Ruby laughed out loud at that. “Maybe they called you Dr. Rash behind your back.”
“Maybe. Want some chips?” he asked, indicating to his box of fries.
Ruby beamed. “You saidchipsinstead offries!”
“Ididgrow up in London. So, will you have some? This is way too much for me.”
Ruby nodded, because how can anyone say no to fries… or chips. He dumped about half his fries on the paper his burger was wrapped in, then slid the box to her.
“Anyway, the reason I’m here…” Ruby said after eating one. “I made a list of holiday activities for us to do with the twins.” She pulled out her color-coded chart. “For the first outing, we can go see the enormous Christmas tree at the Toronto Eaton Centre, then the Christmas windows at the Hudson’sBay department store, which I guarantee will blow their mind. Then we’ll have a meal—lunch or dinner, depending on when we start our day. I don’t know what they like, but all kids love pancakes, and I heard about this all-day brunch place on Baldwin that makes loonie-sized pancakes and serves them in a bowl with fruit and syrup. Then—”
“You have every outing all planned out?” Rashid asked.
“Of course! I’m a planner! I only have the first outing itinerary finalized, though. I brainstormed a bunch of ideas for the other days, but I thought it would be better if all four of us discussed them together. We can do that while we’re eating the small pancakes! I don’t want you to think I’m like an evil taskmaster or anything. This can be collaborative. And I know youthinkyou don’t like holiday things, but there must be something you enjoy that’s holiday or winter themed.”
“I like skating,” he said. He took a big bite of his burger.
Right. He was a hockey fan. Ruby’s brows knitted together. “Oh. Like, on ice?”
He laughed. “Of course, on ice. I play hockey on a rec team in Calgary. I had to drop out this year, though. Because I’m here.”
Ruby bit her lip. “Skating. I mean… it’s not really my thing. Like, I know it’s weird. I’ve lived all over Canada, and I can’t skate, but my parents never made me learn, and I was too nervous when we had school skating days. Like why are humans balancing on these narrow blades on slippery ice… andenjoyingit? Plus, I doubt your nieces can skate, and I don’t want them to get hurt. I mean, I know you’re a doctor, but their mother will be upset about cuts and bruises and—”
“You talk a lot, you know that?” Rashid said, interrupting her. She couldn’t tell if he meantOh, you’re so cute! You talk so much!OrWow, you’re annoying! You talk too much!
Ruby frowned. “I talk when I’m nervous.”
“Why are you nervous?”
So many reasons. She was in a doctor’s office, and she’d had mostly bad experiences in doctor’s offices. She had to impress this completely baffling doctor so he’d tell his father how mature and totally serious Ruby was, and if she failed, then everyone, including Dr. Rash himself, would shake their heads and sayOh, Ruby… she’s always like this, isn’t she?And Ruby would never be anything more than what everyone already thought she was.
Not to mention this confusing man was breathtakingly gorgeous. There was so much to be nervous about—it was no wonder she couldn’t put the brakes on her runaway mouth.
Maybe Dr. Rash found a gram of compassion, because he gave her a sympathetic look then. “You know what, Ruby? Don’t worry about any of this. I know I said yes to your plan to take me and the girls out, but really, it’s not necessary. I can take the girls out on my own.”
She frowned. “You can’t back out. Your sister wants you to have a social life!”
“I don’t have to do what my sister says.”
Ruby exhaled. She’d already annoyed the man so much that he dreaded the thought of spending more time with her. Ruby stood. “Okay. I mean, I’m sorry for… you know. Taking your time. Thanks for the fries.” She didn’t even finish them. And they were good, too.
He stopped her. “Wait, Red, sit back down.”
Ruby turned back to him. “Did you call me Red?”
He nodded. “If you’re going to call me Dr. Rash, then you get a nickname, too. Your name is Ruby, and you’re always wearing that red coat.”
Ruby grinned. “Not always. Just in November and December.” She sat back down and ate a fry.
“Do you really want to take me and the girls out?” he asked. “Or was it just so I would say nice things to my father about you.”
“I mean, yeah, partially that second one, but also…” She shrugged, smiling. “You know, I freaking love this season. If I don’t do these things with you, I probably won’t do them at all. My friends here are all busy. And coupled.” Reena had Nadim, and of course an infant, too. Marley’s boyfriend Nik would be back from LA soon, so Marley would be busy with him. Shayne had Anderson. And Ruby was alone. She knew her friends would come along once or twice if she invited them somewhere, but she’d be a third wheel.
“So, you want to be coupled, too?”
Ruby shook her head. “Like a relationship? No. Who has time for that? But my memories in Toronto, like from before I left the first time, aren’t really great. It would be nice to have some nice memories before I leave it again.”
He stared at her with that frankly bordering-on-unsettling gaze of his. Finally, he shrugged. “Okay, Red. Let’s do it. But I’ll warn you, don’t plan the outings too much. You saw what happened when we tried to do the parade and lunch on the same day. The twins don’t have a lot of stamina. Or patience.”
