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“Good. Though I’ve been missing you. ”
“Oh,” she said, biting back a smile. “How do you have the time at that busy job of yours?”
“I always seem to find time. ”
Liz laughed lightly despite herself. She didn’t know when Brady was going to come by, and he hadn’t called. She was feeling pretty down on herself and the whole stupid trip, and here Hayden was calling when she needed someone to boost her the most.
“Well, mostly I was calling with good news. ”
“Yeah? What happened?” Liz asked, wandering into the bedroom, pulling back the sheets, and snuggling into the comforter.
“Jamie was exhibiting this weekend. She told you about that, right?”
“Yeah, she did. ”
“Well, a curator from a museum picked up her work for a slot in their rising stars showcase. Her paintings will be up in the museum starting in August. ”
“Oh my God, that’s so exciting for her! She must be freaking out. ”
Hayden chuckled. “You have no idea what I’m going through over here. I wish you were here to diffuse the insanity. She likes you. ”
“Are you calling me to escape Jamie?” Liz asked accusingly.
“That doesn’t sound like me at all. Seriously, though, drive back up to D. C. and save me from her constant frolicking around the apartment. ”
Liz snickered and covered her mouth. “Frolicking?”
“I’m not kidding. She is skipping around and singing Céline Dion at the top of her lungs. I think she might have legitimately lost it this time,” he said with an undertone of humor.
“Sorry, no can do. Sounds like you will just have to stick this one out on your own. What would you do if you landed your dream job? I bet you would frolic around the living room,” Liz teased.
“I don’t frolic,” he told her.
“You’re no fun. ”
“Oh please, I can think of much better ways to celebrate. ”
Liz knew she should have responded with something snarky right away, but the way he said that made her stop her normal retort. He was teasing her. She couldn’t grasp that.
He had kissed her in D. C. , and still she had a hard time believing that he was interested in her. Maybe she just didn’t want to believe it; if she did, then she would have to face too many other complications.
But then he went and said things like that…like finding other ways to celebrate. Maybe she just had a dirty mind…
He coughed, clearing his throat. “I mean, you know, other than frolicking in the living room. ”
By the way he said that last part she was pretty sure she wasn’t the only one with her mind in the gutter.
“Right,” she said, searching for a way to change the subject. This was dangerous territory. “Um…when do you come back to Chapel Hill?”
“The Friday before school starts. I have to move into my new place and I’m not looking forward to it. You don’t happen to like manual labor, do you?”
“Are you asking me to help you move?” Liz asked.
“Nah, just seeing if you wanted to watch a bunch of runners with their shirts off moving heavy objects,” he said sarcastically.
“Well, in that case, sign me up. ”
“Cool. I’ll send you the address. ”
