Page 65 of Christmas in Mistletoe
Ruby eyed Fran. “Once or twice.”
“The courtyard looked busy. How’s business?”
Ruby went with it, although business wasn’t at the forefront of her mind. “We’ve had a good week. We’re expecting a big crowd for tonight, too.”
“It’s why I’m here. I told you I’d try my hardest.”
“I’d resigned myself to younotcoming after I heard about the trains. You said you drove?”
Fran looked down and dug her hands into her pockets, before catching Ruby’s gaze.
The way the sunlight caught Fran’s face and hair through the trees was stunning. Fran was so beautiful. Why hadn’t Ruby told her yet? Why hadn’t they touched? Because they were still sussing each other out.
“Delilah lent me her car and I drove over.” Fran sucked on her top lip.
Delilah. There was that name again. Ruby’s defences rose. She pulled her shoulders back. “I need to cut down one more tree. You want to jump on the bike and do it with me?”
Ruby didn’t want to dwell on Fran’s words. Actions would make them go away.
Fran nodded. “Love to.”
Ruby put on her helmet and jumped on the bike, waiting for Fran to do the same.
When Fran’s body cosied up to Ruby and her arms wound around Ruby’s waist, Ruby could hardly breathe. It had only been five days since they saw each other, but it felt like longer. So much had gone on since then. Fran had lived a whole other life with a pop superstar. Ruby couldn’t match up to that. Ruby had no idea ifshewas who Fran still wanted.
However, having Fran’s arms around her feltexactlyright. Like this is where Fran should have been the whole time.
Delilah wasn’t going anywhere. Come January, London would be where they all lived. There had to be room for all three of them in such a vast city.
Ruby fired up the bike and turned to Fran. “Hold on tight!” she shouted over the engine noise.
Fran nodded, then clutched her tighter.
Ruby concentrated on driving, but it wasn’t easy.
They rode down the line of trees, colour-coded with orange tags that meant they weren’t going to be chopped for another two years. Ruby had a dream to have a house big enough to fit a ten-foot tree one day. She wanted to put it in her hallway so everyone could comment on her tree from Mistletoe Farm.
Ruby pulled up at the next tree to chop, and waited for Fran to jump off. Ruby grabbed the chainsaw from the back and flipped her visor.
Fran took off her helmet and shook her blond hair.
Ruby wanted to reach out and touch it. “You want to chop down a tree?”
Fran wrinkled her brow and shook her head. “I’ll leave that to the experts.” She paused. “But I have to say, a chainsaw suits you. You wield it well.”
If that’s what Fran thought, Ruby was going to put on a show. One that told Fran she was a better bet than Delilah — even though she couldn’t give her a car, or any other riches. Ruby fired up the chainsaw and approached the bottom of the tree. She cut at an angle, and within minutes, there was a dull thud as the tree hit the ground. Ruby put the chainsaw back on the bike, then took off her helmet. “Was it as good as you’d hoped?”
Fran smiled. “It was better.”
Ruby wanted to say something cool and effortless in reply, but nothing came to mind. There was an awkwardness to their speech and movements, as if they’d never met before. They were laboured. Ruby was desperate for something to ease the gears and for them to click again, but it wasn’t coming easy.
“How did the gig go last night?” Ruby decided to stick to safe ground with Fran. Work.
Fran nodded. “The girls overcame their nerves and did a great job. Delilah helped out, too.” Fran winced. “Sorry, I seem to be mentioning her name a lot, but she’s been around a fair bit this week. She’s been really helpful with the band, and lending me her car.”
Ruby ground her teeth together. It was still a little hard to swallow. “You worked out your differences with her? I saw the photos of you.”
Fran gave her a steady stare. “As I told you, it was just dinner with a friend. She’s going to come out to her parents over Christmas, so it’s a big deal. I think the thought of losing her current relationship spurred her into action. She knows she fucked up with me.” Fran’s gaze never wavered. “But we’re in the past. I’m looking to the future now and I hope you’re in it.”
