Page 120 of Time After Time

“I didn’t mean to be short. Work’s been brutal. And you’re right—I was a dick about the paper.”

Silence.

“I loved hearing you explain it,” I add quietly. “I always do.”

More silence.

A sniffle.

“Em?”

“I miss you,” she whispers. “This is…I miss you.”

“I know.”

“And…I may have overreacted. Just a tad.”

For an introvert and a mostly quiet and amiable person, when it comes to her work, Ember can get seriously riled up.

“You’re passionate. I love that about you.”

“You also said my theory was dumb,” she reminds me. But I can hear her low chuckle.

“I said the theory wasoutdated.” I release a long breath. “I miss you, too.Desperately.”

“This is harder than I thought it would be,” she confesses.

She sounds so sad that I feel compelled to change the mood, make her smile.

“You wanna fight about something else? I’ve got strong opinions on whether Europa or Enceladus is a better candidate for alien life.”

She laughs. “Don’t you dare come for my Europa.”

“How about phone sex?”

She laughs again. “I’m in the lab, and you’re in the hospital.”

“Come on, tell me what you’re wearing,” I tease.

“A white lab coat,” she says breathily in a made-up porno voice, “and…underneath…”—husky moaning sound—”a pair of old jeans and a Metallica T-shirt.”

I burst out laughing.

God, I miss her.

We’re not able to see each other until the end of February.

Finally,she comes to California, wanting‘a little bit of sunshine,’ she says. Wanting me.

For days before she arrives, I’m like a child waiting for his birthday.

“It’s disgusting how in love you are,” Dr. Shanthi Pillai, a colleague, mocks, rolling her eyes.

I’ve told everyone at work about Ember. This time, I’m not hiding one damn thing.

“Let’s finish this meeting so I can get to the airport on time,” I mutter.

Dr. Li Chen looks at his watch. “I thought she was coming at eight?”