Page 52 of The Geography of Happiness

He grinned. “I never said a word, but you’re welcome for that as well.” We locked eyes for another of those long-heated moments that were happening far too regularly for my fragile heart to ignore.

It was Spencer’s turn to break the silence. “Just so you know, I also had fun today.” He threw his towel in the hamper to join mine, winked, and grabbed his medication bag. “Alotof fun.” He eyed me meaningfully. “And for that reason, I’m going to suggest that after I get this bag safely locked away, you and I throwcaution to the wind and grab that coffee you seem so worried about, and we can discuss exactlyhowmuch fun we both had... andwhy.” He disappeared into the hallway without waiting for an answer and I followed like a lamb.

“There’snothingto talk about,” I insisted to his back as he took the first right into what I presumed was his office.

There was an answering chuckle followed by, “Now you’re just lying.”

“I am not?—”

“Hi, Terry.”

I spun toward the reception desk and found Sonja peering over her glasses. “I thought I heard voices.” She looked me up and down with a mischievous smile before commenting dryly. “I hope he’s paying you.”

I grinned. “What do you think? You can always take it off Miller’s bill.”

She laughed. “Not a chance, sunshine. Around this place, we suffer the consequences of our own foolishness.”

I chuckled. “Noted.”

Spencer poked his head out into the hall. “Don’t you have important office-manager stuff to get on with? You know, those things we pay you for.”

“Nope.” Sonja scraped her chair back and joined us in the hallway. “I’m officially on break.” Then she scowled and poked Spencer in the chest. “Besides, I have a bone to pick with you, dickhead.”

A notch formed between Spencer’s brows. “What have I done now?”

“What’s all this about you leaving us?” she demanded crossly, and Spencer’s eyes flew wide.

He flicked a nervous glance my way before zeroing his attention back on Sonja. “You’ve been talking to Matt.”

She huffed. “Of course I have. That’s what you get for giving the university your business email as well as your personal one. They sent you air tickets for next month. Colour me shocked. It’s something I should’ve heard about from you, don’t you think, arsehole?”

Spencer winced. “You’re right. And I’m sorry. In my defence, I was waiting until they confirmed. Anyway, I’m not leaving. I’m just looking at a secondment for a year... or two.”

“In freaking Adelaide.” She poked him again and he jumped.

“Ouch.” Spencer rubbed the spot on his chest, but I’d stopped paying attention.

Adelaide?My stomach lurched. Jesus, I’d been an idiot. Bad enough the man lived in the middle of nowhere in the South Island, but he was moving to Adelaide? Impossible just became never gonna happen.

“Promise me you’re coming back.” Sonja eyeballed Spencer and his hesitation lasted just long enough to have her throw up her hands. “I knew it,” she spat crossly, her eyes suspiciously shiny. “Damn you, Spencer Thompson. Does Matt know about that?”

More silence.

“Yeah, I thought not.” She pouted. “Well, you better warn him soon or I will.”

“Nothing’s set in stone.” Spencer shot me another pleading look. “I just... I don’t know what I want. But I’ll talk to Matt. I promise.”

Hurt stung in Sonya’s eyes and she spun on her heels and headed for her desk. Spencer trailed after, still trying to explain, but Sonja was having none of it.

I left them to it and took myself back to the kennel room where Miller greeted me like I hung the fucking moon. “Hello there, boy.” I squatted next to his cage and he wriggled close, histail thumping excitedly. “You look all right, considering you lost your balls.”

He whined as if disagreeing with the sentiment, and then rolled to his back and presented his belly.

I chuckled and sat on the floor, putting my back against the cage next door. “You’re such a little hussy. Come on.” I pulled Miller from his cage and onto my lap where he immediately snuggled lengthways into the depression between my thighs and gave a big pup sigh.

I ran my hand in long strokes down his back and shook my head at what a fool I’d been.

Adelaide, for fuck’s sake.And in amonth. That answered any lingering fantasies I had about keeping in contact. A part of me felt relieved, but the biggest part by far was simply... fucking disappointed. Not least the fact he’d never mentioned it even once as he was busy chatting me up and building my hopes.

---