Page 115 of Until I Have You

“You’re going to have to clarify that acronym for me.”Theo chuckles.

“The New York City Marine Life Center,” I say, wasting precious rings to explain.I pull the blankets up around me as I answer the phone.“Hello?”

“Abigail?It’s Moriah!”

“Moriah?Why are you–”

She laughs.“I had to call from an aquarium number because this is a business call.How are you?”

A business call?“I’m good, how are you?”

Theo rolls out of bed to give me privacy.

I try not to get distracted by his bare, muscled back as he reaches for his clothes and dresses again.

“I’m good!Things have been hectic here, as per usual, I mean, since we’re remodeling the stingray encounter, it’s just–” Moriah stops and takes a breath.“We can talk about that later.I’m calling because we’ve had a job open up, and my team wants to invite you in to interview!”

My body tingles with anticipation.“You want me to interview for…”

“There’s a spot on our avian research team that just opened up and, well, that’s a story for another day, but there’s been some shuffling around of the roster and…” Moriah continues to shuffle on about the details.

My mind is pinging around to so many different places.

A job at the aquarium would mean I would have to back out of the research position in County Clare.However, it would mean I could stay in New York.

I could stay with Theo.And Bonnie.

And life wouldn’t have to change so much.Not at all.

“Can you come in tomorrow afternoon?”Moriah asks.

“Give me the time and place, and I’ll be there.”

When I hang up the phone, I’m speechless.So speechless that when Theo touches my shoulder I almost jump out of my skin, gasping.

“Sorry!Didn’t mean to scare you!”he says, softening his touch, then turning it to a caress down my bare arm.“What was that about?”

It’s only a second, but in that second, I see a lifetime in his cerulean eyes.Miles and miles of ocean, unexplored terrain, a territory to call my own.Longer than two months.A lifetime.We could have a lifetime.Theo could be my lifetime.

That assumes a lot, of course.It assumes love, a word that we don’t toss around but feels rife in every moment between us.And with Bonnie.

Don’t get ahead of yourself.You don’t have the job yet.

“The aquarium wants to interview me for a permanent position on their research team.”

Theo’s curious expression melts.Wide eyes, broad smile.All of a sudden, I’m wrapped up in his arms, and he’s holding tight to me like I might float away like a balloon.“That’s amazing, Abigail!”

I burst with laughter.It’s impossible not to keep my hopes up when his reaction is so big and celebratory.

“So, wait, wait, wait–” He pulls back, grin unflinching.“What does that mean?Would you–I mean, would you still go to Ireland and–”

I shrug, my smile matching his now.“I don’t know.I mean, I’m assuming I’d have to start sooner rather than later, so–”

“So, you’d stay.”

I’m quiet as I latch my hand onto Theo’s forearm.

Ten minutes ago, I was leaving indents in his bare skin, clinging to him like every second counted because every second did.“I guess I would.”

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