Page 7 of Until Presley

I’m by Leah’s side as she tags the last dolphin, and we high-five before returning to the surface. We watch as several of the other researchers get into the water to dive for a bit. Walker stays on the boat with Ham and the rest of us. I notice that Otto and Margo are getting along now.

I also notice that no matter where I go on the boat, Ham isn’t far behind. He stays close. When everyone who was swimming decides to come back aboard, he helps but still moves to stay by my side.

“That man has it bad.” Leah laughs, and I look up at her.

“What do you mean?”

She shakes her head. “Presley, tell me you aren’t so far into your books that you don’t realize that man wants you.”

I look her up and down. She’s blond, just like me, but tall like a model.

“He hasn’t looked at me once or any of the other girls. He only has eyes for you,” she says.

“But he told me to get dressed earlier,” I reply, stating the obvious as he helps Otto remove his tank.

“Girl, it’s because George was looking you up and down.” She scoffs, shaking her head again.

I’m about to argue when I turn and see Ham moving back to my side. Leah moves off, and I start to move but decide not to run from Ham yet. I know I will eventually. Men like him are never interested in me for long. I’m too smart for them.

“So, tell me about your family,” I say, trying to make conversation.

“My mom lives in a pool house on my property. I have a younger brother too, who lives nearby.” He doesn’t share more, and I wonder if he’s not close to them. I understand that. I’m close to my brother but not my stepsister.

“I have a brother too.” I smile. Talking about Griff is one of my favorite subjects, other than sharks. “Griff is ten and loves to spend time with his big sister. He’s coming to hang out with me in a couple of months for a break from the parents.”

“You like kids?” he asks, and I turn to face him.

I curl up on the sofa, pulling my legs between us. “I love kids. I don’t think I’ll have any, though.” I lower my eyes, hiding the pain in them.

“Why?” His long fingers slide against my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his.

I feel exposed and vulnerable when he looks at me. It’s a new sensation I’ve never experienced with a man before.

I wave my hand around, gesturing at the life I’m building. “I have so much to do here. I need to get my doctorate, then join a research team. I don’t want to raise a child the way I was. I love my father, but he wasn’t always around. He loved my mother so much, but she was the only thing that kept his attention—other than whales.”

“That sucks. But you could get on with a facility locally and not have to travel, right?”

“It’s not that simple.”

“I thought I heard you bragging about how good you are.” He chuckles, and I throw my head back and laugh.

“Maybe I speak before I think sometimes. I have a couple of friends who are zoologists, and I’ve asked them about getting on with a conservation aquarium. But honestly…” I glance out over the water. “I’d miss this. I love being in the ocean.”

“Me too.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders, and we look out across the water as the day stretches into late afternoon. I know that when we return to the docks, this will end. It has to end if I’m going to stick to my plan.

Ham

Otto helps secure the boat when we return to the docks. Presley talks to the professor and the other researchers but is avoiding me. I can almost feel the distance growing between us, and I know she’s slipping away. I’m not going to let that happen. If I have to follow her, I will.

Otto heads off with Margo and her friend, who I find out are Dr. Miller’s assistants, though they don’t seem to do much. Leah, I learn, is Presley’s friend and also working toward her doctorate. She and Presley talk for a moment before they both turn to look at me as I help Walker take care of the tanks and gather our equipment.

“Ready?” I ask Presley as soon as we have everything loaded onto our cart. She glances at Dr. Miller before grabbing her bags and walking toward me.

“We can walk to our cars together.” She laughs, and I smile at her. I take her hand so she won’t try to run from me.

When Hanna pulls up to the circle loading zone in Walker’s truck, I notice her watching me, and I nod at her.

“Hey, Hanna, how are the boys?”

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