*Haven't really checked for mistakes

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Liam knew I hadn't been listening to him at all during lunch.

For one, my mind hadn't stopped speculating about Friday night. Plus, I was trying my damnedest to avoid Mack right now because apparently, according to Alisha, she'd noticed my absence along with Eddie's before he'd returned to the restaurant after dropping me off. Corry filled me in the next morning that Randy wasn't surprised that I'd gone home early because I 'threw up'. Thankfully, my poor excuse to leave went down smoothly. Oh and turns out about half hour after I left, there were strippers! So I dodged that bullet.

Miranda's rehearsal was Wednesday evening in the Plaza's Terrace Room and I planned on avoiding dear old Mackenzie until then. But it wasn't exactly the only thing nagging at my mind today.

Lunch ended in fifty minutes which meant I'd have to see Eddie and endure whatever he had to say about Friday night. Let's add to the fact that I knew he had a four year old girl and his ex-wife is Debbie freaking Solomon. Only I could be cursed with this many coincidences, honestly. This couldn't happen to anyone other than me.

A question kept knocking to the forefront of my mind. I kept casting it out as it's none of my business but I couldn't help but wonder, why didn't he mention having a daughter? It may not be my business but he didn't seem all that bothered about telling me how he 'wanted me'.

"Something bothering you?" Liam asked as we made our way back to our offices.

"No, I'm fine. Just thinking about Randy's wedding on Friday. I just hope everything's taken care of." It was the truth but it wasn't what I was thinking of right now.

Liam smiled knowingly. "I get it. I'll be able to make it to the reception."

"Oh yeah. Looking forward to seeing you there." I said without even thinking. "I'll see you tomorrow though I have to get a few things before class."

Liam and I parted ways and I collapsed into my chair with a big fat sigh. Only forty minutes until class. Until I have endure three hours of nakedness, give me strength. I pinched the corner of my mouth, the feel of his lips nibbling on mine was ingrained into my subconscious and I ended up having wonderful dream on Friday night; I literally had to wake myself up. And thankfully Corrine hadn't arrived until half four so she thankfully didn't witness me tangled within my sheets like a teenage mess.

My phone vibrating against my desk jumped me back into the present and I frowned at the unknown number. What is it with people calling me on unknown numbers lately? Maybe it was one of the girls.

"Hello?" I sighed.

"Is this Olivia Reilly?" A feminine but strong voice said over the line. Car beeps sounded in the background as well as a few yells and rigorous talking. Whoever it was, was definitely walking through a crowded street. "This better be the right number. If it is, which I hope it is, then what I'd like to do is congratulate you."

I frowned and sat up straighter. "I'm sorry, who is this?"

She was silent, well as much silent as you could get in a busy street. But then her laugh, filled the line and my frown deepened. "You definitely are something special. Riddle me this, Ms. Reilly how my daughter manages to come home raving about these two photocopies signed by an O. Reilly and no more than a week later I'm sifting through the waiting list and I see your name."

Oh, my God. I smoothed my hand over my hair as if she could see me. "Miss. Solomon-"

"Oh, no please call me Debbie sweetheart. I think you've earned it. People have been on that list for years I don't think anyone's used my daughter to get through to me."

I gasped. Oh my God! No! I didn't ever think of it that way. Hell, that hadn't ever entered my mind when Chelsea liked them! No, no, no. Not once had I ever thought to put Chelsea in the middle or to use her in any way to get hold of Debbie. What will she think now? Crap, what if that's what Eddie will think? Wait. I don't care what Eddie thinks. "Debbie, no I didn't ever think of Chelsea like that. See, I'd met her before and I was having dinner at Chase's when she came over-"

"Well, why not?" She interrupted with a laugh and I grimaced. "It got my attention didn't it?"

"Well... Yes but that's not how-"

"Okay, sweetie, I'll have to cut this phone call short as I have a meeting but my secretary told me what you want to do and I think we should have lunch in the New Year; the 6th. Aaron will tell you where. Bring some of your other photocopies and we'll go from there. Lovely talking to you, you really do have potential."

And with those parting words the whirlwind of an art critic hung up.

For a minute I just sat there staring at my phone wondering, did that really just happen? Did Debbie just call me directly? Well, what does that mean? Could this really be the start now? And she said I had potential! I was happy, excited, I was-

My smile dropped and I groaned.

I was definitely working with Eddie's ex-wife now. Before it was only a possibility but now... It was definite.

"It doesn't matter." I mumbled to myself as I stood and brushed my hands over my jeans. Now that it was almost Christmas, most of my senior classes have ended so a lot of my mornings will be a little uneventful until after New Years.

I grabbed my schedule and the rest of my things before making my way to my studio. Twenty-five minutes. I wasn't looking forward to this at all. At least I had another half hour to prepare myself at least.

I spun the handle and made my way to my desk without much of a glance around the room. Now that I had a date for lunch I could start sketching again. I didn't even know where to begin, maybe I could hire a model and create a series but I wanted to be inspired by my model. I wanted a series I can look at and actually feel-

"Olivia."

I spun around with a gasp which knocked over my pencil case and all of its contents in process. Eddie stood by the entrance of the closet with his jacket and a book in his hand. My eyes darted as briefly as they could over his grey sweater, jeans and a pair of very familiar Timberlands but slightly more haggard. Still had those boots.

I tucked my hair away from my face completely aware my cheeks were burning and bent to pick up my stuff. And so did he. "How long have you been here?" I asked feeling the silence squeezing the life out of my sanity.

"About twenty minutes."

I caught his eye before straightening and placing the case and the pencils on the side. "Okay. Well, class isn't for another twenty-two minutes-" Crying out loud. "-so I'll just wait in my office."

He shook his head. "No, no you won't."

"And why not?" I asked.

"Because I want to talk to you." His lips curved into a smile.

And I want to talk about Chelsea. "Fine, okay. What about?"

His steps toward me didn't go unnoticed. I stood my ground with a tilt to my chin and remained stiff when he leaned around me to put the things from my pencil case onto the table. "I want to talk about a lot of things. Friday first."

I tried my damnedest not to react to his breath brushing against my cheek or the way he suddenly had me caged against the edge of my desk or... The way his nose was now skimming along the side of my neck. No, damn I needed to stay on track he couldn't just- well, he could. And I'd gladly let him because despite the pep talk I gave myself in the shower this morning, I am a weak twenty-six year old female.

I pressed my palms to his chest, the heat of him warming the cotton of the sweater. "What are you doing you said talk."

"I am talking."

"But, Eddie-"

"This is what I wanted to talk about."

I held my breath when his lips brushed the corner of my mouth. Damn, damn, damn him. You know what, why not? What damage could another kiss do apart from dissolve the metal cage surrounding the desire I had for this man?

I released a surrendering sigh as his hand cupped the back of my head and he pressed a lingering kiss to my lips. Eddie tilted my head upward to meet a more thorough, demanding kiss and I relented, allowing my hands to finally - yes! - run up his strong neck into his hair. Despite it being shorter, it still felt softer than silk.

"Hm," He murmured trailing his assault down my neck. "Isn't this better than talking?"

Yes. "No, because I actually did need to talk to you."

"It can wait can't it?"

"No." I shook my head to clear it and leaned away from him. "It's important actually."

"How important could it be?"

Where do I start? He was smirking now, his arms crossing over his chest, that hair now wayward and draping over his forehead.

I stared at him carefully for his reaction as I said, "It's about Chelsea."

And a reaction is what I got. At his daughters name, his face did something I hadn't ever witnessed it do before. It drew its blinds, it shuttered out completely. His bright grey eyes, one moment ago mischievous and lively now dull hard stones.

I cleared my throat. "Here, there and everywhere just like her father."

He blinked and chuckled almost humorlessly at the words. "You saw her at Chase's. Grace always says that."

"Yeah. She is though." I added.

"You met her."

It wasn't a question. "Yes, I did. Twice. I worked out that you were her father after you told me Chase was your uncle." I babbled. He shoved his hands in his pockets but didn't say anything. The hell was wrong with him? "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing."

My eyes narrowed and frowned. "Are you embarrassed of her?"

His eyes softened. "I could never be embarrassed of Chelsea."

"Then why does it feel like me figuring out that you have a daughter is a bad thing." I said slowly.

I was a little confused. Sure, I expected a little shock from him but he looked like he'd been caught in a lie. I almost felt bad for him but then I started to think, why? Why is he this withdrawn about it, was it even a big deal? Not really. I was a little annoyed but seeing that we only had probably thirty seconds before students started to pile in, I decided to defuse whatever reply I had and take a step back.

"Look, I'm not your girlfriend, Eddie. I'm not your lover, I'm not even romantically involved with you so I get it wasn't my business. I know I don't know you all that much but I know you enough to see your a good man, someone who takes pride in their family. And you're not exactly someone that shy's away from telling someone something. I just don't get why you didn't just mention your own daughter." I finished just as a few students started to drift in.

I took a few more steps away from him to sit at the edge of my desk and eyed the way he was watching me as if... I don't know, as if I was about to run away. Who knows why, maybe there really was a reason why he didn't talk about her. He seemed like the doting type.

Class progressed and I stayed as busy as someone could be with a naked man in the centre of the room and by the end I'd left with the students, leaving Eddie to finish getting dressed by himself. I didn't know what else to say to him and I didn't have the mental or physical energy to spar with him so why stay?

**

"I knew something happened between you two." Miranda whispered to me as we pasted a smile for the wedding planner. She continued to explain what-not-to-do on Friday after we walk to the alter and what-to-do. It was Wednesday night, the final wedding rehearsal and we'd been here for a total of two hours re-walking the aisle, reworking the timing, the music, double checking the food orders and the seating arrangements. God, if I ever get married it'll be the smallest wedding ever.

"And you let him kiss you again?"

I dropped my smile when Kerry walked off to talk to Jake and the best man, Brand. "I didn't think. It was barely for a second."

"Clearly. Mr. Marshall has some sort of spell on you Livvy."

"This isn't why I told you." I ground out. "I told you because I want your opinion."

"Fine, fine my opinion." Miranda and I swiftly slipped up the steps behind where the alter would be and sat at one of the couches beside the side exits. "You know, some men don't tell the women they're interested in about their kids because they're afraid it'll scare them off."

"And what stupid men are those?" I snorted.

Randy smirked. "Obviously Eddie."

"Are you kidding? He told me he used to be married, he told me he wants me for Pete's sake why omit the fact he has a four year old daughter?"

"Alright, alright let's go back in time shall we?" She shuffled closer to me and stared ahead as if she really were trying to go back in time. "We're going to just relive your first date and that funny game you both played. He asked about your parents, knows you lived with your mom maybe he thought he doesn't want to burden you with his own divorce story or the custody of his kid. Maybe Debbie really is a bitch in which case you'd owe me money."

I contemplated it for all of ten seconds. "Do you really think that?"

"To be honest it could be anything. Who knows why he married her, who knows why they divorced. They could have got married because she got pregnant which you'd hate anyway because that's exactly what your parents did. Seriously, Liv we could sit here all day and try to hate him or think of reasons to but here's the big two questions to you." My best friend took a breath and faced me. "Do you care about why he didn't tell you? And what would you say to him next time you see him?"

I hated when she talked sense. I pursed my lips and gave her a firm shake of the head. "I don't care. And I'll say nothing."

"I know you well enough to see that him not saying anything about that girl is going to grate on your nerves."

"Then I'll let it grate."

"What about telling him about Debbie?"

"I might not have to. I only have three weeks left to endure of him in class. I'll just have to... arrive just as the kids do and leave as the kids do. I can't do much else than that."

Randy nudged my arm. "What about him kissing you and 'wanting' you?"

I groaned. "We barely know each other, Miranda. I can't just... kiss him and want him back. "

"Well, why not? You're a woman and you both have needs. Plus you're adults! What's wrong with a mutual understanding of scratching ones back?" Her lips twitched into a smile. "Have a think about it, Olivia. And try to think fast." Her troublesome wink reminded me of Mackenzie on Friday night.

Speaking of Mack, I searched the remaining members of the bridal party and spotted her talking to Miranda's cousin. I'd avoided her like the plague these past few days but it didn't look like I could escape her this time. She spotted us and looked to have excused herself from Rachel.

"Does Mack know?"

I shook my head. "No. And I don't plan on telling her either. If all's done here, I think I'll get home. I'm tired, I need to carry on brainstorming a series and to be perfectly honest with you I'm frustrated."

"You and me both sweetie. Jake and I have this weird pact not to have sex a few weeks before the wedding. But," Her squeal made me jump. "I can't believe you're finally going to open your own gallery. I've been waiting for the day."

"You and me both." I sighed, pasting on yet another smile when Mack dropped down beside us. "Having fun?"

"Oh, such a great time. Kerry's such a hoot two days before the wedding."

"Imagine her on Friday." Miranda cringed. "Please, please make sure she doesn't stress me out."

"The point of a maid of honour is so I'm dealing with your stress and you're as cool as a cucumber." I said. "So, anything Kerry will have to complain about on Friday will unfortunately be harboured onto me."

Mack eyed me with one of her smiles before she suddenly stood. "Right. I'm going home. Miranda, I shall see you on the big day and Livvy... I'll see you tomorrow or definitely Friday. Bye girls."

As we watched her say her goodbye's to the rest of the bridal party I turned my confused frown onto Randy. "Have I missed something?"

"Maybe she can't be bothered to quiz you right now I mean, we're all exhausted. Just go, Liv I'll finish up here. Rest up, have fun at work and meet me in the Plaza lobby at nine for check-in."

The excitement in my best friend's eyes had me beaming right back at her. I was excited for her wedding, so excited. I didn't think for a second that I was about to lose her or even Jake. This Friday I could just forget about Eddie, forget about the series I had to think up for January and just let my hair loose a little. Maybe even do something stupid like find a willing male to get rid of the small fire Eddie started.

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Not entirely happy with this but it was a bit of a filler because omg next chapter so excited. Still a little ill but haven't updated this in a while! SO RANDY'S WEDDING! Surely you all know me enough to know that something's gonna happen.

Don't forget to drop a comment.