Fast & Wet (The Fast 2)

“No,” I shake my head, and my jaw drops in horror.

Shit. The last thing I mean to do is insult him. Not even because doing so would be monumentally stupid for my career, but because I value Doc’s opinion and hold him in such high esteem. He has been one of the best things about coming to Cambridge. He has taught me so much.

“What is this about, Emily? I have never known you to run away from a challenge.”

Ha, if you only knew.

I can see the disappointment in the gray of his eyes, and I look down into my mug of flat white that’s still steaming.

The foam has almost all dissolved into the coffee. It shouldn’t have denatured so quickly, not at this temperature.

I glance at Klara, working the cappuccino machine behind the counter, pushing a button over and over and cursing at it. I know why she cannot make good foam art. She’s overheating the milk, melting the lipids, and destroying the hydrophilic ends of the protein chains.

“Emily?”

“Sorry, Professor,” I snap back to attention and wring my hands together under the table, desperate for an acceptable excuse to offer him.

I’m allergic to racing fuel.

My religion does not tolerate motorsports.

I have cranophobia, fear of helmets.

Is there a fear of heartbreak and rejection? If not, there should be, and I should be allowed to cite it.

I deserve to cite it.

“Listen, I was young once and nervous about leaving academia, too.” Professor Tillman’s shoulders soften, and he attempts to reassure me, but he doesn’t understand. “This is a position that will challenge you, and maybe that frightens you. But you need to be challenged to be fulfilled. I believe in you, and you’re going to ace the interview. You have a couple of days to prepare and, if I know you, you will use them wisely to strategize.”

“A couple of days?”

Oh, hell, no.

“Yes, as a favor to me, you are fast-tracked to interview this Friday at 9:00. I wrote it down for you, see?” He flips the paper and shows me the details. “Edmund Lloyd, Engineering Director, that’s who you’ll meet. Surely you’ve heard of him?”

“Uh-huh,” I nod and force my lips to rise in a quivering smile. I’ve heard of him because I see him on TV, too. I read about him, also.

“Wonderful, just wonderful!” Doc’ claps his hands together. “What an opportunity. Promise me good tickets when you get this position, Emily. I knew you were destined for greatness, I just knew it.”

His smile has returned, and he radiates pride back at me now.

Oh, bloody hell. What am I going to do?

Three

Seven Years Ago - Florida

“Baby you need a break so let's just run away. Well I'm tired of coding Perl, tired of VBA, Maggie throw your law books away. Turn on, tune in, drop out, give up with me.” Cracker - Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me

Cole

“Please get back in the boat before a fucking alligator eats you.”

“There are no alligators here, Cole. I’m much more likely to be eaten by a snake,” she tries to flatten her lips, but I can see a corner of her mouth quirk up, just a tiny bit.

She knows exactly what she’s doing to me, she always does.

I’m right here. Come in the water and chase me, Cole.