Page 25 of The Christmas Holiday
I looked up at him, wonderingfor a moment where this was going.
‘I mean, someone new to the place, to the lifestyle – and that’s not a criticism – it was good for me too. I’ve been lucky to travel a lot over the past few years and it’s easy to start taking things for granted. To get a little jaded sometimes. But today was different. Your enthusiasm, the “newness” of everything to you, helped me see it afresh, as thoughI was seeing it through your eyes. I got some great shots that I might not have taken if it hadn’t been for something you said or noticed. Something I might have seen a hundred times and not paid attention to. As much as I was against this whole thing initially, I’m thinking that, if we can put aside the fact we maybe don’t really like each other that much, it could actually be really good, andwe could learn from each other.’
I met his eyes. He was right, he did look exhausted. ‘I’d like that.’
His smile was tired, and soft. ‘Yeah. Me too. And I’m glad you had a good time. I didn’t think Anand was ever going to stop talking. You clearly have a knack.’
I grinned. ‘Honestly, I could have talked to him for hours!’
Hunter laughed. ‘I think the feeling was mutual. Perhapsnext time you’re here you can come back and do a follow-up, how things are going for him, his family, etc.’
‘Oh my God!’ I exclaimed, flicking him on the leg with my phone. ‘That’s such a great idea!’ I tapped in some notes on the page I’d set up in an app specifically for the purpose.
‘You’re welcome.’ Hunter was frowning at me when I looked back up.
‘Oh no. What now?’
He pointedat my phone.
‘What?’
‘You know that’s a really ugly-ass case, don’t you?’
I shrugged. ‘Yours isn’t much different.’
‘Mine’s had to survive mountains, deserts and warzones.’
‘Ever been on the Central line at rush hour? Pretty tough.’
He made a head gesture that went some way to conceding that point. ‘Still… plus, in case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not a girl.’
Oh boy, evenwhen I was pissed off at him, that fact still hit me square between the eyes. Which was really not ideal.
‘Your point being?’
‘You always had great taste in clothes, home stuff, shoes. That…’ he pointed again, ‘doesn’t really go with the whole aesthetic.’
‘Keeping the aesthetic going got expensive. I went through several screens and three phones in two years. Yes, the pretty casesand blingy bits are lovely but sometimes ugly has to win out. I’ve managed to keep this one longer than any so far without breaking it. Why are you laughing?’
‘Because I’d forgotten your occasional tendency towards a lack of coordination. And because most women still wouldn’t concede to carrying something that ugly around. I can just see you opening some glamorous little bag and hauling thatthing out.’ His face was relaxed and I took the joke as it was meant. As a joke shared with me, not automatically assuming it was aimed at me.
‘It’s a conversation starter, that’s for sure.’
He laughed and I smiled at the sound, thoughts suddenly tumbling through my head at the memories it brought back. Turning, I looked out of the window as the car began pulling up the driveway to thehotel.
‘Home sweet home!’ I chirped, a little inanely.
Hunter gave me an amused look. ‘You’ve definitely been awake too long. Get some rest. We’ve got time tomorrow so don’t break your neck trying to get everything written tonight.’ He held his hand up. ‘I’m not telling you how to do your job, I’m just saying. You have time.’
I relaxed my shoulders and took the advice graciously. ‘Thankyou. I’d like to get some of the notes written up but I think letting it filter for a bit might be good too.’
He smiled, stepping out of the car as he did so, transferring the smile to one of the doormen and thanking him.
I did the same, once again admiring their bearing and outfits. As Hunter came around to my side, I nudged him. He looked down.
‘Do you think you could ask if youcould photograph one or two of the doormen? I love the opulence of their uniforms and… I don’t know… is it cheesy to have one of them opening the door to go alongside the beginning of the journal? Like a welcome to our trip kind of thing.’
‘I thought I was in charge of the photos?’ His face was unreadable, and Jeremy’s warning to me after the initial meeting to “try not to piss him off” cameflying back into my brain.
