I click off my phone and toss it onto the table. If James gets cranky that I don’t respond right away, I can blame it on the spotty Wi-Fi.

One thing’s for sure: I have to figure out what I’m pitching for this proposal. Today. And it needs to be stratosphere-level amazing.

When we disembark at Puerto Ayora half an hour later, it’s a shock to the system after spending so many days surrounded by nature. People are talking and shouting in Spanish, cars chug down the oceanfront road, and hungry gulls make a beautiful cacophony.

I step off the Zodiac and my hiking shoes thud against the pier. It’s our first dry landing since the day we embarked the ship. I wiggle my toes in my cotton socks, relishing not having wet sand stuck between them.

Graeme has already disembarked; he’s meandered several yards down the boardwalk and is taking another selfie video. His crisp white T-shirt contrasts with his tan, and his calf muscles flex as he walks.

I grind my teeth in equal parts frustration and desire.

“Giant tortoises today, huh?” Walsh asks, slipping her phone out of her pocket and checking the screen.

I tear my eyes away from Graeme. “Yep. Wild tortoise spotting in the highlands, then a visit to the breeding center in the afternoon. But remember, I’m going to be gone for a bit after lunch. I reached out a couple of weeks ago to our liaison in the region, a woman who lives in Puerto Ayora. We have a meeting scheduled.”

“Yeah, yeah, no problem.” She waves me off. “Do you think there’s Wi-Fi in town?” She raises her phone in the air and takes a few steps. “Never mind. I found an open network.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “You’re not still talking to that Bad News Bears person, are you?”

She gives me her none of your business face.

My phone dings insistently in my pocket and I automatically check the notifications.

Christina

GUYS, you will not believe what happened

Tory

What??

Christina

Rick sent me a bottle of lotion

I wrinkle my nose.

Who’s Rick?

Christina

The guy I went on a date with last week. The programmer. He mailed me a bottle of LOTION. To my apartment.

WTF

What kind of lotion?

Christina

Super nice actually. High end from Saks. But LOTION. TO MY APARTMENT. HALP.

Tory

How does he know where you live?

Christina

He picked me up for our date

Tory

CHRISTINA KIM what were you thinking?!

You know he could come back and murder you, right? Rookie mistake.

I find a Silence of the Lambs “it rubs the lotion on its skin” GIF and send it to them.

Christina

Nope. Didn’t need that. Way too creeped out already

Tory

Send it back and block him

And maybe get a Ring camera for your door because *yikes*