Chapter Thirty-Eight
The next few days pass in a blur. My time is spent melodramatically thinking about Andrew, working my ass off to make up for lost time in the lab, and pricing flights to Syria. But not even Blue can get behind a romantic gesture that grand.
No matter how my scientific brain analyzes it, I can’t get over the absurdity that I made such a strong connection with Andrew in such a short amount of time.
Cassie says I fell hard and fast because Andrew and I have enough in common to feel connected, but enough differences to keep it interesting.
Also that while he ended up being a great guy, he seemed like an arrogant asshole at first, which she said is sexy.
Considering that he’s the first guy I’ve had sincere feelings for, combined with the heightened emotions of being cut off from the outside world and his knack for consistently coming to my rescue, it’s no wonder I’m a goner.
It’s probably a good thing Andrew took a job in another country, since I don’t think my inexperienced heart could’ve handled any more time falling for him.
Cassie comes by frequently with pints of vegan ice cream and makes me watch sappy rom-coms with ridiculous plotlines.
A thirteen-year-old waking up as a grown woman?
Asking a stranger to meet you at the top of the Empire State Building?
Falling in love with a mermaid? Cassie insists that they help with heartbreak, but I’ve yet to find any evidence supporting her hypothesis.
I’m shocked to say this, but what does make me feel better is spending time with my family, who I’ve learned are freakin’ geniuses. Their joint efforts—Matt’s montage video, my parents posting on their social media, and Jesse’s Frogger stunt—have helped raise a grand total of $309,450!
Not only did we get enough donations to cover our lost funding and save everyone’s jobs, but Jesse’s live stream also attracted the attention of an eccentric tech billionaire, Georg Griffin.
Apparently Georg, who had a pet frog as a kid, feels moved by our cause.
He’s pledged to give us $50,000 a year for the next ten years.
The board was so happy about having this unexpected benefactor that they approved Cassie’s proposal to hire her own veterinary team, which allows us to take in even more rescue animals at the center.
And the timing for that couldn’t have been more perfect.
After my dad posted about my lab, he got a call from a former WWE wrestler he knows, saying he needed to give up his exotic pets.
Don’t even get me started on all the reasons why having an exotic pet is a bad idea and why all animal smugglers should rot in hell.
Instead, I’ll just be glad we were able to take in an ocelot, two blue-headed macaws, three sugar gliders, and a pygmy marmoset and give them proper medical care and a good home.
All of which is to say that my family’s help and support have been both a blessing and a welcome distraction.
So has being reunited with my work friends.
Yesterday Cassie, Alec, Eliza, and I took a field trip to visit the immuno-boosted froggies we released back into the wild.
Thanks to nano-chip technology, we were able to locate most of them and verify that they’re thriving.
It was surprisingly emotional to see them doing so well on their own.
Cassie, of course, was bawling and acting like her kids were graduating from high school.
Eliza just shrugged and hiked back to the car, while Alec took a hit from his vape pen.
We’re all still riding high on the success of our chytrid fungus vaccine.
The results were so promising that we’ve been asked to publish them in several leading scientific journals.
This means that my peers will be able to use our research and techniques to protect endangered amphibians in different states and countries.
What started off as trying to protect a small population of frogs in Southern California will hopefully turn into an important case study that helps save species around the globe.
But the best part of all is that we were able to accomplish everything without winning the Love Shack prize money. Which means it will go to someone else. Hopefully someone deserving.
We’ll find out who soon enough, because tonight is the season finale.
My mom insisted on throwing a live watch party, and because I’m still atypically melancholy about Andrew, I made her promise it’ll only be a casual family dinner with a few special friends.
But knowing her, she had her fingers crossed behind her back.
Just in case it ends up being more extra than a family barbecue, I get dressed up for the occasion.
Since I donated all the dresses I wore on the show, I’m back to wearing my normal, unrevealing clothes.
My tried-and-true Anthropologie maxi dress might be what Blue would consider poncho-adjacent, so I do my makeup and hair for good measure.
Thanks to Madison, I finally know how to achieve a beachy wave.
When I pull into my parents’ driveway in Pasadena, I burst out laughing.
My mom has really outdone herself this time.
The backyard has been completely transformed into a whimsical fairyland meets outdoor screening room.
There’s a giant pull-down screen in the middle of the patio, which is now covered with blankets, pillows, and comfy-looking poof chairs.
Next to the screening area is a rustic wooden table overflowing with charcuterie and different types of popcorn.
And I’m pretty sure she rented the lounge furniture that’s under the weeping willow.
It’s way too elegant and over-the-top, but now that I know this is one of the ways my mom shows she cares, I’m not irritated by it anymore.
Okay, less irritated by it, because there are at least fifty more people here than I was expecting.
My mom comes bounding over. “So what do you think?” She claps her hands together excitedly.
“It’s lovely. You did a great job,” I answer truthfully.
“There are even specialty cocktails at the bar!” she adds proudly. “My favorite is the Sexy Scientist. It fizzes up when you add club soda. Like a science experiment!”
I laugh in mortification that there’s an actual menu with that annoyingly persistent nickname on it, while trying not to think wistfully of Andrew calling me by it.
“Wow” is all I can manage in response.
“Oh, and Blue sent over several cases of Poppy Lite. He said it’s your favorite.”
I shake my head in amusement as my dad walks over and greets me. “Hey, Peanut.”
“Hey, Dad.” I hug him and when I pull back, I notice he’s wearing his “You will never always be driven” T-shirt. “Nice shirt.”
“Thanks to you, it sold out the day that episode aired!” he says excitedly. “And I’ve gotten hundreds of orders for more!”
I smile at him. “Glad I could be of service.”
He puts his arm around me, then says, “Your friends from the nature center are here.” He gestures to where Cassie, Alec, and Eliza mingle with the Fox Girls. I think I see Gregory by the bar.
“Is that my boss?”
“Yep, he brought his daughter and some of her friends. Apparently they’re big fans of the show.”
I shake my head. “If anyone asks for an autograph, I’m leaving.”
“Jesse’s new girlfriend is here too,” my mom gushes as she points to my little brother awkwardly standing next to a cute girl with curly hair.
“He met her online. She’s a gamer,” my dad explains.
“I’m a little surprised she looks so normal,” I admit.
“I’m just glad she was willing to meet up in person,” my mom adds, and I realize with a pang of pride that my parents would support anyone we care about as long as we’re happy.
They keep talking about Jesse’s new girlfriend, but I’m distracted when Matt walks over with two blue cocktails and offers me one.
“What’s this?”
Matt smirks. “The One-on-None. That’s why it’s blue—because it’s sad.”
I roll my eyes at his delight in my misfortune and take a sip. I immediately scowl. “Ugh, it even tastes blue.”
Matt laughs at me as he plops down in the rented patio furniture. “You want to hear my big news?” I nod and sit down next to him. “I’m starting my own business,” he says proudly.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. I realized I can’t coast on my good looks forever.” I snort and he continues. “And I really liked making that video for you.”
“You were great at it,” I concede.
“So, I’m gonna start my own wedding videography business. You know, making montages of people’s weddings.”
“Wow. You’d be perfect at that,” I say sincerely. His smile gets even bigger with my approval.
“I’m offering a ten percent family discount, but it expires in twenty years, so . . .” He smirks.
I shove him and feel a pang of sadness when my thoughts immediately return to Andrew. I wish he were here. Or that I knew what he was doing right now.
I shake off thoughts of a handsome do-gooder with an inconvenient heart of gold and turn to my brother. “I’m really happy for you, Matt. I’ll even help promote your company on Instagram.” I wink at him, and he laughs at the irony.
“Ahh, so you are going to keep your social media accounts active?”
I shrug. “It’s useful in teaching the public about endangered species.” I pause, then quickly add, “And it’s kinda fun.”
Matt smiles like he just scored a point, then gets serious. “Just be careful of all the creeps that are going to slide into your DMs.”
“Ewww. Being a single woman is terrifying.”
Matt must be more perceptive than I give him credit for because he says, “I’m sorry things didn’t work out with the lawyer.” I nod in appreciation of his sentiment. But then he adds, “I have this buddy who I think you’d like—”
“I’m good,” I cut him off. My brother and I might be on better terms now, but I continue to have zero interest in dating any of his friends. “Thanks, though,” I add. “I better say hi to the guests.” I start to walk away but turn around and whisper-yell, “And stay away from Cassie.”
He yells back loudly, “I didn’t hear you!” Then he sticks his tongue out at me and goes over to my coworkers. I shake my head at him. There’s still a case to be made for having only one child.
While I steel myself to start making the rounds, my mom rushes over to me. “I have a surprise for you!”
“A new specialty cocktail? Let me guess, Pass the Banana?”
“Darn it! I wish I’d thought of that! But no, it’s a surprise guest.” My mom rubs her hands together giddily and my heart skips.