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“That’s why you hate them. And because the more you distance yourself from them, the more you can crow about how you rose to prominence from nothing when you win the Nobel Prize inBiology.”
I don’t bother correcting him to say it’s the Nobel Prize in Physiology andMedicine.
He is right about one thing. Unlike the four sections of hormonal time bombs I was responsible for educating today, I didn’t come from a neighborhood with doormen andboxwoods.
After ten years of pursuing a single goal my entire life, I got it. But I was forced to walk away from the professor job at University of Washington when I learned my father was dying. Until I can get a new college faculty position, which is easier said than done, I’m teaching teenagers just so I can make payments on my student loans and my father’sfuneral.
I swallow the grunt. “None of my sophs can use a microscope, not to mention tell a prokaryote from a eukaryote. I think at least three kids hooked up behind the projector screentoday.”
“But you’re stuck here,” hesays.
“I’m biding my time until I can convince UW to offer me my job again.” I flex my free hand. “There’s nothing else for me todo.”
“You’re the teacher. You could teach themsomething.”
I take a drink because I’m not about to do my least favorite thing—argue a position I can’twin.
I’m not a teacher though. I’m a researcher. I did not work eighteen-hour days for nine years of college to inspect teenagers for signs of substanceabuse.
But far be it from me to deny someone an education. My father drummed into me that it’s the most important thing you canget.
“How’s your mom?” Jakeasks.
“She’sdealing.”
Jake nods. He knows what it’s like to lose your father. Though the circumstances that took his father were far more dramatic than mine, and he lost his mother too, he had two brothers to go through it with him. I don’t know what’s worse: losing both your parents and having people to help you through or losing one and being a crutch for theother.
“Get her a dog.” His voice pulls me out of my spinning, and I shudder. “She doesn’t like them? I thought she worked at a vetclinic.”
“She does. My dad was allergic to dogs. They’re descended from wild animals we domesticated for a purpose. That purpose was not to sleep in our beds or slobber all over yourhouse.”
“I thought you were a biologist. You should loveanimals.”
“First, I’m a geneticist. There’s a difference. Second, I don’t dislike animals. I like them playing out their role in their respective ecosystems over generations. Preferablyoutdoors.”
Jake chuckles, raising his glass. “You’re a special brand, Wesley.” We both take a drink. When he sets his down, he asks, “How are thefinances?”
The hospital bills that came with two rounds of chemo add insult to injury. We have a payment plan, but when I add those—which I insisted on helping my mom with—to my student loans and some otherdebts…
There’s no way a teacher’s salary is going to dig me out any timesoon.
“Let’s go over this,” he says, as if he can read my thoughts. “You need money. Convincing funders to buy this DNA dating idea means selling them, nonexperts, on your work. Rena’s the person to helpyou.”
I think back to the earlier part of our conversation, though admittedly, it’s harder to remember the part before she kissed me. “She doesn’t get it. Her eyes glazed over when I described what Ido.”
“That’s why she’s the person to help you. She understands money, she understands human nature, and she can figure her way out ofanything.
“One time at my brother Aiden’s party, the band didn’t show up and everyone was going to leave. She convinced everyone silent parties were the new thing in Europe and made a game of swapping secrets instead. And that’s how everyone ended up talking about Reid’s mom’s alcoholism instead of Aiden’s lack of birthdayentertainment.”
I’m reluctantly impressed. “When wasthat?”
“They were twelve.” He snorts, and I shake my head. “Her family had no qualms about sending their two kids to Baden, were at all the same parties as mine. But unlike most of the kids from school, Rena never cared about trips or cars or having the latestshit.
“Trust me as someone who deals in precious gems for a living—she’s the real deal. Let Rena help with yourprogram.”
Still, I’m resistant to the idea of working with her. Maybe because she’s younger and I’m used to the academic system, where most people who stand to teach me something are gray andseventy.
Or it’s the fact that she kissed you, you felt something, and it’s messing with yourhead.
