Page 24 of How To Not Need You

She considers this, then nods. “Same. I usually just insult people until they leave.”

I’m tempted to say something dumb like, “I can take it,” but instead I just smile. For the first time all day, the knot in my stomach loosens. I see Ben get up with the rest of the boys, gesturing for me to stay. I glance at my watch. I’ve still got time before we need to be back, so I decide to say to hell with it.

We talk. About nothing, at first: the wedding, the weather, the fact that Luca’s coffee could fuel a small generator. She asks about Tilly, and I tell her about the time my daughter insisted on wearing a tulle skirt over her pyjamas for a week straight. She tells me about her freelance work, how she once designed a book cover for an author who paid her in artisanal honey.

When she laughs, I find myself watching her instead of whatever was happening around us.

At some point, I stop thinking about the door. I stop thinking about Ben and Noah and their ridiculous plot to get me here. I stop thinking about how this could end, and just let myself be in the moment.

Liv tilts her head. “You know you’re not what I expected.”

“What were you expecting?”

She shrugs. “A guy who talks about himself a lot. Or asks invasive questions. Or tries to impress me by listing every disaster call he’s ever been on.”

I shake my head. “I’m boring.”

She grins. “Maybe I like boring.”

There’s a comfortable silence. I glance at my watch. "I should probably get going."

She raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Truck checks."

She nods solemnly. "Wouldn't want your workmates having to do actual work."

I laugh as I push my chair back. "Exactly." I stand. Then don't move. Come on, mate. Walk away. Instead, I hear myself say,

"So…”

She waits.

"Can I see you again?"

The corner of her mouth twitches. "You're supposed to ask for my number first."

I close my eyes for half a second. "Right." Smooth. Real smooth.

She bites back a smile. "Most people work their way up to asking someone out."

"I've never been very good at this."

"I'd noticed."

I laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. "So…” I hold up my phone. "Can I have your number?"

She studies me for a moment. Long enough that I'm convinced she's about to let me down gently.

Then she holds out her hand. "Give me your phone."

I hand it over.

She taps her number in before handing it back. "There."

I glance at the screen.

"Lucky for you," she says, "I happen to think awkward's kind of cute."