in front of me.
“Eh…You know I hate running.” I could hear the scraping of the wooden chair against the floor as she pulled it out.
“Then why do it?” I asked quietly.
“Ryan…would you have my ass explode? My work schedule keeps me from going to the gym enough, so I have to squeeze in whatever I can.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling.” I was talking about her squeezing me into her schedule like she did exercise, but she’d think I meant I had a hectic schedule, too. “You’d never explode.” Thinking of her body made a warm flush seep under my skin. She sensed the change in my voice and changed the subject.
“What are you doing today?”
“Oh, studying for a while and then Aaron and I are organizing a game of football in the park.”
“Mmmm…that sounds fun. Wish I could watch.” Her voice was warm but it sounded distant, like she was preoccupied.
“I do, too. Aaron brings Jenna, but she’s more like the heckling squad than a cheerleader, and she never brings treats.”
Julia’s laughter tinkled on the other end. “Hmm…funny you should say that, cause I sent you something, moody boy.”
Pleasure enveloped me and I grinned. “Really? When?”
“You were disappointed Friday when we couldn’t talk on the phone, so I stayed up and baked. I mailed them Saturday. Probably get it tomorrow.”
“You’re amazing. I don’t deserve you.” My voice was low and throaty. I longed for her, ached for her in ways I never dreamed were possible. My fingers fiddling around my coffee cup blurred before my eyes.
“That’s for sure,” Julia teased. “I have to go into the office later. Sound fun?”
“They work you too hard, Julia. I don’t like it.”
“One of the photographers lost a digital card and we have to redo an entire shoot. It’s putting the January issue behind because I had to secure the models and locations all over again. The money we’re losing is astronomical, so we had to increase the page count by 16 to pay for it. The Sales Department is scrambling to sell more ads. I can only fill fifty percent of the space with editorial or we’d still be in the red. An eight page fill is a lot to come up with at the last minute,” she groaned.
“You sound like a full-fledged editor. Why does this fall on you?” I asked, exasperated. She sounded so tired and they were literally working the hell out of her.
“Ah. Well…no, the junior editor gets the shit detail, i.e.nights and weekends. It’s just part of it. I’m working on getting a promotion, you know. Some gorgeous man I know wants me in NYC.” The smile behind her words made my heart pound.
“Couldn’t happen soon enough for me, babe, but I still hate how hard you have to work.” I ran a hand through my hair as the familiar ache settled in my chest, “I miss you.”
“For some reason, I’m really missing you, too…” I smiled as the ache eased a little at those beautiful words. I hoped the reason was because she was as in love with me as I was with her.
“Ryan!” I started in my chair at the annoying sound of Liza’s nasally voice. I glanced around. She was coming toward me before I could warn Julia.
I held up my hand to hold her off, but Liza pulled out the chair and unloaded her backpack on the table with a thud.
“So… this is Sunday coffee!”
Damn it! Couldn’t she see I was on the phone?
Julia was hesitant on the other end and I could feel her pulling back, becoming distant.
“Well…I guess I should get going.”
“Julia, wait. Please.”
Liza looked at me expectantly and I could feel my mouth settle into a tight angry line at her intrusion.
“Um…it, uh…sounds like you’re busy and I’ve got to get to the office. Mike is waiting for me anyway.”
The sound of his name grated on my nerves like nails down a chalk board. I didn’t know anything about this guy other than he was a photographer that worked with Julia a lot .
“What should I order?” Liza interrupted again.
“Can I
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