Page 82 of Falling for Nicole
“Yeah, I’d love to. I’ll probably get a more intellectual conversation out of him than BJ,” he says with a laugh.
* * *
I’ve spent all day looking at my phone, waiting to hear how Liv’s interview went, but so far I’ve heard nothing, and it’s been hours.
Expecting her to be at home when I finish work, I’m surprised to find the place empty—except from Bailey.
I try phoning, but it rings off and goes to voicemail every time I try. “Where the hell is she?” I mutter to myself.
“She’s a grown woman, I’m sure she’s fine,” Dec says, walking over to where I’m stood at the hob, cooking dinner. He wraps his arms around my waist and I rest my head back against him.
“I know. I just know how badly she wanted it.”
My thoughts are still on her as we sit down to eat, but they’re soon interrupted when the front door opens. Liv bounces into the room and my hopes rise that she’s already had good news.
“How’d it go?”
“Honestly, I’ve no idea. They’re going to ring in a few days as they’ve got other people to see.”
“Oh. Where have you been?”
“I ran into Liam after my interview. You didn’t tell me he’s a DJ at the station.”
“Sorry, I didn’t think.”
“Anyway, we just spent the afternoon walking around town. We’re going for dinner at that pub down by the sea. I was going to ask if you wanted to join us, but it seems I’m a little late.”
“You are. Go and enjoy yourself, you deserve it.”
“Thank you. Don’t wait up,” she calls as she disappears from the room.
Dec waits until we hear the door shut again before speaking. “Hasn’t she got a boyfriend?”
“Yeah but…it’s complicated.” I don’t really want to tell all Liv’s secrets, but I know he’s just concerned about his friend. “She won’t do anything stupid.”
“But you’ve seen the way he looks at her?”
“It’ll be fine,” I say. But he’s right, I’ve seen how they look at each other, and I know the shit Liv’s been living with. It’s just not my place to get involved. As he said earlier, she’s a grown woman, and she can look after herself.
* * *
“Are you ready?” I call up the stairs the second I walk through the door after work Thursday afternoon. I worked extra long shifts this week so I didn’t feel so bad about having more time off. Slipping my shoes off, I take the stairs two at a time and pull off my Dec’s vest before I get to the top.
“Whoa, shit. Cover those up or Dec will kill me,” Liam says with a laugh as he covers his eyes.
“Sorry.” I hold the vest against my lace covered boobs and look between Liam and Liv’s bedroom door with a raised eyebrow.
“Just carrying her bags down.”
“Riiight.”
“Pass yours out and I’ll take them too,” he offers with a smile.
I’m grateful, of course. I’ve packed enough for a two week holiday, not just a two night stay for a wedding, so I wasn’t looking forward to heaving it all down myself.
“Yeah, give me a few seconds to get changed and you can take them. Thank you,” I shout after shutting the door behind me.
“His food is in that cupboard. He has one cup in the morning and one in the evening; he’ll tell you when he wants it. His lead is here, but keep his walks short because his leg’s still healing—”
