Page 93 of Dream Girl
“Yes, and then texted him all night while we played video games.” I laughed. Riley kept having excuses to stay over at the house. As much as I enjoyed spending time with the guys, it was fun to do things with her–or all of us together.
Like a family.
Wes looked at his phone as we got off. “I’m supposed to leave you with Spencer. I actually have two meetings. My department meeting, then this special meeting. If you get tired, nap in my office.”
“Or, I’ll get some ice cream and text Ri a picture.” I held up my phone, which wasfancy.Much fancier than anything my world had. Riley had a great time showing me how to use all the features.
Wes laughed. “She’d love that.”
Today was the afternoon she did stuff with Evan, which seemed so sweet. I was pretty sure that I stopped having much of a relationship with my brothers once I hit high school.
Wes tipped his forehead to mine. “You’ll be okay?”
I let his warmth, his scent swirl around me. “Yes.”
Spencer was waiting for us, looking dapper as usual in a dark grey suit with a pocket square that matched his tie.Who even did that? But it was a look. A sexy one.
“My good doctor, I’m so excited to show you my company.” Spencer beamed at me.
“Spencer, I’m sorry to bother you, but you are attending on Monday?” an older woman asked, joining us, her accent a little like Spencer’s. “Wes, you’re back. You must be Grace. Welcome.”
“Hi, Mrs. Katsopolis.” Wes grinned, then leaned in. “She’s known Spence his entire life and has all the good stories. She won’t tell me, but maybe she’ll tell you.”
“Oh, you.” She waved him off with her hand. The older woman had kind eyes, but also seemed like she took no nonsense from anyone.
“Grace, perhaps you’d like to accompany me?” Spencer offered. “It’s a dinner, for science, and there will be people to talk to that you’d find interesting,”
Oh? The idea of talking about my field with my interdimensional colleagues excited me. Especially now that it was not quite as hard to think.
“It sounds wonderful. Let me ask my assistant.” I looked up at Wes and batted my eyelashes. “Am I free on Monday, for science?”
“Please,take one for the team and go toallthe science dinners with Spence,” Wes told me. He kissed me on the cheek and gave my hand another squeeze. “I’ll see you later.”
“Shall we?” Spencer and I got into the elevator. When the doors opened, he led me to an area with restrictedsigns, swiping his badge.
“Special Projects is the division that I’m most excited to show to you. We have two qubit projects. Ultrafast quantum nano-computers and totally secure communication. While they have separate uses, we also plan on pairing them. Think of the medical possibilities,” he told me, eyes alight.
“Oh.” Something clicked. “I’d only considered those in the military sense. But yes, the instantaneous ultra-secure communication of medical information could revolutionize so many different treatments.”
“You worked for the military?” His voice went quiet.
“A defense contractor, maybe?” I frowned, trying to remember exactly who it was. Both made sense within the context of my memories of security and fences.
“We have some other projects as well. There’s a particular one that I think you’d fit well in. It’s not biotech, per se, but more of a personal passion,” he told me. “Depending on your quantum computing skills. But I’ll happily find a home for you here, regardless.”
“I appreciate it. The idea of having a job prospect is comforting.” If I stayed, I’d need a job. Guilt about all the money Wes had spent ate at me.
This second, I didn’t even have money to buy him a birthday present–or do anything. While I knew I was safe with Wes and Evan, not being financially independent here bothered me.
We entered a lab, and Spencer eagerly brought me around, introducing me to everyone. The atmosphere was friendly and full of camaraderie and excitement. Most unlike the bits I remembered from my job back in my world.
As someone showed me their work, it hit me. They wereactuallyworking on constructing physical prototypes.It wasn’t theory here, like in my world. It wasreal.
For a moment all I could do was stare and absorb the amazing scene before me.
Finally, Spencer led me off toward another lab.
“You’rebuildingquantum nano-computers,” I breathed to Spencer, trying to hold off my nerdgasm.
