Page 6 of Until Presley

I can’t stop the bitter laugh that escapes me. “Sure, you do. I’ve fallen for this joke before. Sorry to disappoint you, but Margo and Clara won that one too.”

“I don’t know who the fuck Clara is, and I already told Margo she’s not my type.”

“Please, this is my job. Don’t mess with me here,” I beg. I liked him, and it hurts so much that he’s just like all the other guys.

“I’ll give you some space, but we are happening.” He pulls away.

I turn to see Dr. Miller watching me, and I quickly look away to swipe a tear from my eye. I refocus on what we’re here to do. We’re here to observe the sharks’ behavior, especially since there’s also a large population of dolphins in the area. We haven’t seen many dolphins with scars from shark attacks, but we’ve heard it’s happened. After the research in Australia, we wanted to keep a close eye on our pods and groups.

I slip into my full wet suit while Ham works around me, getting into his. He helps me lift my tank and watches as I test my regulator and walk back to the cage. I have my camera with me and tap my mic to make sure it’s working.

When I sit on the edge of the platform, I sense Ham there, and it makes my chest constrict again. Why did he have to be just like all the rest?

I slip into the cage and focus on the world I enjoy being a part of. It’s the one place where I’m truly at peace.

I expect Walker or Otto to enter the cage with me, but when I turn, I find Ham’s eyes focusing on me through his mask. I look away, focusing on the calming blue water, and then I see a shadow approaching from below.

“Big one coming up from the bottom,” I say into my comms.

“Another from the starboard side,” Ham says, and I turn toward where he’s pointing.

“Female.” I clarify.

Ham hands me the spear gun with the tag and tracking device attached. I lean out, and as she passes, I push it out quickly, the tag securing to her fin. She thrashes, and I’m pulled back into the cage.

“Thank you,” I tell him, looking up at him as the cage rocks. We both look down as a large male strikes the bottom at our feet. “Big male. He’s at least seven.”

“The female was about ten,” Ham says, and I nod.

“She wasn’t to full maximum weight. Dr. Miller, want me to tag the male?”

“No, let’s just do the females.” His reply crackles in my ear. “See if you can get a bigger one.”

“Yes, sir.”

The male skirts off, and we watch a bit longer as more females move into the area. When a larger female, close to thirteen feet, swims by, I reach out… and miss her. She circles back, and this time my aim is better. Again, Ham pulls me in to keep her thrashing tail from hitting me.

Another ten minutes pass when I notice a hammerhead moving through the water toward us, but it’s the tiger shark I’m focused on.

“Dr. Miller, we have a tiger coming in.”

“I see that,” he responds.

“I don’t have any more tags.”

“Not today. Come on up.”

We wait as they use the winch to move the cage back up to the boat. When it’s time to get out, I feel Ham’s hands at my waist, helping to lift me out. I sit on the platform to get some fresh air. Ham emerges from the water and sits next to me, doing the same. Walker helps me up, and my body is exhausted, even though the dive was only thirty minutes long. After Ham gets his tank off, he helps me with mine, and I can’t stop myself from smiling at him.

“Thank you,” I say softly. When I turn to walk away, he stops me.

“I want to take you out for dinner,” he says in his gruff voice, and I turn away.

I want to, but I must make school my focus. My doctorate is all I’ve ever wanted. Ever since I can remember, this has been my goal.

I move to the cabin and talk with the other researchers. We all give our insight and discuss what we found today. Next week, when we return to retrieve the satellite trackers from the sharks we tagged a month ago, it will mark the first major part of our research.

The captain and professor navigate us through the waters to the area where the dolphins are so we can track a couple of them. This time, another doctoral student handles the tagging. Leah wants to specialize in dolphins, but she and I work together on several projects. She’s been one of my closest friends for a long time. I don’t have many friends, so I cherish the few I do have. My dearest best friend lives in New York and works as a firefighter on a specialty rescue squad in Brooklyn.

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