Cold as Ice (Willis/Carter #2)(93)

‘I heard her name mentioned in connection with his. They def were not together. I haven’t seen her for a week or two. Who knows? Maybe she’s seeing someone else? She missed her classes.’

‘You care about Christian?’

‘Not care as in love. Just think we’re good together.’

‘A player isn’t he?’

‘Yeah – bad boy – always fall for them. LOL. He isn’t really that bad. He’s a really nice guy underneath.’

‘Have you spent some time with him? Been to his house?’

‘He came to mine.’

‘Why didn’t he take it further?’

‘He hasn’t yet.’

Ebony could see Robbo on webcam giving her the ‘wind it up’ sign. He was telling her that Julie was going to take more time to loosen up. Christian had just come on as available to chat.

‘Got to go now, Julie, Archie’s crying. Glad we had a chat.’

‘And me’.

Christian was waiting to talk to her.

‘You going out tonight?’

‘Yes. Joining Yan and a few others at the Pear and Peach on Holloway Road. Are you coming?’

‘Yeah. I’ll be there. How’s Archie? I heard he had chicken pox.’

Yep, thought Ebony, that’s the power of social media – word gets around.

‘Who told you that?’

‘Yan. He also said to leave you alone. LOL he wants you for himself. Take a photo of Archie’s spots. I want to see if it’s as bad as when Elsie got it.’

‘Okay – will do.’

Ebony was trying to work out if she could get Tina to paint some spots on Archie’s face when she babysat.

‘Christian, can I ask you something?’

‘Ask away.’

‘Are you seeing anyone at the moment?’

‘Nope. I’m young free and definitely single.’

‘Yan mentioned you were seeing someone on the course named Danielle?’

‘Danielle who?’

‘Very funny – the Danielle who’s with you in several photos.’

‘You’ve been checking up on me? ;-)’

‘Not checking, just making sure I know what I’m dealing with. Julie has already staked her claim on you. I don’t want to be in a queue.’

‘No queue. Julie is a bit of a bunny boiler.’

‘She knew about Danielle.’

‘Yeah. I know who you mean but Danielle wasn’t my type.’

Ebony looked across at Robbo on the webcam. ‘I noticed he said “wasn’t?”’ she said to him.

‘Yes interesting,’ he replied. ‘Let me take over the typing for a minute.’

‘So you haven’t seen her?’ Robbo typed.

‘No. I told you. She’s dropped out of the course. I think she’s left. She’s a nice girl but not my type.’

‘Do you have a type?’

‘I like dusky maidens with deadpan expressions who look like they trust no one.’

‘Can’t be many of those around.

‘LOL, tell you what. I’ll be happy to give my medical opinion about Archie. I make home visits. What’s your mobile number?’

Robbo signalled to Ebony to take over again. She typed in her number and then finished the conversation with Christian.

‘What do you think?’ she asked, looking back at Robbo on the webcam.

‘Yeah, he described you quite well. He is bright. Astute. He’s definitely keen. You have to keep it on the simmer, Ebb. There must be no sign of entrapment. Not that I think you’d allow it to go too far anyway.’

‘Absolutely no chance of that. He makes me feel slightly queasy when he comes near me.’

‘Does he make you feel scared?’

‘Not so much. But he’s good at this part – the chase.’

‘Yes. I guess if he is Hawk, he probably has this part of the game off to a tee.’ Ebony’s other phone rang from her bag across the room. ‘You answer that. I’ll take over for you,’ Robbo said, as Ebony got up to answer the call.

It was from the institution where her mother was being held. Ebony listened to the member of staff telling her that she needed to visit more often and that her mother had started self-harming.

Whilst Ebony was on the phone Yan came on to IM and wrote Ebony a note.

‘Still coming tomorrow night? How’s Archie?’

Robbo answered for her.

‘Archie’s not as bad as he could be – a bit miz, but I’ll make it tomorrow – you had a good day? You been talking to Christian about me?

‘Just general chitchat. He’s interested if you are!!! You and Christian? I said he had no chance; he seems to think otherwise. Which is it?’

‘Maybe,’ replied Robbo.

There was a longish gap with no reply.

‘Who’d have thought it?

Ebony finished her phonecall and came back over to her laptop as Yan replied: ‘Shame.’ And signed off.

Ebony looked at the screen and what Robbo had written.

Bugger, she thought. She knew Yan would wonder why she said that. Maybe he’d question whether he’d understood her at all. She was just as shallow as all the others then.