shift. Back then I was scared it would have freaked her out. Monsters like me were still living in secret.
Since monsters went public five years ago, a lot has changed, but some of the humans in my small town are still adjusting to the idea that a family of kraken have been living next door all along! I dread to think what Mia’s reaction will be. There hasn’t been a right time to bring it up. How do you casually insert it into conversation? Oh, great pick on the accent tiles. By the way, I’m actually a sea monster!
When I poke my head around the corner of the living room door, she’s sitting with her sketchbook in her lap and her feet tucked up under her. The last of the afternoon light frames her face like a halo and I can’t help myself. “God, you really better keep that jumper.”
She looks up, a puzzled expression on her face.
“It looks about a hundred times better on you than it ever did on me. I’d feel ashamed to wear it now.”
Her mouth drops open into a little o. She immediately stands and begins taking it off.
“No, don’ t. I mean it. Keep it.”
She pulls it back down so the hood catches on her head and, God, her flushed face is adorable. “I’m so embarrassed. I thought you were upstairs and I got cold...I can’t believe I thought it was Oliver’s.” Her colour deepens. “It smelled so good.” She groans. “Sorry, is that weird?”
Weird? No.
Does it do something crazy to my insides? God yes.
Does it make me long to shift and let her see how brightly I glow when she’s nearby? I’m surprised I’m not glowing in this form to be honest.
I clear my throat, wishing I could ask if she means I smell good. Knowing I can’t. “Please keep it. I’ve got others and it’s cold this year. You’ll need it tonight.” I’ve moved closer. I have the urge to reach out and pull back the hood and get a better view of her face. I don’t, of course.
“Thank you.”
We stand there looking at each other for a long moment, then we both speak at once. “I should probably—”
“Did you want to—”
I stop, forcing myself to take a breath. “Sorry. What did you want to say?”
“It’s silly. I’m sure you want to get home.” She looks down at her feet, then says in a rush. “I just wondered if you’d like to stay. We could get a pizza and watch a movie or something.” She shakes her head. “See. Silly.”
I hesitate so long she looks back up at me. Again, I’m hit by the beauty of her eyes. “Not silly. It sounds pretty good, actually. Only I shouldn’t, should I? ”
“Oh. Yeah. Nevermind. Sorry.” She gathers up her sketchpad from the floor where it fell when she stood suddenly. I’d love a chance to look at it, but she’s embarrassed. I’ve spoiled the moment.
Tugging at the collar of my singlet, I try to keep my tone light. “I’ll see myself out, yeah? I’ll be back in the morning to do the grout.”
Good one, Luke. She doesn’t care about grout.
She shoots me a half smile and I let myself out. When I shut the door of my truck, I lean my forehead against the steering wheel for a moment and groan. What the fuck is wrong with me? I had to go and make a friendly gesture into something else. That’s all it was. She was just being friendly. She wasn’t making a move. But of course, I’m a prime idiot and I read something into it that wasn’t there.
I slap my hand over the wheel as I sit up. When I look around, Mia has come out of the house and onto the driveway; she saw me do it. I curse myself as I roll down the window and paste a stupid smile on my face. “Hey.”
She shifts uncomfortably. “Hey. I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for making things weird. And you don’t have to work tomorrow. It is Saturday, after all.”
I sigh. “Listen, Mia. You didn’t make things weird. I did. Forget it. Please. I always work Saturdays. So I’ll see you in the morning.”
She smiles and seems to relax a little. “OK. Thanks. And uh...thanks for the jumper.”
“You’re welcome. ”
She slaps a hand over her face and laughs. “I can’t believe I didn’t notice right away that it says Wilson Construction on the front. You still think I’m smarter than you?”
I grin, relieved. She’s not holding onto my awkwardness. “Yeah. Definitely still think that. Pretty much nothing you can do’s gonna change that.” I give her a wave as I back out of the driveway, “See you in the morning.”
I wait in the road until I see her safely inside before I drive away.
The sky is dark now, the last of the light slipping behind the mountains. I flick on the headlights.
When I get home, the house is dark, too. I let myself in, throwing my shoulder against the door to stop it sticking against the frame. I should sand it back and give it a fresh coat of paint, but somehow, I always have something else to do. Even on the weekends, there are always jobs to do. I’m often up early helping Mum out at the Inlet Views or doing odd jobs for a neighbour. A lot of older people live here in Kraken Cove. Mr and Mrs Parker next door, for example. Their kids live in Canberra and they’ve been fighting for years to avoid being packed up and moved to a retirement home down there. There’s only one old people’s home in Kraken Cove, but there’s a long waiting list. So I help them out with the yard and cleaning the gutters. Things like that.
When I switch the light on in the kitchen, I notice the casserole dish on the counter. Underneath, there’s a note; I don’t need to read it to know who’s responsible. Swiping my phone from my pocket I choose the number. I don’t even wait for her to answer before I speak. “Mum! You’ve got better things to do than cook for me. What’d you do that for? ”
“Hello, Luke. You’re welcome. I take it this means you just got home, so I know you’ve had another busy day. How much unpaid work did you do today?”
I frown at my phone as I put the call on speaker and open the lid of the container to inhale a smell that warms me up from the inside out. Mum’s fish casserole is something I will never stop loving. “None, actually. This was all paid work. At the Bambara Street place.”
Mum sighs. “I wish these out of towners would stop buying up all the beautiful old houses around here and never living in them. It’d be one thing if they wanted to live here, or come down all the time. But they don’t. It’s like they’re just acquiring properties in Monopoly or something.”
I roll my eyes, even though I actually agree with her. “Mum, it’s their money. They can do what they like. Plus it makes business for me, so I can’t be mad about it.”
“Humph. Well, eat the casserole now, or put it in the fridge so it doesn’t spoil. I hope you’re taking care of yourself. Staying hydrated.”
I smile. “Yes, Mum. You know I am.” I was only round there on Sunday. “Any more bookings this week?”
“No, but I don’t want you to worry.” She cuts me off before I can do just that. “I’m trying to get your dad to take it easy a bit. He’s got an appointment up in Sydney next month and I’m going to drive him up. Jack’s going to take care of things here while we’re gone. So a quiet month doesn’t hurt.”
I frown. “Jack can manage. He’s a natural. What’s the appointment?”
“What’s that, honey? You’re breaking up. ”
I twist so my phone is facing the other way. “I said what’s the appointment for?”
“Sorry, love. Can’t hear you. I’ll have to call you back in the morning. Take it easy.”
She hangs up before I can protest. Odd.
I toss the phone onto the counter, fetch a bowl and serve myself a generous helping before putting the rest in the fridge for tomorrow. I didn’t get a good vibe about Dad’s appointment, whatever it is. Anything you have to go all the way to Sydney for sounds serious. But if it was something dangerous, they would have told us. Wouldn’t they?
I shovel a huge mouthful of casserole into my mouth and plonk myself on the sofa. Switching on Netflix, I choose something from my list just for some sound in the background. Dad’s been complaining about his hip lately, but that’s just the usual problems of getting older. It’s probably just the fact that so few doctors on the coast are qualified to treat monsters. Nothing to worry about. At least, I hope not.
My parents have always been full of life. Growing up, they were the chairperson and the treasurer of the local Rotary Club, and always organising charity drives. When I was young I was so grateful for them being so active in the Kraken Cove community. It made it easier to pass as human. No one ever questioned Joanne and Rob’s kids. When we all came out, it also made it easier. Felt like most people in town were pretty ready to accept us.
I have to admit, though, it has seemed like my parents have cut back lately. They stepped back from their positions in the club. I thought it was because some of the members got weird about us being monsters, but now I wonder. I’m sure Mum’s cut back on the fundraiser fish fries this year.
I tell myself it’s nothing to worry about. It doesn’t stop me sending a message in my group chat with Noah and Jack, though.
Luke: u know anything about this appointment Dad’s got in Sydney?
Noah: what appnt?
Jack: all he said was it’s some specialist he’s been on the waiting list for. Why? What did they say to you?
Luke: nothing. That’s what’s so funny about it
Noah: why am I always the last to know about these things?
Jack: Mum probably told you last week and you probably ignored her like you always do
Noah: do not
Luke: look. Can you both just tell me if you hear anything ok? I’m worried about them
Noah: it’s probably nothing. Just a hernia or something he doesn’t want to admit to
Jack: I keep telling them to take more time off. Take a holiday. I could run the Inlet Views. Easy.
Luke: maybe that’s a good idea. When they get back from Sydney, we’ll convince them to book a holiday
Jack: sounds like a plan
Noah: I’ll make the dinner, you 2 idiots are in charge of the intervention. Just don’t make it weird