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I glanced outside. “I’ll be setting out at sunrise,” I replied, my excitement growing with every passing second.
Theo nodded thoughtfully, a glint of determination in his eyes. “Then I’ll meet you here at sunrise,” he said, his words filled with a promise that sent a thrill down my spine.
“Do you know how early sunrise is?” I teased.
“I’ve seen it once or twice,” he said, grinning. “Usually, it’s because I haven’t been to bed, but I’ve got a pretty good idea.”
“If you’re not here, I’ll leave without you.”
“I’m going to be here, but can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” I said, smiling.
“Is whale watching something you do often or is this just a way for you to get away from me?”
“Considering you’re going with me, I guess that plan failed,” I said, laughing. “But yes, I have gone many times before. It’s something I like to do. I’ve missed my whales.”
“Your whales. Do you have names for them?”
“Not yet,” I joked. “But one day I would love to be on one of those research vessels.”
“You mentioned college, or university before, what were you planning on studying?”
“Marine biology,” I said, smiling wistfully.
He nodded. “I thought so.” He got to his feet. “I better get to bed. I’ve got an early morning. Should I get Jack?”
“Astrid deserves a little time,” I said quietly. “If that’s okay with you.”
“It’s fine,” he said, smiling. “They seem to be getting along well. If this thing between us happens, it will be good for them.”
The wordifwas huge. “Of course,” I said, nodding.
As I settled into bed, I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of the sunrise and the promise of seeing whales. And Theo. Closing my eyes, I drifted off to sleep, my dreams filled with the image of Theo’s smile. I couldn’t wait to see him in the morning.
23
THEO
The alarm buzzed to life early in the morning, and I eagerly jumped out of bed. It was still dark, which meant I wasn’t late. The promise of a day spent with Emilie doing something she actually loved had me feeling like a kid on Christmas morning. I was hoping this would be a chance for me to get to know her better. I just needed to find the chink in her armor. I needed a little wiggle room. If I could get her to see how good we could be together, like actually together, she might relax and let herself see it was good to be with me.
I dressed quickly, slipping into comfortable clothing suitable for a day at sea. The sunrise was already painting the sky as I made my way across the yard to Emilie’s house. The air was crisp and invigorating and full of promise.
When I reached her doorstep, Emilie was already waiting, her eyes bright with anticipation. She greeted me with a warm smile, and I couldn’t help but return it. “I was giving you thirty seconds and then I was leaving.”
I grinned and gestured to the sky. “It’s barely sunrise.”
“Let’s go.”
We were driven to the coast, where a massive boat awaited us. The sight of the open water stretching out before us was awe inspiring, and I couldn’t wait to set sail. The crew welcomed us aboard, and we found a comfortable spot on the deck, the salty breeze ruffling our hair. It was chilly but it felt good. It made me feel alive.
As we set out on the water, I turned to Emilie and found her eyes closed and her chin raised. There was a smile on her face. It was the kind of smile someone got when they were supremely happy. “So, what got you into whale watching?” I asked.
She gazed out at the expanse of water, her eyes taking on a distant look. “My sister and I used to do it often with my father,” she began, her voice soft with nostalgia. “It was our thing, you know? What started as a father-daughter tradition blossomed into a true passion of mine.”
I nodded, understanding things a little better. Anything connected to our childhood tended to have a special place in our hearts. “That’s really cool,” I said.
I listened intently, sensing there was more to the story. “The ocean has always fascinated me,” she continued. “It’s this vast, mysterious world that holds so many secrets. And whales, they’re like the gentle giants of the deep. They are so graceful.”
