Page 93 of Second Tide's the Charm
“Sort of. It was also intimidating, because now whatever next step I take, I have to own it. I want to stop thinking small, playing it safe because I’m scared to fail. I don’t know yet what the changes will look like, but I’m open to whatever comes my way. I’ve changed my outlook because of you.”
“Adrian, I would never want you to change for me.”
“I didn’t. My perspective did.” He bites his lip, clearly searching for the right words. “Your ability to go after what you’re passionate about without second-guessing it led me to see it’s okay to explore. You’ve made a huge positive difference in my life, and I’m better for having loved you.”
“So you wouldn’t go back and change things?”
“I would go back and tell you every day that you’re the most phenomenal woman I’ve ever met. I’d tell you I’d love you to the ends of the earth and be here for you however you need. I’d come to visit you in Michigan, and have you show me around the lab where you worked. I’d tell you how scared I was that you weren’t coming back, but that I was determined not to let the fear get in the way of me loving you. But even if I had to endure the loss again, I’d never choose to go back in time and not fall in love with you.”
The edges of my vision blur, like saltwater has slipped inside my goggles during a dive. “I love you, Adrian.”
“What are the tears for?” he asks, brushing his thumb against the corner of my eye.
“I can’t believe I ever tried to live without you. I don’t ever want to have to again.”
“You won’t.” He tugs me into his arms. “I intend to be inventing new pet peeves to make you roll your eyes long past when you’ve stopped thinking it’s cute.”
I pull away and meet his eyes. “Who said I think it’s cute?”
“This did.” He dips his thumb into the smile-crease by the edge of my mouth. “And this.” He drags his fingertip along my lower lip to the other corner of my lips. “And here.” He retraces the path with his thumb and my mouth parts in response to the delicate pressure. I rise on my toes, our kiss another promise.
thirty-nine
adrian
So much has changed in the past few months. Hope and I spoke only three hours ago, not three years, and we’ve only been apart for three weeks this time. She joined me on my previous trip to film in Hawaii, but this time it’s all conferences, and between working with us, researching prospective colleges, and being mentored by Marissa as they work on fundraising for the student outreach program we’re hoping to launch next summer, she’s been busy.
After finishing the internship, she decided to come back to South Carolina and continue on withShark Science Crewfor the time being, narrowing down her area of focus before applying to a doctoral program. She also rejoined social media, and with Gabe’s guidance, gained an audience eager for the shark facts she loves to share. With the followers came the trolls, but she has a total lack of interest in haters’ hot takes. People appreciate the quirky, no-nonsense way she delivers facts and her single-minded passion for the career she could never leave behind.
I’m still at the university, but with the success of our channel came greater career flexibility, and I’ve worked to expand my connections so that wherever Hope settles on for her next step, I can join her.
Unlike her fans, I get my daily dose of Hope through a stream of texts and coffee-line calls and late-night hotel chats when I’m traveling, but nothing beats seeing her in person, and I’ve got big plans for our reunion tonight. She thinks I’m arriving right before an after-hours donor event at an aquarium we partnered with. During our chat earlier, I kept the secret of how I’d reached out to the aquarium director, who remembers Hope from her time here, to get access to the place before the event starts. I had to keep muting my phone so she wouldn’t hear the gate check announcements and ended the call quickly with promises to be there before the first speech.
I’ve never done a grand gesture, so I checked in with friends and family to see what they thought of my plan. When I got their approval in the form of a high five from Gabe, a why-not shrug from my cousin, and a thumbs-up text from my sister, I felt confident to proceed.
Gabe wanted to hide and take photos to commemorate the moment, paparazzi-style, but I told him in no uncertain terms that this is not a proposal. Besides, he’s flying in late from a work trip of his own, giving a presentation about the responsible and effective use of social media in marine conservation, though he took time to arrange a livestream for donors who couldn’t make the in-person event.
Instead of the board shorts she’s used to seeing me in, I bought a deep blue suit for tonight, and the stiff material on my shoulders isn’t helping my nerves, but this is a special moment for us, and worth getting dressed up for. Then Hope arrives, and breathing comes easy, though my fingers twist tight, clasped in front of me.
She walks through the aquarium doors with my cousin, laughing at something Marissa said. She’s wearing a shimmering halter sheath dress in ombre shades of purple, green, and blue, like the iridescent sheen of mermaid scales. Her curls are loose, floating to her shoulders, one side pulled back with a glittering clip. Another step and the slit of her dress reveals she’s wearing sneakers. The sight pulls a chuckle out of me, even as my chest goes tight.
Marissa points down the hallway leading the other direction, like she’s making an excuse to step away. Hope glances around, and our eyes connect, her face splitting into the biggest grin. Then she’s running toward me, dress bunched in her fists, and she launches herself into my arms. I spin her around and she says, “You’re full of surprises, Dr. Hollis-Parker.”
“Good surprises?”
She kisses me, soft and sweet. “The best,” she says, and slides down until her feet touch the floor, looking me up and down with twinkling eyes. “You look amazing as always.”
I make a show of flapping the edges of my jacket. “For real? I could’ve skipped this whole ensemble?”
“I never said that.” She takes my hands, swinging them between us. “I thought you’d be late.”
“If you’d rather, I could go home and get comfy. Keep on this jacket and change into sweatpants. Log in from my laptop—”
She cuts me off with another kiss. It feels so good to be able to show her how much I care without holding back, without worrying what tomorrow will bring. Whatever happens, I know we’ll weather it together.
I pull away and take another long look at her, drinking in the swells and dips of her curves. “This isn’t the dress you sent me a picture of.” She’d texted me a picture of herself in a fitting room wearing a cotton, shark-patterned dress that flared out at the waist. The one she’s wearing tonight hugs her curves from neck to calves.
“Marissa talked me out of that one. And Zuri.” She wrinkles her nose in mock affront. “But don’t worry, I found a workaround.” She pulls aside the skirt of her dress to reveal her sneakers. Up close, I can see they’re covered in tiny blue sharks. “And here.” She turns her head to reveal a sparkling hammerhead clip. “Also, never fear. I kept the other dress for future occasions. Marissa won’t always be around to keep me in check.”
