‘That’s right.’
‘Idiot.’ The professor snorted.
‘So it would seem.’
‘Well, when you’ve come to your senses and realised that money is no substitute for greatness, give me a call. I can always make room for good talent. And I seem to remember you were outstanding. Dr Donovan, where are those drinks?’
‘Professor, the awards are about to start – they’re calling everyone to take their seats.’ Bridget glanced anxiously at the busy bar.
‘Well, bring them straight to the table, then.’
‘Yes, Professor.’
‘He’s still an ardent feminist, I see,’ Cooper muttered as he followed Bridget back into the ballroom. ‘Don’t bother getting him a drink – he’s so off his head he won’t notice.’
They paused inside the entrance as the nominations for the first award were called out to smattered applause. But Bridget wasn’t listening; her eyes were shining again.
‘Cooper.’ She clutched his arm. ‘He offered you a job! You have to call him, like first thing on Monday. Imagine it – the dream team back together. Cooper and Widget, uncovering the secrets of neuroscience one electromagnetic wave at a time.’
She peered into Cooper’s face. It really wasn’t helpful to have her standing so close to him. He could do a whole research study on how the proximity of Bridget Donovan could shut down a somatic nervous system.
‘Why aren’t you excited about this? This is the best possible solution. One, a job. Two, a job working in the same department as me!’
‘And Professor Angus Cole.’
‘Professor Cole loves you!’ She’d lowered her voice to an impassioned whisper, to avoid disturbing the ongoing awards.
Cooper bent his head nearer to hers, only four inches below his six feet thanks to those ridiculous shoes. ‘I don’t particularly love him. Or the way he treats you. Why are you still working there?’
‘Because he’s the best in the Midlands, and, unlike you, I don’t want to move away. My family are here, and that’s worth putting up with an awful boss for.’
‘And Paolo,’ Cooper added, taking the tiniest of steps away, back into the cold and lonely void of not-near-Bridget.
‘And Paolo.’ Her shoulders squirmed a little. Paolo had always been a weird subject between them. After all, what boyfriend wouldn’t be jealous of his girlfriend’s straight, male best friend?
‘Congratulations, by the way.’ He nodded at her left hand.
‘Thanks.’
‘Only an engagement ring? I thought you’d be an old married couple by now.’
‘Well, yeah. Dad’s not been well, so Paolo’s been busy taking care of the shop. And Annie got married last year. We didn’t want to steal her thunder.’
‘Anniegot married!’ He gaped. ‘Now that would have been worth watching.’
‘Well, if you’d stayed in touch, instead of disappearing into a lab never to be seen again, you’d have been invited to the wedding reception. It was every bit as fabulous as she is.’
‘Never to be seen again? I’m here, aren’t I?’
She beamed, clapping for the next prize-winner. ‘Never to be lost again, I hope.’
Oh, Widget. I am so lost…
They watched the proceedings for a few minutes, Cooper simply soaking up the joy of being in Bridget’s orbit.
‘I’m really sorry to hear about your dad. It must be serious if he’s stopped work—’
Then Cooper stopped, the other Donovans forgotten, as his subconscious tuned in to the winner of the next award. Every muscle in his torso went rigid, and there were a decent number of them these days, since he’d finally had time to start running again. There was a thumping of feet and whoops from the IPD table, as Walberg pranced his way onto the stage to collect the award that should have been Cooper’s, if anyone’s, although if truth won the day, it would be nobody’s at all.
