April:
AHHHHH!!! I’m so proud of you!!!
June:
OMG YAY! Look at you, all grown up and making moves.
April:
I told you the universe had your back! And Neptune is gonna LOVE that beach.
June:
Can we start planning our visit now, or is it too soon? Because I have zero chill
Me:
Start planning. Just bring wine and dog treats.
April:
Deal.
June:
On it.
I look down at Neptune, who’s now doing a happy circle with his toy in his mouth, and laugh.
Chapter 6
Floating on cloud nine, I head back to work. My brain is still spinning from Linda’s call—I got the house. A real place, with a yard and ocean views and room for Neptune to stretch out and be his glorious, moody self. I’m barely through the door before George notices the grin I’m trying, and failing, to suppress.
“Someone have a good lunch break?” he teases.
“You could say that.”
The rest of the day rushes by in a happy blur. Gavin and I drive out to Newport, where I meet the rest of the marine life response team. Everyone is friendly and clearly passionate about the work, which only makes me more excited to be here. There’s a sense of community that I’ve missed—one I didn’t realize how badly I needed until I found myself smack in the middle of it.
While Gavin chats with a few of the senior staff, I find myself talking with two newer team members, both around my age. One of them, a tall, sun-kissed brunette with a surfboard sticker on her water bottle, introduces herself as Cassie. “I moved here from Santa Cruz about ten months ago,” she says with a grin. “Thought I’d only stay a season, but here I am, still freezing my ass off and loving every second of it.”
Beside her is a guy in a zip-up vest and cargo pants, with a Seattle Mariners cap and a kind smile. “Rafi,” he says, offering a handshake. “From Olympia. I came out here for the work, stayed for the whales and the Wednesday night trivia.”
“Cassie and I are the newest resident transplants until you,” he adds with a chuckle. “But now you’ve taken the title.”
“I’m honored,” I laugh. “Do I get a sash or something?”
Cassie nudges me with her elbow. “Just a warning about the fog and the wind, and maybe a bottle of wine if you survive your first storm.”
“You’re going to do great here,” Rafi adds, sincerely. “Seriously, if you ever need anything, help settling in, restaurant recs, someone to talk to when the homesickness kicks in… we’ve got you.”
Their kindness catches me off guard. It’s one thing to be welcomed professionally, but this feels different. They’re really rooting for me. I already have people in my corner.
“Thanks,” I say, smiling. “That actually means a lot.”
“Just don’t steal our favorite whales and we’ll be fine,” Cassie teases, and I laugh again, feeling the last bit of nervousness melt away.
For the first time since getting here, I don’t feel like the new girl. I feel like I belong.
