Chapter 19 A Feeling of Loss
He was the one to be blamed for my twisted ankle last night...
Mia's shy, sweet smile evoked the hot sights on Amber's mind: on a messy king-size bed, Liam and Mia were enjoying their rough, passionate sex...
Get a grip! Amber shut her eyes to banish these unwelcome images. These are too hardcore for a virgin like her!
When Liam brought the rubber band, Mia was beaming gently while Amber was flushed in abashment. As if the former had teased the latter. What was the matter? He wondered. "Is this one?" Liam gave it directly to Amber.
Without a second look at him, Amber snatched the robber and dashed outwards.
However, tripped up in rush, she almost took a tumble.
"Watch out!" Liam gave her a hand, regarding her eyes shrewdly.
Amber was feeling down, Liam was can sense that.
In a long face, she said thanks icy cold and left in a hurry.
"Liam, what the matter with Miss Currie?" Mia gave Liam a quizzical look.
Liam shrugged.
Hesitating for a while, Mia grinned: "Liam, it seems that she does not like you..."
Ambushed by her observation, Liam paused and pulled an indifferent chuckle "So what? Why should I care?"
Mia scratched the lace on her nigh gown, pulled a smile that doesn't reach her hooded eyes.
So what? If he did not care at all, why the loss in his eyes looked so obvious?
What made the calculated poker faced Liam Croft forget to hide his emotions?
Amber entered the library resentfully. Another shitty day! None of the data in need is accessible. The books she wanted were borrowed by others! How frustrating!
The same question kept popping up on her mind: What are Liam and Mia doing now?
The conclusion: There are so much to do for a loving, unmarried couple after a long separation.
"Hello! May I sit here?" A warm and husky male's voice.
Amber looked around to find a young man, in a dark blue T-shirt and washed jeans, was grinning at her. About 180 cm in height, this bookish, refined man, but for his ordinary clothing, looked exactly like a wealthy silver-spoon kid thanks to his unique elegant air.
"Of course." Amber moved her notebooks on the table.
The man glimpsed at her books and extended his thanks. Then he asked: "Are you a graduate majored in media?"
Looking at the Theory of News Communication on the desk, Amber nodded.
The man put down his bag, took out several books and a cup. Then he started reading.
After a while, Amber found herself was too upset to read. "Let's call it a day." She thought, "The afternoon part-time job is waiting for me. Why not check in earlier?" She started to packing up. The man moved to make room for her. Unfortunately, his arm knocked over the cup and drenched one of Amber's books.
Oh, no! Amber fumbled for her scarf to dry the book.
It was a treasured unique copy borrowed from the library! She could never afford the compensation for damage with her pathetic salary!
The young man, scared by the accident, joined the rescue in a hurry. Sadly, the brown tea had seeped into the yellowish pages and dampened the whole book.
On the verge of tears, Amber desperately kept wiping the book with tissues, trying to recover the loss as far as possible.
The man apologized: "Sorry, it is all my fault. Let me buy you a new one!"
Amber dropped her eyes in dismay: "It is a unique copy out of print, difficult to source."
Pondering for a while, the man took out his phone: "Tell me your phone number. I will contact you as soon as I get one."
Looking at his faded jeans, Amber shook her head: "Forget it. I will solve the problem."
Poor people should support each other!
Seemingly understanding her thought, the man gave her a broad, dimpled grin: "My uncle is proficient at repairing rare books. Rest assured! He will make the book look like a new one again." "Really?" Amber's face lighted up. Terrific!
Obtained her number, the man smiled: "Can you tell me your name, please? My name is Jack Cavendish."