by Croix, Ada
What do you want, Allie?
It was too late. She had her lab coat and gloves on, and he was sitting on Doctor Kaitech’s table. She finished capping her sample vials and made sure the coded labels were wrapped around their sides. The only thing left to do was tuck them into the shipping container in which they’d travel to the university lab for further analysis. Her job here was done.
Marc was watching her expectantly.
“Doctor Kaitech should be arriving shortly to go over the final interview portion. Then you should be all set.”
“I never did very well, being grilled by professors.”
In her nervousness, Allie let a giggle escape before she could silence it with a bite of her lip. Maybe he was joking, but his eyes—there was something lurking deep in those liquid depths that was more weighty. “You’ll survive,” she said with full confidence in him. She allowed herself to cup a hand at his shoulder. Those shoulders. She tried to tell herself it was okay as long as she didn’t get grabby with her fingers. “It was good to meet you. I’ll be expecting to watch you kick ass this summer.”
“Yeah. You too. Good luck getting into med school.”
“Thanks.” She took a deep breath and turned it into a laugh. There was really no reason she should still be there, and she was supposed to go over to the business office for a meeting at the top of the hour. The countdown to August was ticking ever faster. “Goodbye, Marc.”
“Take it easy.”
She slipped backward out of the door and stripped off her coat to leave on a hook. Allie got out of the office fast to be sure no one could see her making a fool of herself.
12
There weren’t any new subjects for the study, but Allie was qualified to drive the vans and they needed someone to run to the airport to pick up new arrivals. It was hours since Marc had left the training center, but Allie still caught herself straining to see if a familiar dark head of hair was towering above the crowd at the terminal. There was a cheery cacophony of noise from her passengers on the way back. Allie kept having to ask them to repeat their questions because her mind was stuck on how it had felt to have Marc beside her on that first day.
When Allie checked her phone on the walk to her room she noticed that Doctor Kaitech had scheduled a meeting with her early the next morning. She fretted for a moment that she had done something wrong. Had Marc said something? But she tried to dismiss her worries as a symptom of her perfectionist paranoia.
Allie made sure to get up early so she could do her hair into a neat braid and find a shirt with no wrinkles. She knocked lightly on the permanent staff’s office door and waited for Doctor Kaitech to wave her over to his desk.
“Allie, please have a seat.” He gestured to the chair across from him while his eyes were still on a file.
“Did everything go well with Mr. Belmont’s wrap up?” Allie could swear that the file Doctor Kaitech was looking at was the very same one Violet brought to her desk two weeks ago.
“Hmm? Oh, yes. Yes, we can never count on good recruitment among athletes at this level. It’s a real win to have such an obliging subject and a complicit coaching team.” Doctor Kaitech closed the folder and rested his hands on top of it, fixing her with a superficial smile. “And you did good work as well, Allie. Their physical trainer was quite complimentary regarding what a help you were for the team during their stay.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Allie let her smile widen but she kept her fingers locked into a fold in her lap so she wouldn’t fidget. “I really enjoyed working with the whole staff. I feel like I learned a lot. And of course, I am so grateful to be able to work on your study. Anything we can do to further our understanding of the inflammation process seems like it will be so valuable to medical knowledge.” She paused a moment before foraging on. “I’d love to keep working with the data, sir. I’m happy to help any way I can.”
“Good, good.” Doctor Kaitech nodded deeply. “I’m sure you’re aware that we work in partnership with other facilities and with other scientists.”
“Yes,” Allie said a bit more tentatively, not quite sure where the conversation was going.
“I have a colleague based in Los Angeles who is doing very similar studies. He has agreed to oversee an extended survey of our subject.”
“Of Marc?” Allie blurted and regretted it immediately. “Mr. Belmont?” Hopefully he wouldn’t notice if she pretended nothing were amiss. “That’s … that’s wonderful to hear, Doctor Kaitech. Will your colleague be able to get any crossover study data? Weren’t you running some trials with a pre-treatment plan?”
“We are.” Doctor Kaitech seemed surprised that Allie had remembered. “Though our options for interventions are extremely limited when it comes to elite athletes. Their coaches are understandably hesitant about allowing any program that might put their athletes in jeopardy. There are so many testing bodies that come into play on the international stage. Still, an extended longitudinal study with the kind of quality data we’re able to collect, combining both the sampling and dietary tracking of this subject, will be a great addition to our scientific knowledge. We want to make this as seamless as possible for the subject and the team, which is why I think it does make sense to transfer you to their training location in Southern California.”
Allie was nodding along, focused on the science, so it took her a moment to realize that Doctor Kaitech was talking about her. Her jaw dropped a little open. “In Southern California,” she repeated, nearly struck dumb with breathlessness. “Transfer.” The gears of her brain spun to come to terms with what Doctor Kaitech was saying. “For how long?”
“For the remainder of your internship, I imagine.” Doctor Kaitech didn’t seem too bothered by what the details would be once she was signed away from his oversight. “I believe your term was for the full year? They may want to keep you through the summer games. We couldn’t very well justify sending you just to take intermittent samples, but the physical trainer has also inquired as to your availability.
“Apparently they’re looking to expand their staff for the ramp-up to the qualifying tournament and possibly into the summer’s competition. It would all be handled beneath the oversight of our national governing body, so we’ll need to get you squared away with the business office here. If you’re interested in pursuing the opportunity. Maybe you need some time to think about it?” He paused to look inquiringly at Allie.
Her mind was echoing with her conversation with Violet, Ivan and Blake. Stumbling over the fact that she’d already said goodbye to Marc. A week and a half was challenging enough.
Did she really want to have to work with him for months?
What do you want, Allie?
For so many years, she had been working towards the same dream. Some of her wish schools were located right in Los Angeles. Doctor Kaitech’s colleague could be another valuable recommendation for her applications, especially if he were a member of one of her target institution’s faculties. She would be insane to say no. Right?
“Of course. I am interested. This would be … an amazing opportunity. Thank you, Doctor Kaitech. Maybe I haven’t thought through all the ramifications,” Allie stammered. “But I am definitely willing to look into it. Is there room and board available at the location as well?”
Doctor Kaitech tapped his fingers. “That would be one of the complications. It’s not a full facility like we have here, so there is no housing on site. However, I’ve been given to believe that there may be some assistance provided on that front if you were to accept the position. You’ll have to talk to the business office for those details.” He waved a hand, ready to move on to things that interested him more.
“I understand,” Allie nodded.
Talk to Violet, that would likely mean. She could live in a cardboard box for half a year if it meant advancing her career. Especially in California—it wasn’t like there was actual weather there.
“I can go over to the office this afternoon. Is there anything else I shou
ld do to help the transition?”
“Talk to Tracey as well, you’ll need to be sure she’s up to speed on the databases you’ve been maintaining here. You’ll be interfacing remotely, and we’ll have to figure out how to process samples since there is unlikely to be close access to a laboratory from the training pool site. We’ll be sending the wearable technology back out to the subject to continue tracking baseline activity.”
Doctor Kaitech turned back to check his planner. “It will probably take us about a week to get you out there. Set up a meeting for yourself with me and Tracey tomorrow afternoon so we can be sure all the loose ends are getting tied. For now, I recommend you check in with the business office before your shift starts. We still have athletes coming in today who will need to be looked after.”
“Of course, Doctor Kaitech. Thank you.” Allie started to get up from her chair. “I’ll be sure to get that meeting on your schedule once I verify with Tracey when she’s free.”
“I’ll see you then.”
And with that, she was dismissed.
Walking out the door, Allie let the full impact of it hit her once she could safely let her shock show on her face.
She was going to see Marc again.
She was going to California.
She didn’t know which made her more nervous.
“I swear I didn’t know about this.” Violet put a hand to her heart. “I’m not sure you’re not pulling my leg, except I don’t think you have this kind of sense of humor. Allie. This is so exciting! I’m jealous.”
“It is.” Allie let out a long breath. She wasn’t sure what to call the churn of her stomach. “Isn’t it?”
Violet seemed to suffer no such doubt. “It’s too bad no one asked you sooner, or you could have been on that jet with the guys.”
“And gone to Vegas? Can you imagine me there with them? Yeah, that would have gone well.” Allie rolled her eyes.
“Ugh, I’m so jealous.” Violet stamped her foot as she started clicking through her desktop to access the emails that Doctor Kaitech and the physical trainer forwarded over to the business office to help with her arrangements. “You’re going to see that fabulous oceanfront apartment of Blake’s. It’s probably in magazines. I think his dad owns a nightclub down there, too. You can probably go for a night on the town, walk right in, get comped bottle service.” She looked terribly wistful.
Allie wasn’t even sure what bottle service was.
Suddenly Violet laughed.
“What is it?” Allie wondered, going up onto her toes to peer over towards the screen.
“So this housing that they’re saying that they might be able to arrange for you. Guess what that is?”
Allie shook her head, looking into Violet’s face as if she might read the answer there.
“Two of our players will not be residing in the apartment building in which we’ve made arrangements,” Violet started to read, “they’ll be cohabitating with another member of the team who owns a property locally.” Violet didn’t need the check of eyes for them to be clear on who that was. “The lease may be available for Allie Hillsten to assume, if she is willing to share with one of the players’ sisters who has already expressed interest.”
13
It felt like summer. It was one thing to hear about California sun and another to experience it. Palm trees ticked past on the drive from the airport and seagulls hung lazily in the clear blue sky. Flying in they had skimmed over an endless spread of cement and glass and the wobble of swimming pools in the backyards of houses and courtyards of complexes.
Now Allie and her three bags were in a convertible with Everett heading for her new home. She didn’t know much about it. The arrangements had been decided for her in a whirlwind that had been largely out of her hands. It took days before she even got the answer that her future roommate was the sister of her buddy Adam. At least there was some consolation in the fact that Violet had kept her eye on the details. Of all the things that her friend was, Allie knew that Violet was fiercely competent and she trusted her to have her back.
“I gather this is your first time in California?” Everett asked from the driver’s seat as he clicked on the turn signal to wind off the main streets.
Allie looked away from the window to aim a smile at him and nod. “Thank you again for helping to set up this internship transfer.”
“Don’t mention it.” Everett was like a dad. Allie had trouble imagining him as one of the guys churning water in the pool, being someone who Marc looked up to as a player. The older man was fuzzy all around and had a potbelly beneath his colorful button-up shirt. “Did you get a look at the Hollywood sign as you came in?”
“I didn’t.” Allie quirked her smile sheepish.
“We’ll have to find a time for you to see the sights.”
“Oh, I … If there’s time. I’m here to work for you, sir, not be a tourist.”
Everett didn’t really answer, but he took time away from watching the road to settle a sure smile upon her. Maybe he was just making sure she was paying attention. “This is it in the middle of the block.” He pointed to a tall apartment complex with large windows glittering in the golden light. “You’ll get used to the roads soon. Better to take surface streets up to the pool from here, it’s about ten miles.”
Allie nodded dutifully, watching how he wielded a garage opener at the security gate to roll into the ground-level parking area.
“That’s the car you’ll use, parked in the spot two down from the elevator.”
“The blue one?”
“Yep. You were driving the vans in Colorado, right?” He sounded a little concerned that she’d be able to manage the large vehicle.
“I was.” Allie didn’t tell him that she had learned to drive in her father’s big work trucks. Not that the dirt roads in her hometown were much like the congested intersections of Los Angeles, but she was pretty sure she’d be fine handling the boxy people-mover.
Everett pulled his car up into a spot marked GUEST and popped the trunk. “Looks like we’ll have help with your bags.”
Allie had been busy looking at the car she’d be driving and getting her phone stashed in her purse. By the time she swiveled her head towards Everett and then over to the walkway, whoever he was talking about had moved beyond view. She felt the car shift as her bags were removed from the trunk.
“How many of the guys are staying here?” Violet hadn’t been able to figure that out about the housing arrangements before Allie had left. Apparently the team had still been playing musical chairs while they were on break, plans complicated by Blake’s last-minute arrangements with his house.
“Seven,” Everett answered as he started to get out of the car. “Three doubles, and Troy has taken one of the apartments with his girlfriend.”
It wasn’t Troy who had come from the lobby to help her in. She saw his flip flops first. It looked like he’d just come from the beach, which certainly was possible. When they had turned onto this block, the faint roll of crashing waves and a line of tall palm trees on the horizon promised that the ocean was nearby. The buttons of his shirt were undone down the front so she could see the familiar curls of his tattoo and the sculpted ridges of his torso. For all he had been constantly on her mind in the most idealized way, somehow Marc still looked better than she remembered.
Allie found a teasing smile to combat her dry-mouthed stare. “What a lovely surprise. So you do carry bags.”
Everett looked confused.
The edges of Marc’s features twitched, like maybe he thought about smiling. He didn’t grace her with a verbal answer, but he did pick up the biggest of her bags like it was nothing. Allie knew that it had barely made the weight limit on the plane. She got the door closed and went around to get the remainder of her luggage, stacking her stuffed backpack on top of the roller suitcase.
Everett paused as he held his door open, evaluating the situation. “You look like you’re in good hands, Allie. Are you all right with having Marc sh
ow you in? There’s a lot to get done down at the aquatic center. I’m thinking I’ll head down now and see you at afternoon practice. If you think you can find it.”
“I can work a nav system,” Allie assured the team manager. Her eyes slid up to Marc. “I think we’ll manage.”
Marc gave a stiff little nod.
“All right. See you in a few.” Everett reversed his motion and slipped back into his car. “You have my number if you need anything.”
Allie started towards the glassed-in elevator lobby with her bags. Marc closed the trunk so Everett could be on his way. While she waited for him to catch up she peered around at the gleaming tile and the neat rows of mailboxes. The pedestrian entry also looked to be secured with a lock. It seemed like a nice neighborhood, but Allie supposed it might be advantageous to have a secure building in case any fans thought to follow the guys home.
Marc quickly claimed her focus when he came in from the garage and towered over her to thumb the button for the elevator. Allie fussed her windblown hair more neatly behind her ears and tilted a smile up at him. “I didn’t know you’d be here.” She wasn’t sure how she was trying to sound. “I’d heard that the older guys had gotten houses.”
“The married types did. They threw me in here with all the kids. Almost makes it seem like I’m supposed to be the responsible one.” Marc shared a false smile with Allie while he held the door for her with a palm over its sensor. “I guess that’s what Troy’s here for.”
“And I guess you’re not really close with Blake,” Allie said as she wheeled her bag in over the threshold. “Who ended up in his beach house, beside Ivan?”
The false smile was gone when Marc pivoted in to lean against the elevator’s wall across from her. “A couple of the NorCal guys.” His voice was flat and his eyes turned towards the panel. He punched the circle for floor seven and adjusted his hold on her bag.
It didn’t leave her any opening for further conversation. Allie gnawed faintly on her lip and watched the march of light that tracked their ascension. When the ding announced their arrival, she shuffled forward with an awkward thanks as Marc held the door for her again. It was the reverse of the first day they’d met. Allie stood uncertainly in the center of the hall lined by identical doors, waiting for him to lead the way.