He laughs. “You sound like me. We actually debated that. In the end, though, we had to cut it for long-term wear on the tank supports.”
“That makes sense.” I nod. “I do have another question. I noticed a dampening system on the dive? I’m curious... Why was it needed? The transition seemed smooth enough to me.”
“It’s smooth for the riders,” he explains, glancing up at the steel frame. “But when the train hits that curve at fifty miles per hour, the load creates a low-frequency vibration that can resonate through the aquarium glass. The dampening system absorbs that energy so the sharks don’t feel like they’re living inside a drum.”
If I weren’t in love with his brain already, I would be now. Theo’s just taken brainy-sexy to a whole new level.
We make our way down the deserted exit ramp. The air is cooler now, tinged with the faint, briny scent of salt and the distant echo of lapping water. At the base, we thank Marco, and then Theo surprises me by veering off from the main path, steering us toward a narrow service walkway bathed in soft-blue light. “Come on,” he says, nodding ahead.
“Where are we going?” I ask, falling into step beside him.
He doesn’t answer. He flashes me a faint, knowing smile. “We have one more stop to make before we head out.”
The path winds deeper into the heart of Neptune Bay. The theme park’s background music fades, replaced by the rhythmic whoosh of filtration pumps and the haunting, melodic calls of marine mammals. Somewhere beyond the wall, I catch the deep splash of something big moving through the water.
“Are we... going backstage?” I whisper. “Is that even allowed?”
“It’s not something park management usually lets visitors see. But in this case, Marco made a special exception for us.”
Theo swipes a key card, and a heavy metal door clicks open. Cool, misty air rushes out to greet us. Inside, the lighting is dimmer, softer, and the path slopes downward into a cavernous space lined with enormous acrylic windows.
We step toward the glass as two beluga whales glide into view from the shadows of their habitat. They’re pale and ghostly under the moon. They move with a slow, deliberate grace that makes them look more like clouds drifting through a blue sky than creatures in water. One of them turns slightly, its dark, intelligent eye catching mine through the acrylic as it lets out a series of high-pitched clicks.
“Oh,” I breathe, the word slipping out before I can stop it. “They’re so beautiful.”
“They’re devilishly smart and rather curious,” Theo says, his voice low, almost reverent. “One of my favoriteanimals. If you come here often enough, you realize they don’t just watch—they recognize you.”
When I glance back at him, I realize he isn’t watching the whales at all. He’s leaning back against the railing, his arms crossed, watching me with an expression that’s unusually unreadable. “This is where I spend most of my time when I visit. It always feels like seeing old friends.”
I find myself leaning into the glass, mesmerized by the way they communicate with nothing but a tilt of the head or a sudden, playful burst of speed. One of them nudges an oversized translucent ball toward the glass, waiting for the current to catch it before chasing it down with a graceful snap of its flukes. They aren’t just swimming—they’replaying, blissfully unaware of the world above the surface.
“Marco’s wife runs the habitat,” Theo says a few minutes later. “They’re due for their last feed in a few minutes. Come on.”
“You mean we can get closer?” I ask, barely containing myself.
“Yes.” His nod is calm, but there’s a hint of amusement behind his eyes.
“I like that our being friends comes with benefits,” I say, and immediately regret the phrasing. “I mean professional benefits. Educational. Not?—”
“I know what you mean, Kaori.”
Heat creeps up my neck. Theo blessedly doesn’t say anything else. I mutter something under my breath in Japanese and resolve to stop speaking altogether for the next five minutes.
Before I can embarrass myself further, a side door opens and a woman in a wet suit steps through, a bucket of fish balanced on her hip. “Theo,” she says warmly.
He inclines his head. “Elena, Kaori. Kaori, Elena.”
Elena smiles. “Perfect timing. Want to help with the feed?”
“Yes,” I say a little too loudly, judging by the curious whistle one of the belugas lets out.
Theo steps back as Elena gestures for me to follow her. “I’ll stay out here.”
“You’re not coming?” I ask.
He frowns and glances down at his phone. “I’ve got a call I need to return. Take your time.” He steps back into the public area.
The excitement that was bubbling inside my chest deflates, leaving a hollow, sinking feeling in its place. I’ve been so caught up in the magic of the night that I’d forgotten for a second that this is still a field trip with my boss.
