Page 39 of Home to Christmas Island
Alistair has this look on his face that I know means trouble. I try not to outwardly groan. I feel outnumbered with these two, especially if they’re both in a teasing mood.
Well, I’ve been hearing about her for years, of course, he says, smirking at me and sharing a knowing look with my uncle. So, I wasn’t at all surprised when the woman I pulled over for stunting was the one and only Florence MacLeod.
Stunting? Uncle Albie whips his head to me, his eyes wide. Shaking his head, he asks in an exasperated tone, Do you never learn Flora? How many times have you been pulled over now? I try to smile innocently. Alistair raises his eyebrows at this new information, but continues.
I knew based on the stories that she had a reputation for getting into trouble, but I was pretty shocked by how fast she was going. Speeding is one thing, but stunting is another. I was also surprised by how beautiful she was—people in Cape Breton definitely undersold her there. I try not to blush at the compliment as Alistair continues.
And I’d heard she was incredibly charming too. I worried if she got a word in I wouldn’t be able to give her a ticket, which she really needed—I had to get the point across that there is such a thing as going too fast. He gives me a serious look that I know is playful underneath, and the eye contact alone makes it feel like fireflies are dancing in my belly. So I had to race through my words before she had time to try and talk me out of it.
Uncle Albie is howling at this. I’m a little speechless. I also can’t tell if Alistair is kidding or not. He was so serious that first day, constantly interrupting every time I tried to speak. It’s strange to think he was working so hard not to get swept up by me. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Oh, she can charm the pants off anyone, our Flora, Uncle Albie bellows. He claps Alistair on the shoulder. You were smart to get yourself to safety, boy.
Hey! I say, finally snapping out of my daze as I realize these two are laughing at my expense a bit too much. I point at Alistair, who immediately puts his hands up as if to display his innocence. He gave your dearest niece an extortionate ticket while she was rushing home to see you. You don’t take any issue with that?
Uncle Albie only laughs harder, then pats my hand. No, no, darling girl, it’s time you finally got a ticket after getting pulled over so many times.
The three of us go on like this for some time, before Uncle Albie goes off to say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Denny. Alistair and I are alone again, but I wish we weren’t in a room full of people we knew. I wish we were alone at a bar, or better yet alone alone.
I can’t stop myself from asking about the day we first met.
What did you mean by—
I meant what I said, Alistair cuts in, his tone no-nonsense but somehow gentle at the same time. All of it. That level of speeding is dangerous, Flora, and it made you seem more reckless than even what I’d heard. He moves a piece of my hair over my shoulder before he continues. The move is so affectionate something in my chest comes rearing to life so quickly it makes me feel dizzy.
I don’t think that now, of course, but at the time it definitely made me question whether you were someone I needed to keep an eye on. But I couldn’t help noticing you, too. I was curious after hearing so much about you, but I was also working when we met. I didn’t want to do or say anything I’d regret, especially not while I was on the job. I also didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. So I did have to rush our conversation a bit. He chuckles at that last sentence, his eyes patiently waiting for my reaction to what he’s said.
And I thought you were a total jackass, I say, trying to be funny, but it comes out a little breathless.
He scoffs, leaning down to whisper in my ear, Liar.
Goosebumps shoot across my arms, and I know it’s not the temperature—it’s a million degrees in this crammed room with the fireplace blazing.
Alistair says, his voice still quiet in a way that makes his accent rougher, I wasn’t supposed to be working that day, you know. It was one of my days off, but someone was sick, and I was happy for the overtime. He shrugs, and I notice his eyes drift down to my mouth. I’m really, really glad I took that shift.
I realize in an instant that I’m desperate for him to kiss me. Actually, I want to kiss him. I frantically rack my brain for mistletoe. Did we put any up in here? I don’t think we did, but I’m not going to be able to kiss him with all these people from Christmas Island watching us anyway.
Again, I’ve gone too long without speaking, my eyes unable to pull away from his lips. But Alistair only watches me, a patient smile dancing on his stupid, smirking mouth. He moves that same piece of hair, which has fallen forward again, back behind my ear. I wonder if I’m standing too close to the fireplace and if I’ve suddenly burst into flames without realizing it.
What are you thinking about, ‘Just Florence?’ The tenor of his voice almost makes my knees buckle.
You, you, you. Dragging you out of this room and back to Alba’s house.
He laughs softly before saying quietly, his eyes darting between the blush on my cheeks and my lips, Do you want to go outside and get some air? You seem very flushed. He puts the back of his hand to my forehead, still smirking, and my eyes flutter closed involuntarily.
His voice is short-circuiting my brain and the words are once again tumbling out of my mouth before I think them through.
Are you going to kiss me? I half-whisper, half-choke out and I immediately want to jump off a bridge. What the hell is wrong with me? But that kind of directness never bothers Alistair. That’s how he’s wired.
Only one way to find out, he says, putting his drink on the table before heading out the door.
I follow him outside into the cold.
Chapter 17
THE NEXT NIGHT, ALBA, ROSE, and I are snuggled up on the couch, checking off the final item on our Countdown Catalogue: watching I’ll Be Home for Christmas on Christmas Eve. We’re wearing matching pairs of pink pajamas, patterned with bright green trees and red candy canes. Rose bought them for us, and I was honestly touched. It’s been a gift seeing her get into our family traditions with Alba and I, while blending in some of her own. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my cousin wear pink, but it suits her.
Alba shivers next to me. Man, it’s like an emotional echo or something. I can still remember feeling exactly the way I did when I watched this movie as a teenager. Does that make sense?
