Same, buddy.
“What?” I ask, chuckling along with her. “God knows how they managed to start this company with two brain cells.”
“You’re the worst,” she presses out between giggles, but there’s warmth in her eyes. She reaches out and takes my hand again, the familiar flutter returning to my stomach as our fingers intertwine.
“For us, Elysium was always a means to an end,” I continue, feeling more at ease now as we resume walking. “They provide the resources we need for our project. It’s a company with a good reputation in Seattle, which is perfect for launching Jamie. But our real dream…” I pause, my gaze fixed on the path ahead. “Is to start our own company, focusing solely on AI. We want to work with specialists, dive deeper into the potential of artificial intelligence, maybe push boundaries that Elysium isn’t interested in exploring.”
Amelia nods, her expression thoughtful as she absorbs what I’ve shared. The path widens as we walk on, the sunlight on the adjacent trees casting long shadows that blend with our own.
“That sounds amazing. Having the freedom to chase your own visions must be exciting.”
“It is. And a bit daunting. But we’re hoping to make it happen. If we can manage it, we’ll be working on our own terms. Maybe we even open an AR department. I know a certain someone who could lead it.”
Her brows furrow, a flicker of confusion and apprehension crossing her face. “I never told you that I have a PhD in AR,” she says, her voice tinged with uncertainty as if she’s wondering how much I really know about her.
Fuck. Think quick,Grey.
“You didn’t really think I wouldn’t do some digging into your background before I let you beta test our baby, did you?” I reply, injecting as much lightness into my tone as I can muster, hoping to defuse the tension and make her believe it was all part of the process.
“Well, no. I guess I just didn’t see myself as important enough to warrant a background check bytheGrey Donovan.”
Her words hit me harder than I expected, a pang of something close to guilt settling in my chest. That she thinks so lowly of herself stings a little. Doesn’t she see? She’s very important—more than she knows. I’m not just talking about her impressive credentials. There’s something about her that makes me want to prove she’s worth so much more than she gives herself credit for.
“DoctorGrey Donovan,” I correct her playfully, hoping to coax a smile. Her lopsided grin emerges, giving me the courage to step closer and cup her cheek. “DoctorAmelia Charlotte Stanley, twenty-six, from London, master’s in computer science, PhD in VR and AR, working as a systems integration specialistfor smart living solutions. Had a birthday three days ago and didn’t even tell me.”
Her eyes widen as my thumb strokes her jaw. Then I lean in and kiss her cheek. “Happy belated.”
She looks at me, flushing a deep red, utterly flabbergasted. Deciding to give us both a moment to collect our thoughts, I gesture toward the fenced area of the park. “Come on, let’s let Peanut run for a while.”
We walk into the leash-free zone, releasing Peanut who immediately starts frolicking in the grass. Finding a bench, we sit down to watch him play.
“Why is he called Peanut, though?”
I chuckle, watching Peanut chase his tail a few feet away. “Well, I wanted to give Grandpa a puppy when I was doing my PhD because I thought he’d been lonely since I left for college. Misha found Peanut on Craigslist, but it turned out to be a scam by a backyard breeder. The puppy was advertised as some made-up breed of Shih Tzu, he was just a tiny, brown little thing. We had no idea what he would grow into. Since he looked like a little peanut, that’s what we decided to call him.”
Amelia laughs, her eyes sparkling with amusement before she sobers up and asks, “And you said your grandpa can’t do long walks anymore? Why is that?”
“He’s eighty-two now,” I explain. “He can manage small potty walks but not much more. Peanut is too strong for him. As you saw earlier, Peanut gets excited and doesn’t think about his strength. Grandpa just doesn’t have the energy to keep up with him.”
As Peanut starts to play with other dogs, I find myself opening up more than I usually do. I keep things about Grandpa close to my chest, especially with Misha and Oliver. They know him too well, and sometimes I feel like their closeness biases their advice.
“Oliver thinks I should get a live-in nurse for him,” I admit, watching Amelia’s reaction closely.
“And what do you think?”
“I think it would be good for him,” I confess, feeling a weight lift as I speak.
“So why are you hesitating?”
“BecauseIshouldn’t be the one making that decision. It should be my dad,his son. But he doesn’t answer his phone. It’s been months since I even got a text from them. So, I’m left alone, trying to make decisions that might seem small now but could lead to much bigger ones later. Like, what if Grandpa needs serious medical help? I’m not sure I can make the decisions for him that would come with it. I’m not sure I can handle that.” My voice breaks on the last words, and I pause to collect myself. It’s only when Amelia reaches out her hand to squeeze my forearm that I manage to push out the last part. “And I know I’ll likely be on my own when that time comes too. It just… paralyzes me.”
Sharing this, laying bare my vulnerabilities isn’t something I do. But doing it with her makes it less terrifying.
Amelia looks at me with a reassuring smile. “But youdon’thave to do that on your own.” I open my mouth to answer, to tell her Iamvery much alone in this because my parents don’t give a fuck, but she continues, “I mean, Oliver was the one with the idea, right? And I bet Misha has an opinion on it too.”
“Yes,” I admit, acknowledging that they have been there for Grandpa and me since we moved to Seattle.
“Okay, so you’renotalone, and you don’t have to make these future decisions alone. And you know what the best part is?” she asks, her voice lifting with a hint of optimism.
