‘Well, you do like men who read, although I don’t necessarily think one who writes too is right for you,’ he begins. ‘Men who can keep up with your sarcasm. Men who don’t talk over you. Men who understand that chocolate is a food group, caffeine can be consumed at all hours of the day, and that you’re not being dramatic when you say a book is your new favourite. I think you’re the kind of girl who finds something new to fall in love with every day.’
For a few seconds I don’t know what to say. I think he’s nailed it.
‘Anyway, do we know anything about your next guy?’ he asks, moving things along before I can respond.
‘Nope, I think she’s still working on it,’ I reply. ‘But I’m expecting big things.’
‘You’ll be happy then,’ he quips. ‘Well, know that I support you, even if I’m doing so from the other side of the world currently, and if you need me to have a word with JJ, I can.’
‘Someone’s feeling brave,’ I tease.
‘Did you hear the part where I said I’m on the other side of the world?’ he replies. ‘I’m a bit brave.’
‘But just a bit.’
‘Exactly,’ he confirms with a chuckle.
God, it’s so nice to hear his voice.
‘I wish I was there,’ I say. ‘Are you somewhere beautiful?’
‘Well, right now I’m in the office,’ he replies. ‘And I’m not important enough to have a big window, but the biscuits are good.’
‘You will remember my Tim Tams, won’t you?’ I say, getting my priorities straight. ‘A kind I’ve never tried before ideally.’
‘Mission accepted. Don’t worry, I’m on it,’ he says with a laugh.
‘Good, because that’s the only reason I agreed to you abandoning me home alone all this time,’ I reply.
‘Are you setting traps for burglars?’ he asks.
‘If I need to set traps for anyone, it’s JJ, to slow her down a little,’ I reply. ‘A Porn Star Martini on the pavement, a handsome man on the stairs…’
‘Yeah, I guess that would stop her on the stairs for a few minutes,’ he says.
He chuckles, then goes quiet for a moment. I can hear faint background noise on his end – muffled voices, a door opening and closing, footsteps maybe. It’s night-time here, so it’s quiet. It makes him feel very far away.
‘Serious question, though,’ he says, his tone changing. ‘Are you okay? Like… really?’
I hesitate. There’s so much I could say. About my book. About the dates. About how much I miss him, because it’s so weird without him.
‘I’m…’ I start. ‘I’m fine. Stuck in edit hell. Mildly traumatised by men. Nothing beyond the usual.’
He laughs softly.
‘I hate that my absence has sent you into the arms of a potential serial killer,’ he jokes.
‘You could have been the plot twist, the one who showed up to fight for my honour, to save me from his evil clutches,’ I point out.
‘Whit, I promise you, if you ever need saving from the evil clutches of anyone, I’ll be right there,’ he says, and jokes aside, he sounds like he means it.
Warmth fills my chest as I find myself smiling widely. I can always rely on Andy to cheer me up.
‘Anyway, are you okay?’ I ask. ‘Let’s not make this all about me.’
‘Actually, yeah, I have a lot to tell you,’ he replies. ‘In fact, I don’t know if now?—’
A male voice on the other end of the line interrupts him. ‘Andy! Mate, we’re starting in five!’
