Valentine

“I’m happy for you,” I said with genuine feeling.

“I’m happy for you too.” He smiled and then turned politely to Ellie.

She answered before he even asked. “Married to my brother’s best friend even though it was like pulling teeth to get him to even attempt a relationship with me. We have two little boys, Will and Braden, and they are quite possibly the cutest kids known to man.”

Ben laughed at her oversharing. “That’s great. And any plans for Valentine’s Day, ladies?”

“Dinner and a party a colleague is hosting. You?” Ellie said.

“Well I actually live in Aberdeen now but we came back home for my mum and dad’s fortieth wedding anniversary. The celebrations are lasting a whole week.” He shook his head, laughing I assumed at his family. “Jules is being dragged around while my mother picks out baby clothes, and I tried to tag along but my mother is adamant when she wants something and she wants alone time with Jules, so I decided to grab some lunch and do some work.” He patted the laptop bag at his feet.

I eyed the bag. “What do you do now that you’re no longer a student?”

“I’m an academic.” He shrugged. “There’s nothing much else out there for a guy with a PhD in history but to continue on. I’m a professor at the University of Aberdeen.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“Thanks. You still happy at the library?”

“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.”

“What does that mean?”

Yup, he’d totally forgotten Valentine’s Day.

“Nothing. I guess.” I stood up, a little annoyed with his reaction. “Well I better get back to work.”

“I’m finishing early today. I thought I’d pick up the girls so they don’t have to go to the after school program.”

“Okay, great. Make sure to let the school know they won’t be there.”

“Got it. I’ll see you at home.” He hung up and I glowered at the phone. Nate had no right to be pissy at me because of a stupid lunch.

Ugh.

What an unbelievably crappy Valentine’s Day.

***

Walking up to the house in the dark of the early evening I stared at it in confusion. Usually the house was lit up when I came home from work. Whereas I did breakfast and the morning school run, Nate always arranged his schedule so that he could pick the kids up from the after school program and he more often than not had dinner on the table too.

There was only a faint glow of light peeking out of the blinds that covered our front window.