Page 32 of Until I Have You

Abigail will haunt me everywhere.All the bloody time.

7

ABIGAIL

I tugon the hem of my short dress one more time and try to settle into my seat at the bar.

This is low, even for me.Not just the neckline of the dress, but this whole situation.

The bar is nicer than nice, not somewhere I’d usually go out of my way for when I could hit up a karaoke bar or some basement dive with darts and pool.

But I’m trying to make a good impression tonight.More than a good impression, which I don’t want to think too hard about right now.

My decision to reach out to Professor Ridley was…it wasn’t necessarily spur of the moment.I’ve been thinking about it since the first rejection I got from a research fellowship.

Professor Derek Ridley is one of the foremost marine biologists on the East coast, and his word means a lot everywhere you go.

It’s a shame that he’s such a brilliant man with a terrible personality.

“Abigail?”

His voice crawls down my back like a drop of freezing water on an ice-cold day.

I turn to face the man.

He’s a little younger than my father.Probably Theo’s age, actually.Looks a little more haggard than Theo, thanks to all his crunchy habits.He has a long beard and wears sandals, even in winter.

Thankfully tonight, he’s opted for an outfit that is acceptable in this establishment, even if it’s all linen and way more suited for Key West than Manhattan.

“Professor Ridley.”I get up to greet him.“It’s good to see you.”

I hold out my hand for him to shake, but he embraces me like we’re old friends.

He presses his cheek to mine, his hands finding my back, squeezing me a bit too tight to be consideredfriendly.“Please, you’ve graduated.It’s Derek now.”

“Of course.”I try to find a happy medium between pushing him away and accepting the hug.I pat his back awkwardly.“Derek.Thank you for…meeting me tonight.”

“It’s my absolute pleasure.”He pulls the bar stool beside mine, then nods toward my lowball glass.“You’ve already started, hm?”

“Oh, yes, I hope that’s all right, I got here a little early.”I gesture toward the bartender.“Drinks are on me; I’ve already put down a card.”

Derek furrows his brow, gives me an almost paternal look.“Abigail, what kind of gentleman would I be if–”

“I invited you out tonight.It’s only reasonable.”I try to keep my tone and language as professional as possible.

A moment passes before a grin spreads out under his beard.Less of a grin and more of a leer.

I swallow back my nerves.

“You’re too kind, Abigail.”

That’s not what you said the last time we spoke.

I allow the conversation to be polite at first.A catch up.I let him flirt with me, let him ask me questions about my life, questions I don’t really care for him to know the answer to.But I have to bide my time.I need to get answers and see if he can help my career if he hasn’t hurt it already.

“So, does it feel good to be out of school?”He sips his old fashioned.

“I mean, of course.But it would feel better if I could land a gig,” I say with a half-humored smile.

---