39. Culture
Culture: In biology, the growth of microorganisms in a laboratory.
OLIVER
Six months later
“ S ix months for regulatory approval is almost unheard of, but when the science is solid, when the results are astounding, and when you’ve got a firecracker like Tessa Wright pushing things along, you can do almost anything.” Standing on the sturdiest table in the game room, I gazed out over the crowd of employees, investors, and friends. With my slippery dress shoes on the polished wood of the table, my perch on the table was a definite safety violation. It didn’t seem that terrible compared to all we’d risked to get to this moment.
“We’re here, tonight, celebrating approvals for our ovarian cancer biomarker test, thanks to your dedication, your brilliance, and your hard work. Thank you, everyone.” I raised my glass of sparkling water. “To us.”
My grandfather winked at me. A chorus of whoops rose from the employees and guests as they raised their glasses of champagne.
Like always, my eyes went immediately to the mane of red hair across the room. Next to Ms. Pac-Man, Tessa held my gaze, grinned, and raised her glass. She tipped back her head and drank, the long column of her throat bobbing. If I were standing closer and we weren’t in our workplace, I’d trace my finger down her neck and watch the goosebumps rise on her skin. Later.
Right now, I had to mingle. It wasn’t my favorite activity since I’d much rather talk to my friends than to the journalists, potential investors, and partners invited to celebrate with us. But, Tessa had reminded me, it was something a company founder did.
Still, there was nothing wrong with starting slow. I grasped Andrew’s hand as I stepped from the table to a chair, then down to the floor and joined my friend and his fiancée.
“Good speech.” Andrew shook my hand.
Carly leaned in to kiss my cheek. “We’re so excited for you.”
“I wish we could’ve gotten both tests through approvals.” I glanced over Carly’s head toward where Tessa had been, but she was gone.
From behind me, she whispered in my ear. “Greedy.” She draped her freckled arm over my shoulder then, louder, said, “We can’t expect the feds to fast-track two women’s health products.”
I hated that she covered her frustration and disappointment with snark, but her friends and I saw past it. Carly grasped her hand. Andrew, always the optimist, said, “I bet you get the approval in January.”
“Thanks.” She pressed her palm into my shoulder in a gesture I knew grounded her. Over the past six months since she’d first told me she loved me, she’d used my body as a kind of touchstone. I loved it. I reached up and held her hand to me.
“Snacks!” Savannah sang out. She held out a plate loaded with antipasto skewers. Carly took one, bit into it, and moaned. “Oh my god. Why can’t Audrey get these at the events she makes us attend?”
“Because she hasn’t hired Savannah,” Tessa said. When Savannah offered us the plate, we waved it off. Earlier, we’d stuffed ourselves on the ones that hadn’t passed Savannah’s rigorous quality checks.
“Wait. You made these?” Carly asked.
Savannah seemed an inch taller. “I’ve expanded beyond breakfasts and lunches to evening events. Tessa helped me with the waitstaff and the logistics.” She lowered her voice. “Don’t tell anyone, but this is my first one.”
“And it’s perfect,” Tessa said. “You’ve found your calling.”
West stepped up beside me, and Tessa tensed. I held her hand firmly in mine. We’d filled out all the paperwork he wanted, and as long as no one walked in on us banging in the supply closet, there was no issue with our being a couple. Fortunately, we didn’t need to bang in the supply closet since we had a big, comfortable bed at Tessa’s house. And a shower, and a couch, and a kitchen counter (only when Savannah wasn’t there). My dick stiffened, so I shifted and mentally listed the amino acids in alphabetical order.
“Introduce me to your friends?” West’s voice sounded strange, low and rumbly. Did he have an upper respiratory infection? I nudged Tessa a few inches away from him.
I gestured around the circle. “This is Andrew Jones and his fiancée, Carly Rose. Andrew and I have been friends since college, and Carly, Tessa, and Savannah have been friends for a couple years. Savannah catered the event. Everyone, this is Asher Weston.”
“Everyone calls me West.” He held out his hand to Savannah first.
Her hands were occupied with the plate and napkins. Her face went pink. “Sorry, I…”
“Sorry.” West rubbed his hand on his jeans. “You made the food?”
“Yes. Here, try some.” She held out the plate to him, and he took a skewer.
He bit into it, and his eyes rolled back. “Delicious.”
“I’ll give you her card on Monday,” Tessa said. “We should use her for more events here.”
West’s gaze didn’t leave Savannah. “We should.”
“Excuse me.” A Black woman I didn’t know appeared at Tessa’s side. “You’re Tessa Wright.”
I released Tessa’s hand but stood close beside her as she squared up to the other woman. I wished she didn’t have to fear unpleasant encounters, but we’d occasionally met her former employees who didn’t know that Tessa was as hurt by what had happened at Red Rover as they were.
“I’m Niobe Haines. I’m a healthcare blogger. I understand you’ve got a biomarker test for endometriosis in the approval pipeline?”
“We do. I can’t comment on the approval status?—”
“That’s okay,” Niobe said. “I’m excited about the test, and I wanted to thank you for developing it. I’ve always suspected I have endometriosis, but I haven’t wanted to get the surgery for a proper diagnosis.”
Tessa’s shoulders dropped. “I’m sorry about your condition. I have it too. I know how important the test will be to millions of people.”
I set my hand on her back, offering her my support. She didn’t often talk about her condition, and I was so proud of her every time she did.
“Thank you for what you’re doing for women’s health,” Niobe said. “I’m a big fan.”
Tessa grinned. “Thanks.”
When the blogger walked away, I whispered, “You’re an inspiration.”
She turned to face me. “I’m just doing my job. We all are.”
I rested my hands on her hips and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Your job is important. You’re important. You’re a role model.”
“So are you.” She circled her arms around my neck and curled her fingers into my hair. “I admire you. I love you.”
“I love you too,” I murmured.
West cleared his throat. “Still in the workplace. Let’s ease off the PDA.”
Tessa took a step back but trailed her hand down my arm to lace our fingers together. “I think someone’s jealous.”
“Maybe I am,” he said evenly, with another glance at Savannah. “Still, let’s keep kissing to a minimum in the office.”
“Fine,” she huffed.
My heart expanded in my chest. Tessa and I were together, and she wanted to kiss me in the office—and everywhere else. Life was pretty good. And I was glad to be living mine at last.