Page 67 of One Night With You

29

Ruby

‘Hey,’ says Harry, as I climb into his car. Harry is driving us to the station, and we’re on the 2 p.m. train to London Euston with William and JP, who’ll meet us there. The Eurostar leaves from St Pancras, so to break up the travel we’re in the hotel opposite there tonight, and France-bound tomorrow. Within twenty-four hours, we’ll be at Amelie’s house and JP will finally, after all these years and all this excitement, be laying eyes on his girl.

I am beside myself – and mildly exhausted. Nic and I didn’t get much sleep last night. It was such a thoughtful and fun date, and we chatted so easily, had sex all night … I’m officially smitten. Absolutely, two hundred per cent, no-way-back-now smitten. I believe in love again! Me and Nic! JP and Amelie! Harry and his secret lover, Beau – whenever he’s ready to talk about it! The breeze feels softer. The sun seems sexier. Smells are more potent. Life is good and happiness can be real. Would I have allowed myself to let Nic in if itweren’t for JP shining a light into my dark fears? Honestly, I don’t think so. Which is why it is so incredible to me that we can bring his magic to as many people as possible. I buckle my seatbelt and accept the coffee Harry has brought for me. Did coffee always taste this good? Ahhhh.

We drive in companionable silence, the radio on, and for the tenth time I reread the text message Nic sent after he’d left this morning.

Fuck me, Ruby,

Last night was exquisite,

Your tits, your arse and your mouth.

But more than that

It’s everything about you,

Your kindness, your humour, your laugh.

I hope Paris is great,

JP’s story gets a conclusion.

But for you and me, baby,

We’re just beginning,

(About that

Let’s have no confusion) xxx

‘Jesus,’ Harry teases as we hit some traffic. ‘I can practically smell the shagging beating off of you. Yesterday was that good, huh?’

‘I don’t mean to sound smug,’ I tell him, not really meaning it, ‘but the whole day was that good. Falling in lust, pal – there’s no feeling like it.’

‘You’re going to be insufferable for this whole trip, aren’t you?’

‘Most likely,’ I sing-song. ‘If I’m going to be honest. Yes.’

I plan to linger in this part as dreamily as possible. Real life can be hard, and so when the magic happens I feel like it’s my duty to pay attention and savour it. Savour this all I will.

We meet JP and William and climb aboard the train. We’ve decided that Harry will film anything we deem pertinent, so I’m likely to end up on camera as conversations naturally weave in and out of talking about the purpose of the trip. I check my reflection in the selfie camera of my phone, just in case. I’m flushed and my eyes are bright, even if I do look tired. I put on some tinted lip gloss, rubbing some into my cheeks for good measure to perk myself up. It’ll have to do.

As a group we’ve got nervous energy, all of us tapping our fingers or crossing and recrossing our legs, unable to settle. Well, except for JP – who has nodded off beside me. I keep picking up my phone, even though I know Nic won’t have messaged because I haven’t replied to him yet. I didn’t know what to say. It was all said last night. And this morning. In the end I settle on:I really fancy you.That’s it. No kiss, but straight facts. I can see immediately that he’s seen it, with aread: 2:01pmcoming up underneath it. He sends back a smiling emoji.

I idly check my email as well, and my heart leaps when I see one from our supervisor.

‘Has Janet emailed you too?’ I ask Harry, not looking up from my screen.

‘Hmm?’ he says. He’s scrolling his own phone, not really hearing me.

I scan the contents of the message quickly, answering my own question when I see Harry cc-ed in and addressed at the top.

‘Mystery solved,’ I say. ‘It’s to both of us.’ Harry finally looks up. I read it out loud. ‘Hi Ruby, Hi Harry. I’m emailing because you’re being spoken of very favourably amongst the staff. Just wanted to lend my voice to say the application with which you’re pursuing your studies is admirable, and we areall very proud to have you in the department. Good luck in Paris! Janet.’

‘Oh,’ says Harry, waving down the buffet trolley person for a drink and some crisps. ‘Well, that’s unexpectedly nice.’

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