Page 18 of Deep In Love
I wish I could film Charlie’s reaction, her expressions jumping between confusion, disbelief, concern, and my favorite, sheer joy.
“Who is Jett Parks?” she asks, stringing together her first full sentence.
“He’s a tok-tiker instafluencer, I think,” Cheryl says, and Charlie’s lips quirk as she flips to a clean page in her notebook.
“He has a popular YouTube channel,” I amend. “It started with pranks but now focuses on explaining odd oralienthings about Earth.” Charlie’s eyebrow raises. “I googled him yesterday.”
We all exchange a sly glance as we wait for her to say something. It was my suggestion to surprise her, given how badly she wants to go on the SeaStar vessel. Only one thing beats it on her scientist bucket list: meeting Charles Darwin. Unfortunately, it’s incredibly unrealistic unless necromancy is real.
Charlie fans herself before grabbing her latte and sucking down the liquid in one gulp.
“What’s the catch?” she asks.
“No catch,” I respond, but Cheryl and Dan share a look of mischief. Charlie doesn’t notice it, and I choose to ignore it.
They’re the quirky married professors on campus, but they’re also incredible advisors and brilliant researchers. Sometimes you have to ignore the weird looks for peace of mind, which is what I’m doing now.
“Sofía Martinez is part of the production crew and has been working with Mateo to ensure everything is set. They only agreed on Monday, so it’s been a bit hectic,” Cheryl explains. “Your flights leave Friday, and you board the ship Saturday morning.”
Charlie scribbles down notes on the logistics, then grimaces as she asks, “Do wehaveto be on camera?”
“For the documentary, no, but for Jett’s personal YouTube channel, it’s a possibility. You could ask for him to exclude you, but from my understanding, it’s supposed to be a behind-the-scenes thing,” Dan says, and Charlie swirls her bracelet again.
A nervous tic.
Her eyes dart around like a cornered animal, so I deflect, throwing my arm over her shoulder and pulling her toward me.
“Just you and me, bruja.”
She peels my hand from her shoulder, holding my wrist like it’s a soiled diaper. God, she’s funny, especially when she’s not trying.
“We are going to be thick as thieves.”
“Keep dreaming, Mateo.”
Oh, I am.
Have been for two years, and this trip could be my opportunity.
It’s time for Charlie and me to evolve. I’m tired of where we’re at. The back-and-forth is fun, but I want more, or to know it’s never going to happen.
Oliver’s words bang around in my head.You need to stand in the spotlight.
I’m not sure I’m ready for a full confession, but maybe we can test the waters, get to know each other outside the daily stress of graduate school.
Despite her love for evolution and Charles Darwin, she despises change. Runs from it when necessary, and when she can’t, she rages against it. But her beloved Charles said it best:It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one more responsive to change.
Time will tell if Charlie is responsive or not, and if she is, well, then maybe this odd relationship will evolve into something more.
Something magnificent.
Chapter 6
Charlie
“What do I pack?” I scream over the early-2000s music blasting from the kitchen, where Amy is cooking dinner.
In reality, she’s transferring frozen food from the baking sheet to a plate, but I don’t comment on her idea of cooking as long as she shares.
