I perk up at that. “You think something’s wrong with it?”
He shrugs, scanning the notes in his hands. “Possibly. That’s part of why we’re going. We’ll be working with one of the local whale-watching tour companies, which are usually the first to spot changes or patterns in the pods. It’s a shared effort around here. We track, protect, and document. Especially the regulars—our resident gray whales, orcas, humpbacks, even a few blues during migration season.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You get blues this far north?”
He grins. “Now and then. Not common, but when they come through? It's a sight to be seen. So massive, like freight trains in the water.”
My heart does a little flip. This is exactly what I’d dreamed of. Real, meaningful work. Collaboration. Conservation.
“Oh!” Gavin snaps his fingers. “Almost forgot. Tomorrow morning, we’re heading over to the local Coast Guard station. It’s important you meet the Search and Rescue team.”
“Coast Guard station,” I echo, tucking the name away mentally.
“Yup. They’re a small crew, but tight-knit. And they’ve been a huge help in the past, especially when we’re dealing with entangled whales, lost kayakers, storms, you name it. You’ll want to know who’s who.”
“Got it,” I say, already wondering which uniformed wiseass will be the first to try and call me ‘seal girl.’
By the fifth floor, my legs are on fire, my lungs are staging a rebellion, and Neptune, who’s trotting up beside me like this is a casual stroll, is looking at me with deep, judging eyes.
“I swear, I used to be in shape,” I mutter, reaching for the railing for some support.
My phone rings just as I take the last flight of stairs. Without looking at the caller ID, I answer, breathless.
“Hello?”
“Oh, hi, May! It’s Linda, from Ocean Sky Realty. I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.”
I wince, dragging in a deep breath. I probably sound like I just finished a half-marathon—or something way more exciting than hiking up six floors.
“No,” I say, trying to sound normal, which only makes me sound like I’m lying. “Not busy at all. How can I help you?”
“Well, I wanted to give you some good news. You’ve been approved for the house on Bay Shore Lane. If all goes smoothly, it’ll be ready for move-in as early as Wednesday.”
I stop dead in the middle of the stairwell. “Wednesday? That’s so soon.”
“The owner was very excited to have someone local and responsible to care for his grandfather’s home,” Linda explains, cheerful as ever. “He’s already purchased a new refrigerator, and the cleaning crew is scheduled for first thing tomorrow morning. Everything’s coming together quickly.”
My breath catches, but this time it’s not from exertion. “Wow. That’s… amazing. I definitely want the house, yes. Absolutely.”
“Great.” Her voice brightens. “So here’s what happens next. I’ll have the rental agreement ready for you to sign this afternoon. Ifyou can bring a check or cashier’s check for the deposit, we’ll get everything locked in.”
“I’ll come by around four, as soon as I’m done with work.” I reach my hotel room door and dig for my key. “Thanks again, Linda. Seriously.”
“You’re welcome, dear. See you soon.”
We hang up, and as soon as I unlock the door, Neptune bolts inside, tail wagging furiously, his favorite toy already in his mouth.
“We got the house, Neps.” I crouch down and scratch behind his ears. “We’re getting our own place.”
He licks my face once, then lets out a happy little bark in celebration.
I pull my phone out of my pocket, still grinning, and open our group chat.
Me:
It’s official. I’m moving to the most perfect home on WEDNESDAY!!!
It takes less than five seconds.
