Despite the challenging nature of my class schedule, I made an effort to have fun. I found my introductory psychology class to be particularly interesting, and I considered furthering my studies in that field.
As soon as my phone rang, I grinned and took it out.
[I love you.]
I still had a few heart-fluttering moments a day because of Nicholas. I hoped that sensation would remain no matter how many years passed.
As I rapidly finished another handful of chips, I instantly responded to him. They were the only foods available at the time that tasted decent. Even seeing the sandwich that Laura had tucked into my bag made me want to hurl.
“Did Nicholas just text you?” Melody inquired.
I nodded and grinned across the table at her. Haven and she both laughed at me.
“What?”
“Every time he messages or you mention him, you have this expression on your face. I wish I could meet someone who could make me smile like that.” Melody patted the place over her heart and grinned.
Haven sighed. “I still find it hard to believe that you are married to Nicholas Rowe.”
Despite the fact that I was close with them both, if they brought up Nicholas in conversation, I would usually change the subject gently. Although I thought they had good intentions, I wanted to keep my personal affairs away from everyone.
“Yeah, how is he?” Melody inquired.
I looked down at my notebook. “He’s wonderful,” I gave a short reply. I tapped the pen a few times before looking back at them. “What was your answer to question five?”
They immediately took the hint and the tension eased. We went back to discussing our assignment.
I got a call from somebody I had been missing on the way home from campus. “Courtney!”
“Hey, stranger.” She laughed at my enthusiasm.
“I know. It’s been so long since we last met. I miss hanging out with you.” We didn’t have time to go shopping because Nicholas and I had been on our weekend trips. “How is your new job treating you? ”
“About that. I love it, Willow. I am so grateful that you spoke with Nicholas about recruiting me.”
He had fulfilled his promise to me by employing Courtney to act as the internal marketing contact between his business and third-party companies.
“I’m glad that it’s going well. What was Sandra’s response? Does Geoffrey enjoy your company around the workplace?” I rapidly fired the questions.
She chuckled. “Sandra was overjoyed. She may have become a genie and given Nicholas three wishes to ask of her.”
I grinned. Sandra and I had only really spoken to one another on the phone up until that point; we had only met once at the reception. But Nicholas admired her-in a manner that made her seem like the favorite elder sister-and I grinned. was certain that his employing Courtney pleased Sandra just as much as it did me.
“I am so busy with work that I rarely see him during the day. He does insist on taking me out to lunch as often as possible, though. Our offices are not even in the same building but he makes it work,” she said enthusiastically.
“We need to meet soon. I really want to see you.” I also wanted to see Geoffrey. It had been a long time since they had met. Everyone was getting so busy.
“We do, indeed. However, I also needed to know if you had Saturday free.”
Nicholas hadn’t mentioned any plans, so I assumed he didn’t have any. “I believe so. What do you want to do?”
“I wanted to properly thank you and wish you a happy early birthday. On Saturday, there are openings at a resort, so I thought I’d take Lorelei and you to a girl’s spa day.”
I jumped in my chair. “I won’t argue with you on that. But you really don’t have to do any of that. I would love to go. And perhaps after that, we can all return to my house and enjoy dinner?”
“That sounds wonderful. Geoffrey can meet us at your house for dinner, then. I will ask him.”
“Since we’re going to a spa, we could ask the men to go spend the day by themselves?”
Courtney laughed in response. “I am fine with that so long as there are no strippers involved.”
I wrinkled my nose in distaste. If Nicholas didn’t want his eyeballs gouged out, he best not even bring up the subject. “I was considering playing golf or shopping for a car as possibilities.” I stopped when Courtney snorted. “Do you want me to call Lory and ”
“That would be fantastic. Please call me later today or tomorrow so we can finalize the arrangements. I need to book those slots at the spa, too. It’s too exclusive so they might get snatched up quickly.”
“I’ll get back to you soon. I am really excited about this.”
As soon as we said goodbye, I called Lory.
“Hey, Willow.” She appeared to be gasping for air.
“What are you up to? Are you in the middle of a workout?” I asked.
She gasped and giggled. “No.”
She sounded off, for lack of a better term. Stranger than usual, I would say.
“Where are you right now?”
Although there were muddled sounds, I could make out a guy speaking to her in the backdrop.
“Just going to grab dinner.”
At four o’clock in the afternoon. Dinner? She was definitely up to no good.
“What’s going on, Lory? What are you keeping from me, and why?”
“Nothing. I have nothing to conceal.” She sounded utterly unconvincing. “What’s going on with you? How are the classes going?”
She attempted to change the topic, and I grew more suspicious. “The same as they were when we spoke a few days ago. Are you with someone?”
“Nobody.”
She was such a liar!
“Okay, then. You don’t have to tell me. I will find out one way or another.” Maybe she had a boyfriend she was hiding from the world. “Actually, I was calling to ask if you had Sunday free. Courtney wants us three to go on a spa day and then we will come back here for dinner.”