Page 27 of Until Presley

“Mom, stay there. Don’t come out,” I holler and then slowly pull from Presley’s body. I turn her toward the entrance to the bathroom, and we step inside and towel off.

“I can’t believe your mom almost walked out on us?” Presley drops her head, and I chuckle.

“Come on, sprite.” I take her hand and lead her out to the main room, where my mom is in the kitchen. “Head upstairs. There are some clothes for you still up there.” I swat Presley’s ass, and she gasps as she runs for the stairs.

“Stop embarrassing that girl.”

“I can’t help myself. You’re home early.”

“Yeah, Stella wasn’t feeling good, so it wasn’t any fun. Sorry I interrupted things.”

“It’s okay. I’m off to spend time with my girl.”

I grab a wine glass and head upstairs, where I find Presley in my T-shirt and her hair up in a messy bun. I walk over to her and cage her against the counter she’s standing next to. There is a bar with a small fridge here. She leans her head back as I tip mine down. I kiss her softly, but it quickly turns hot. I make love to her on the counter before we cuddle and watch TV. She got me hooked on her show,Wednesday.We settle in with a glass of wine for her and a beer for me.

CHAPTER

TEN

PRESLEY

It’s been a couple of days since the funeral. The FBI agents called and said they would meet us at Ham’s place this evening. I’m nervous because I have no clue what is going on, but Alan told me it would be good for me to talk to them. He did and learned a lot of information. He won’t tell me because he said they asked him not to.

I haven’t been home except to get my car and pack a bag. Ham wants me to stay with him, and honestly, I’m fine with that. I don’t want to be alone right now, and I love waking up in his arms.

I’m currently looking over the dolphin data we collected the day we found Leah’s body. We are supposed to go out again tomorrow to collect the shark tags. The police want to check if any of our tagged sharks might have attacked Leah. For the first time in my life, I don’t want to go out on the ocean. I want to stay in the lab and hide away from the reality that an animal I have so much respect for aided in the death of my best friend. I know she was dead before she went into the water, but it still freaks me out. I’ve woken up several nights from nightmares, picturing herscreaming for help, and no one was there to save her from the attack.

My phone beeps next to me, and I look at the screen.

Ham

Sprite, I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes to pick you up. Thought you’d like to be distracted for a little bit before we head home.

Something in my chest warms at the thought of “home.” It’s turning into that in only a matter of weeks.

When my phone beeps again, I expect it to be Ham.

Professor Blackman

I’ve spoken to your advisor about your distractions. Are you sure this is the course of action you want to take?

I tip my head back and roll my eyes. I’ve ignored his numerous phone calls, starting right after the funeral when we were at Walker and Hanna’s. I had to turn off my phone because he wouldn’t stop calling that day. And now, here he is, messing with my career.

Me

Sir, I’ve already spoken to my advisor. He has told me I’m still on track to graduate in a year and a half. If I buckle down, as I plan to, I can even do it by next December. Thank you for your concern, but I’ll be fine.

I take a moment to collect myself before heading out with my backpack and purse over my arm. As I pass Margo, she whispers something to her friend, and I do everything I can to ignore them.

Ham pulls up as I reach the parking lot, and I wait for him to jump out and get my door like he likes. He leans down for a kiss before helping me into the Jeep. I know I’m falling for him, but I need to make sure I don’t fall too hard. When my research is finished here and I have to return to Miami, it will kill me to leave him behind.

I’m going to have to start staying at my house again to put a bit of space between us.

“Where are we going?” I ask when he gets into the driver’s seat.

“It’s a surprise.”

“You know I like surprises?”

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