Page 41 of Bound and Blitzed

At that, I bark out a laugh. “I’ll walk out with you.”

I leave the Honeycomb with Talon. Then, I slide into my car, point it in the direction of campus, and hope I catch Valentina’s presentation in time.

I slip in the back of the room right as she’s standing from her seat to glide to the front of the space. It’s a small venue but nearly all the chairs are filled. I can’t access one without making a spectacle of myself, so I tuck against the back wall and keep my eyes trained on Valentina.

Christ, she’s gorgeous. She’s wearing a sleek black dress. It has modest, thick straps that go over her shoulders and a high neckline, but it clings to her curves, tightening at her waist, flaring at her hips, and flowing to just above her knees. Her hair is swept back in a low ponytail, diamond studs sparkle in her ears, and her lipstick practically matches her natural lip color. She looks professional and proficient.

And I can’t take my eyes off her.

“Good evening. Thank you so much for coming to tonight’s presentations. My name is Valentina Garcia, and I am a PhD candidate, conducting research under the guidance of Dr. Mendoza.”

An irrational pang cuts through my chest that she used her maiden name. Garcia, not Callaway. But I have no right to feel that way when I’ve done a shitty job of making her feel like part of my family.

“I’m thrilled to join you tonight to discuss some important findings we’re discovering, many of which we plan to implement into outreach sessions at Ijams Nature Center.” Valentina continues to outline the new program, giving details about the conservation concerns regarding the cerulean warbler and the research initiatives to determine its breeding success.

I listen, fascinated, as her whole being comes alive. Dots of pink appear on her cheeks, her hands move in rhythm with her words, her voice layered with the passion she feels for the research and findings.

I note the rapt attention the audience members give her, as if they’re hanging onto her every word. For a moment, a flicker of jealousy shoots through me. Are they interested in her words, or in her?

I’ll be the first to admit that the cerulean warbler isn’t a bird I’ve ever thought about before. In fact, I’d never even heard of it until tonight. But I could listen to Valentina speak about the declining population and habitat all night.

Toward the end of her portion, she spots me, and her eyes widen. She blinks several times, her lips pursing. She finishes her presentation to a round of applause and sits back in her chair. But I note the way she perches on the edge of her seat, her shoulders riddled with tension.

Deep down, I know I’m the cause of her anxiety. And I hate that that’s the role I’m playing in her life. I rest against the wall until the presentations are finished. I clap with the rest of the audience and wait for Valentina to find me.

When she does, a woman is at her side.

“Avery, hi,” Valentina says, her voice laced with surprise and confusion.

“Hi.” I dip my head, smiling at her. I want her to know how wonderful she is, how much I enjoyed listening to her speak and learning from her, how badly I want to spend time with her the way we did in Austin.

“This is my mentor, Dr. Mendoza.” She gestures to the woman beside her.

Dr. Mendoza holds out a hand, her eyes sharp behind her thin-framed glasses.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I say, shaking her hand.

Her shake is firm, and her eyes meet mine as she replies, “It’s good of you to come.”

“I’m happy I made it in time. I really enjoyed tonight’s presentations,” I admit.

Dr. Mendoza’s expression softens slightly. “Well, Valentina will be speaking more at Ijams.”

“I’ll be there when she does,” I confirm.

Dr. Mendoza smiles. “Have a lovely evening. See you tomorrow, Valentina.”

“Thank you, Dr. Mendoza.” Valentina waves.

“Have a good night,” I tack on as Dr. Mendoza moves to another group.

Valentina’s eyes find mine. “What are you doing here?”

“I came for you,” I say simply. “I wanted to hear you present and, you were spectacular, Lena.”

She blushes at my words, and warmth sweeps through me. I can still make her blush; I can still make her feel something toward me. That, in itself, is a relief. “Thank you.”

“I’m serious.” I want her to understand how much I truly enjoyed the evening. “I learned a lot and I loved seeing you speak about something you’re passionate about. Although, I had no idea about the field research trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. You’ve gotta fill me in.”

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