“But otherwise?” he asked.
I glanced down at the tank he stood in front of, watching a cluster of tiny jellyfish pulse slowly through the water.
“Honestly?” I said. “I love it here.”
And I meant that.
The job was everything I’d hoped it would be. The tanks. The animals. The quiet early mornings when the aquarium hadn’t opened yet, and the whole place felt like it belonged to the water instead of the crowds.
Plus, Brisbane itself was… kind of incredible.
“I’m finally fully unpacked,” I went on. “Got my apartment sorted, figured out the bus routes.”
“Impressive.”
“Right?”
Mark smiled. “And the area?”
“Oh, I’m obsessed,” I said immediately. “The river walk near my place? The mangroves? I’ve barely even started exploring yet. I’m so excited.”
That was the part that made the homesickness easier.
Everything here still felt new.
“I’ve been meaning to take a weekend trip up the coast,” I added. “Do some diving once I’m a little more settled. Emma said there are some amazing reefs a few hours north.”
“Yeah,” Mark said. “There are.” His tone shifted slightly, something thoughtful creeping into it. “You’ll want to see them while you’re here,” he added.
“While I’m here?”
He shrugged. “Visa’s temporary, yeah?”
Right.
That again.
“Yeah,” I said lightly. “But if things go well, maybe I can stay longer.”
Mark nodded slowly. “Maybe.”
I couldn’t help my excitement from deflating in my chest from his, “maybe.” Because what the hell did that mean? Did he know something that I didn’t? Had the higher-ups already decided that they wouldn’t be offering me a long-term position?
Moving to another country was fun and all, just not as much when you weren’t sure if you should get comfortable or not.
Mark pushed off the counter and clapped his hands together. “Well,” he said. “As touching as this heart-to-heart’s been, you’re still supposed to be at the jellies.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I grabbed the clipboard and straightened up.
“And Sinclair?” he added as he started toward the door.
“Yeah?”
“Do yourself a favor and keep your thoughts about a certain bloke to yourself.”
My stomach turned, but I managed a thin smile. “Oh… yeah, for sure. Sorry about that.”
