Page 91 of Plain Sight

“What?” Julien asks, before I can sign.

“Do you want to sit by the fire and drink alcohol and have snacks? My kitchen is your kitchen. My snacks are your snacks. My⁠—”

Julien’s eyes meet mine and flicker away.

We accept. How do you feel about moving to candids?

“Fucking great,” Jameson’s answers. “Let me show you to the food.”

He takes the baby from Lily and helps her to her feet. The four of us move to the kitchen. Leisurely. Comfortable.

Julien catches my eye the moment Jameson and Lily are occupied with the fridge.

Not dominoes, I sign. Smile.

He smiles.

22

REMY

I was raised from the age of six-going-on-seven by my three older brothers, so maybe that’s why I find my mentor slash degree advisor so cute.

Mr. Finch is a spry—Gabriel’s ex-boyfriend-current-close-friend Jacob Chambers would say a spry old fellow, so why not?—old fellow who wears a lot of tweed and a sun hat even when he’s not going to be in the field. It’s not like there’s much field in Manhattan, but that’s part of why I love it so much. Plus, the vest! I’m almost certain his field vest is antique. I’m almost certain he bought it in England, where he was born and raised.

“Ah, Remington!” He flips papers on his desk as I come in, then drops them jovially into a box. “I was thinking of you just this morning. How are your brothers?”

“Good! Really good. Jameson’s son was born a few days ago. His name is Henry, but they’re calling him Harry.”

Mr. Finch laughs and laughs, a booming joy that must fill up the whole hallway. Finally, he excuses himself and wipes at his eyes.

“Please pass on my congratulations. Such wonderful news.”

“I will.”

He pauses, considering me. “I sense you find the rest of your news perhaps less exciting.”

“I just—” I take a deep breath. “I asked to delay the travel component of the program when Jameson⁠—”

“Oh, yes, yes. I remember.”

It’s not the easiest, feeling like I’m being tugged in two directions at all times. I have been trying for years to go to Greece for my study abroad program. For years. Mason wanted to send a whole security detail. I didn’t want him to. We argued. Then he met Charlotte, and then Gabriel met Elise, and then it snowballed—bird joke!—and now there’s a new baby, and as much as I’m desperate to go to Greece, I’m equally desperate to be here.

This is history happening in real time. This is my life. When centuries go by and archeologists try to understand what things were like in this era, these will be the important things. Family brunches and new babies and singing happy birthday as loud as you can.

After everything, I don’t want to miss it.

“I need to be here.” It’s a simple, true explanation. “It’s not a good time for a six-week program. I wanted to ask you if we could come up with an alternate plan to wrap up my degree.”

He studies me, tapping the fingers of one hand on the opposite elbow.

“I have thought about this, Remington, I will admit.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes.”

“I think it would be…unfair to you to withhold your degree after all your investment and commitment. It would be unkind.”