“Very. It keeps me busy. So do the girls.”
“No plans for Valentine’s Day tonight then? Are you like me and Jules… at the mercy of our family?”
I shook my head, feeling that annoying little knot I knew shouldn’t feel. It was just Valentine’s Day for goodness sake! “Nope. No plans.”
***
“Liv, your phone is ringing in your bag.” Angie, one of my library assistants rushed out to the help desk. “It keeps ringing. Someone clearly wants to get a hold of you.”
Worried, I let her take over with the student I was helping and hurried into the staff room to rummage through my bag for my phone. I shot apologetic looks at the staff that were trying to work as I looked at the screen.
It was Nate.
I called him back, locking myself in one of the staffroom toilets.
“Hey, babe. I tried you a few times,” he said.
“I know, is it urgent? Why didn’t you call the office?”
“Because it’s not urgent.”
“Then why try me three times?”
“Because I want to talk to you.”
Hearing the rumble of affection in his voice I slumped down on the closed toilet seat and smiled, that little knot in my chest loosening a little. “Yeah? About?”
“Your day. I had to rush out of the house this morning so fast I didn’t even kiss you properly. I felt bad.”
Relief whooshed over me. “Yeah, I noticed.”
“Aye, I know you would have noticed that, that’s why I’m calling to make sure you know I noticed it too.”
“Well I appreciate that.” I laughed softly. “Is that all you were calling about?”
“I’m on a break so I just thought I’d call. If you have to get back to work though it’s fine.”
“Nope.” I shook my head, enjoying hearing his voice too much to let him go just yet. “How did the shoot go?”
“Great. Mikael turned up with the bloody lens, which was good because we needed it after all. How’s your day been so far?”
I thought about the strange meeting. “You’ll never guess who Ellie and I bumped into and ended up having lunch with.”
“Who?”
“Do you remember Ben?”
There was silence on the end of the line.
“The postgrad guy?” I offered.
“Yeah I know who it is, Liv,” he said, sounding a little impatient. “Why did you have lunch with him?”
Hearing the edge of jealousy in his voice I rolled my eyes. “He’s married. Her name is Jules and she’s pregnant.”
“And if I hadn’t been in the picture her name would probably have been Olivia.”
“Oh come on.” I sighed. “It was just two old friends having lunch with another friend. I thought you’d find it funny. It was weird to see him after all this time. And on today of all days.”