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She pulled back. “Don’t you want to hear the best part?”
“There’s a better part than hearing you love me?”
“Okay, maybe a lower tier, but another part to the best news.”
“Tell me.”
“I sent a few emails yesterday to get things rolling. This past spring at a career fair, I met a contact from a CRO—that’s a contract research organization. I really connected with their recruiter, but told them my priority was the post-doc. They invited me to their campus anyway. Tamara encouraged me to go. So I took them up on it. Partly out of curiosity, partly of out of politeness. Well, I contacted the recruiter and explained what happened. I had a reply already this morning. She said she’d schedule an interview in the coming week. It’s not a done deal, but it’s very, very promising.”
“Wow…fantastic. But it’s not higher education. Don’t you want to work in academics? Turn their outdated system on its head?”
She ran her hands up my arms to my shoulders. I was about to go crazy with her touching me like this, but I still had questions.
“I never gave the industry job a fair chance. I tend to narrow my focus and push everything else aside. Remember I said I had stars in my eyes? That funding falling through was a hefty dose of reality.” She took a breath. “Yesterday, I got out my laptop and reviewed all the materials the private sector company sent me the first time. I stayed up late looking up more options I hadn’t bothered exploring before. I’m really excited about the possibilities. The company does great work, and there doesn’t seem to be the politics and competition of academia. This company values women. They employ a large number of female senior staff members.”
“It sounds great.” I hesitated to ask, but knew I had to. “Are you sure you’re not settling?”
“I can be a part of change in higher education by mentoring students. Showing them the opportunities that exist, especially students who don’t have anyone in their family who’ve gone on to graduate school. I looked up more grant funding opportunities to expand the program. I have contacts to help me apply for those grants.”
“No wonder you didn’t sleep much. You’ve been busy.”
She squinted at me. “My bloodshot eyes gave me away, huh?”
“You’re still beautiful.” I moved my hands to her waist. “Where is this job? Boston? California?”
“Best part continued: it’s in Detroit.”
Detroit. Basically, where I lived and built my business. Regardless, a streak of dread raced through me. “Jillian, please tell me you’re not compromising. I meant it when I said I can sell my company and start somewhere else.”
Her hands coasted to the back of my neck. “I promise, I’m not compromising. I’m seeing more clearly. Getting away from my little university research bubble, and being here with you, sparked something in me. It reminded me who I am. I set such narrow expectations for myself, thinking I could find success solely through academics. But I can do anything. You reminded me of that. I don’t have to limit myself.”
I could still hardly believe it. “And if the job doesn’t work out, what will you do?”
“I’ll have someone to lean on, for starters.”
She ran her nails across my scalp in little teasing circles. I couldn’t hold off any longer. “I need to kiss you.”
“Done deal.”
Our mouths crashed against each other. My hands found her back and brought her closer. This was happening. We were happening. She was willing to take a chance as much as I was, even if the future was undefined.
We finally pulled apart. “What about your apartment?” I asked at the same time she said, “How long until you get the bathroom fixed?”
“You first,” I said.
“If the job hires me, I can commute from Ann Arbor for a while. Or break the lease or find a subletter if it’s allowed. Based on my research of the industry, they should offer a generous salary. A much better salary than the university. If they don’t…” She blew out a breath. “Well, then I have a roof over my head and I’m near enough to Detroit for more interviews. I’ll get a temporary job to make rent as I look for something permanent.”
I had lots of ideas about permanent. “That sounds practical.” My thoughts were drifting anywhere but practical.
“And the bathroom?” She ran a nail across my skin and I nearly fell apart.
“Uh, I can probably put a crew together and get the job done quicker. Maybe see if Colt and some of his buddies have any construction experience.”
“Why would you want to rush?” Her eyes lit with the playful look I could never fully forget.
“Oh, I don’t know.” I lifted her chin, looking into her sparkling hazel eyes. I kissed her again. “Just a girl I need to get back home to.”
15
