“Yes!” I latch onto this explanation gratefully. “Exactly. We’ve just… reached an understanding about the project. Better communication was what we were missing all along.”
“Right,” Omar says, clearly not buying it. “An understanding.”
“Definitely an understanding,” Yasmin agrees with a knowing smile.
I bite into my lower lip, trying to suppress my grin, and focus on Ella, who’s gotten maple syrup everywhere.
“How do you evendothis so quickly?” I mutter, grabbing a wet cloth to wipe her sticky hands.
When I look up, Calvin is watching us again, and there’s something soft in his expression. Fond. Like the sight of me wrestling with a syrup-covered toddler is somehow endearing.
Our eyes meet, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning like an idiot.
“Can we please just eat breakfast?” I plead.
“Without everyone analyzing our facial expressions?” Calvin adds.
“Fine, fine.” Dr. Akkhad waves her hand. “We’ll drop it. For now.”
After breakfast, I take Ella to our tent to clean her up properly. The team disperses to prepare for the day’s work, and I’m just buckling Ella into fresh clothes when I hear a soft knock on the tent pole.
“Georgia? Can we talk?”
Calvin’s voice.
My heart does a little flip. “Come in.”
He steps inside, looking around surreptitiously. It feels intimate suddenly, him in this space that’s so thoroughly mine and Ella’s. Our clothes, our toys, our little world.
“Hi,” I say, suddenly shy.
“Hi.” He shoves his hands in his pockets. “So. Last night.”
“Last night,” I echo.
“I don’t regret it.”
The words come out in a rush, and I feel relief flood through me. “I don’t either,” I admit.
“Good. That’s… good.” He runs a hand through his hair. “But we should probably be more careful. The team is already suspicious.”
“They think it’s about project funding, though. Or something else related. That’s good.”
“For now. But Omar’s sharp. He’ll figure it out.”
“I don’t like sneaking around,” I say slowly and quietly. “But it could complicate things. Make people question professional boundaries, wonder if you’re showing favoritism, worry about the project’s integrity if we… if things don’t work out between us.”
“Agreed.” He nods solemnly, staring at the tent wall. But I also want to keep seeing where this goes,” he says, meeting my eyes. “But maybe… discreetly? For now? Until we figure out what this is?”
“Yes,” I agree. “Discreet. We can do discreet.”
“Good.” He pauses. “Also, I wanted to offer to take Ella today. All day, if you need. I’m realizing that’s what I should have been doing all along.”
“Calvin, you don’t have to?—”
“I know. But I want to.” He takes a step closer. “I was hovering before because I had nothing to do. I was anxious and useless and making everyone miserable. But now I realize a happy Ella means you and your team can focus on work. And honestly? I’m learning things from her.”
“Learning things? From a fourteen-month-old?”
