Page 16 of A Smooth Operator

The soothing cadence of Walter Isaacson’s voice filled my ears, detailing the marvels of CRISPR gene editing. I could listen to this for hours, soaking in the intricacies of science and discovery. I rounded a bend in the path, admiring the fresh foliage on the trees and the ferns unfurling like delicate scrolls along the forest floor.

The early flowers of spring dotted the landscape—wood sorrel, violets, and trillium—all blurring together as I found my rhythm and let my mind wander. The trail ahead dipped into a gentle decline, and as I navigated a root sticking out, I glanced up just in time to see a familiar figure coming toward me, headphones on and head bobbing to a beat I couldn't hear.

Remi Drake.

Ha, ha, universe! Cut it out, will ya?

He wore a moisture-wicking black T-shirt like me, and unlike me, his was molded to his broad shoulders. His grey hiking shorts revealed strong, tanned calves. Yes, I was so far gone. I was looking at his tanned calves. I was in loose cargo shorts because they had a whole lot of pockets, which I found handy.

He wore trail running shoes like me, and unlike me, who wore a straw hat, he had a Grizzlies cap backward. He had a light daypack slung over one shoulder.

I groaned inwardly when his gaze flicked up, and he stopped abruptly, recognition lighting up his dark eyes. “Echo?”

It took a moment for me to pry out my earbuds and respond, “It's a teeny-tiny world, isn't it?"

He removed his earbuds and stashed them in his pocket. "No, kidding. You hike?"

"Whenever I can. It's good therapy."

He grinned. "Yeah, I needed to clear my head. Figured the trail was as good a place as any.”

"Welcome to my therapist," I joked.

He fell into step beside me, and we walked in silence for a while, the crunch of gravel and the chirping of birds filling the air between us. Eventually, I glanced over at him.

"I thought you'd be at the Spalding barbecue."

"Marina will be there, and I'm just not ready to deal with the drama."

"How did the breakup talk go; both with her and Alex?"

"You sure I broke up with both of them?" he mused playfully.

"Hey, no judgment from me if you didn't."

But I'll think you're a doormat and a weakling—and then maybe I'll stop crushing so hard on you. Universe, if you're listening, this one time, I'd really like for you to take my side. Okay?

"Alex tendered his resignation. He was ashamed and embarrassed. I told him I wouldn't accept it, and he'd just have to work harder and better."

I scrambled up an incline, and he easily followed me. It was evident we were both comfortable hiking a challenging terrain.

"Alex has integrity."

"Marina was a different story. She's low on integrity," he sighed. "She was livid. Said it was just one indiscretion, and how could I throw all eight months of our love away because of that?"

"Eight months isn't all that much time; or maybe for you, it is?"

He grinned. "For me? What does that mean?"

"You know what I mean," I replied sheepishly.

"You think I'm a man whore?"

"I'd never slut shame you."

He burst out laughing. "You know, Poop…sorry, Echo, underneath that whole nerdiness, you have a sense of humor."

It was a compliment, and yet, between the almost Poopy Pants and the nerdiness backhanded slap, it didn't feel like one.

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