Page 51 of Love in the Lab
Jonathan drums his fingers on the steering wheel. “Already?”
“Yeah.” I study my phone. “No changes to the track or forecasted intensity at landfall. We’re officially under a hurricane warning. It’s kind of exciting and nerve wracking. I’ve never experienced a hurricane before.”
Jonathan raises his eyebrows. “How have you never been through a hurricane before?” he asks. “As long as you’ve been in New Orleans.”
We’re doing small talk. This is fine. I can handle this. I shrug. “If any ever got close, I just went to visit my parents for a few days.”
He keeps his face forward, but his disbelief is evident in his voice. “But you grew up in Texas.”
“I grew up in Austin,” I clarify. “Not much major hurricane action there.”
“What about tornadoes?”
I remember that Jonathan’s favorite movie isTwisterand wonder if he’s been thinking about that these last few days. Not that hurricanes and tornadoes are very similar. “It’s not a real hot spot for those either.”
“Hmm,” he hums.
We both fall silent again. I yawn, trying to ward off the soothing effects of the truck’s motion. I anticipated the awkwardness. How could it not be? We have so much we could say to each other, so much we’re not saying, but also, we needto focus on the task at hand. This could be huge for both our careers, not to mention Dr. Gantt’s reputation. It’s best to push our personal drama to the side for today.
“Why don’t you believe love is for you?” Jonathan asks suddenly, his eyes on the road.
I heave out a loud sigh. I’m too tired for this conversation. “Do we have to talk about this now?”
“Yeah, I think we should talk about this now,” he answers, his tone indicating that it’s not up for debate.
My stomach flutters. Why do I find him so hot when he’s stern and bossy? I’m not sure, but maybe it’s why I answer him instead of deflecting. “It’s just … I’m not what you would call a catch. I’m messy, disorganized, forgetful—”
He interrupts me. “First of all, I would definitely call you a catch. Second of all, you are creative, bold, empathetic—”
“Okay, I get it. You think I’m wonderful. For now.” I roll my eyes. “I’ve just had years of practice controlling the variables in my life because it helps me stay on track.”
“No distractions,” he supplies.
“Right. Plus, I don’t want anyone feeling obligated to take care of me when my life is a mess, which it often can be.”
“So instead, you’re living half a life.” His jaw ticks, and he squeezes the steering wheel.
My shoulders tense, and I fold my arms across my chest. “When I first told you about my ADHD, and you lectured me, it was none of your business. Why do you think it’s any of your business now?”
“Maybe it’s not!” he snaps back. “Maybe it’s none of my business. But I can’t just sit back and watch…” he trails off, his voice cracking. He swallows and starts again in a gentler voice. “Molly, I care about you. You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met, and it kills me, literally keeps me up at night knowing that you don’t realize how amazing you are. Thatyou’re punishing yourself for having a brain that works a little differently instead of embracing who you are and enjoying the things that make you happy.”
Warmth fills my whole body. I blink back tears, rubbing my gritty eyes. Before I can stop them, the words, “Like you?” slip softly out of my mouth.
Jonathan darts his eyes over to the passenger seat. “DoI make you happy?”
“Of course you do,” I whisper. I lean my head back against the seat and close my eyes. They’re so heavy all of a sudden.
“I’m glad. I love when you smile.”
I drift off, snoozing the last twenty minutes of the drive, and waking up again only when the truck pulls to a stop in the parking garage at the marina.
I look around, tossing my head to feel more alert. We’re the only vehicle in the garage. I hop out of the truck and follow Jonathan toward the office.
“They should have thePulseready for us,” Jonathan says, “I called ahead, and they know we’re coming.”
He makes no mention of our conversation in the truck before I fell asleep, so I don’t bring it up, either.
Jonathan smiles and shakes hands with a man in a polo shirt with the marina’s logo on it. The man points us toward where he has thePulseout of storage and waiting for us. “Are you sure you want to go out today?” he asks.
