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We leave the harbor late in the afternoon, but that doesn’t stop us from making love all over the boat in the middle of the ocean. We even do it once on the deck under the midnight sky with the stars and moon illuminating our bodies.
In three days’ time, we arrive at the lab and go through the process just like the last time. However, just before we enter the main chamber, I grab Chris by the hand and wink at him.
“It’s up to me, right?”
Chris chuckles with disbelief before nodding. “Yes, absolutely.”
When the doors slide open, we are both giggling, our eyes shining with pure love and admiration. It doesn’t take long for the others to notice how close to each other we are standing and the fact that we are holding hands.
Murmurs rise around us and Chris surprises me and everyone else with what he does next. With the both of us dripping wet, he dips me and kisses me right on the lips.
When we come back up for air, everyone is silent and staring at us like we’ve just told them the world is ending. Then, they start clapping and hollering until I’m laughing so carefreely.
The two of us go our separate ways to perform our respective duties, but not without the others throwing congratulations our way.
“So, the boss, huh?” Lance says when I approach the other PhD students.
“Yeah,” I smile shyly, hoping that he doesn’t take offense considering how I left things the last time we met.
“I should have known the moment he walked into the bunker room looking like he wanted to have my head handed to me. I never really stood a chance, did I?”
I wince. “Sorry,” I reply.
“It’s okay. He’s a good guy, I guess. I hope he loves you the way you deserve to be loved.”
I stare across the room and my eyes meet Chris’ eyes. “Yes, he does,” I reply with confidence knowing that he is all mine and I am all his.
The rest of our time in the undersea lab goes much faster than it did at the beginning, and that probably has a lot to do with my relationship with Chris. He insisted that I move into his bunker, but I didn’t want the others to feel awkward so I didn’t comply. However, we spent a lot of time together in his bunker whenever we needed some privacy.
We never made love again after the boat, because it just didn’t seem right to do it in a space that we share with everyone else. There’s also the possibility that they could hear us if things got too loud and I’d just be too shy to face everyone after they heard Chris and I having sex all night.
Our research turned out to be a success, too. It changed the way we perceive these tiny micro-organisms and how they interact with their habitat. It makes such an obvious and solid impact in the field of aquatic microbiology that Chris’ company gets its second MacArthur genius grant when we return to New York. This is a feat Chris and I, alongside the rest of the team, celebrate over dinner in one of the most expensive restaurants in the city.
“I wish you would just come back home with me,” Chris bemoans when he drops me off in front of my apartment.
“Me too, but then Ava is going to really start suspecting that there is something going on. I already used the excuse of staying at your company lab late to perfect the data. But now that the project is totally done, there’s no reason for me not to sleep at our apartment any more. I don’t want her to find out from anyone else but us.”
“Fine,” he replies with a smile. “What are you doing tomorrow, then?”
“Tomorrow? I don’t… nothing, I’m free tomorrow.” Then I take in his meaningful stare and my mouth goes round. “Oh, you want us to tell her tomorrow?”
“I mean, everyone we worked with on the project already knows and the people at my company are already starting to suspect that we are together. It’s only a matter of time before Ava finds out.”
I nod with a gulp. “You are right, we should tell her tomorrow. Oh god, what if she freaks out? Christ, I’m freaking out.”
“Hey,” Chris takes my hand in his. “Remember what I said will happen if she doesn’t approve?”
“You’ll be right there with me.”
“Yes, and I still stand by that,” he assures me, kissing me until it’s time for us to part.
20
CHARLOTTE
Idon’t sleep well that night. At one point, I even briefly contemplate telling Ava about her father and I once and for all, but I don’t have the courage to. Plus, it would be so much better when Chris is there with me to tell her. Then, I wouldn’t have to face the consequences alone.
Gosh, I’m such a coward.
