But his words felt like a punch to her heart.
Ruby took a deep breath, looking at that stupidly handsome face. “Don’t tell me that I’m not allowed to feel joy because it’s not my holiday. Do you even hear how exclusionary that is? I was born and raised in this city. And if the whole city wants to celebrate a holiday for an entire season, then itisfor me, just as much as it’s for anyone else who wants to celebrate it. And my memories of the holidayareabout tradition and joy, not commercialism. I came to the Santa Claus Parade every year with my mother when I was young. And we went to see those windows, too. My mother was a seamstress, and my father’s a mechanic. We certainly couldn’t afford to shop at the Bay or buy American Girl dolls. But those windows and the parade are foreveryone. They are for the self-righteous privileged people like you as much as they are for people who can’t afford the fancy clothes and toys those stores sell. And I’m not going to let anyone, let alone adoctor, take the joy from those memories from me.”
Ruby unbuckled her seat belt and opened the door to the damn Volvo. Rashid’s eyes were wide, like a deer caught in the headlights. And because Ruby was Ruby, she kept talking. “My motherdiedwhen I was twenty. I didn’t have a father or an uncle who cared enough about me to continue our traditions when she was gone. So, no, this holiday isn’t about family for me anymore. Because I may as well not have one.” Her voice cracked. “But itisabout joy. Joy, and that cozy feeling I get when I eat gingerbread, hear Christmas songs, and see children enjoying the season as much as I used to—there is no way I’m going to let a cynical grump take that joy away from me. Goodbye, Rashid. I won’t torture you with any more holiday happiness.”
She got out of the car and closed the door without even looking back. Screw him. Let him tell his father all about the immature, holiday-brainwashed woman who was coming to England and wanted to work in one of the family hotels. She’d survived this long without anyone supporting her, and she could continue to survive without the Hakim family’s help.
RUBY’S PHONE LIT UPwith a text about an hour after she got home from that outing with Dr. Rash. It was the Shayne Freaking Loves Olives group chat.
Reena:Ruby! How did the first date with the doctor go?
Ruby:It wasn’t a date. And that man is an insufferable codpiece.
Nadim:Oh no! Ayesha always said she had the best brother in the world!
Shayne:Oooh, Ruby’s bringing out the UK insults. What exactly happened? Spill the British tea! First tell us what you wore!
Ruby smiled. It felt good to debrief with friends after that mess. She wrote it all out, from her outfit to the tree, the windows, and, finally, his Scrooge rant at the end of the night.
Anderson:He does sound insufferable. I hate antiestablishment rich bros.
Marley:That’s not antiestablishment. That’s just rude.
Reena:Nadim, why are your people like that?
Nadim:How is he my people? I’m not a codpiece, am I?
Reena:No, but you’re a rich British dude.
Nadim:The guy lives in Calgary. I’m not claiming him as one of my own.
Shayne:For your next outing, pick something less commercial. Go thrifting or something.
Ruby:We’re not going out again. He’s a twat. I’ll figure out another way to get a hotel job in England.
Ruby was much too busy the next day to worry about the insufferable dermatologist. It was a Friday, and the store was the busiest it had been since the pop-up opened at the beginning ofNovember. And she knew it would be getting even busier every day until Christmas.
Past the time when she was supposed to leave, Ruby was still gift wrapping a big pile of cosmetic sets for a lawyer who was buying gifts for her entire office when Jenisha came up to her at the gift-wrap counter. The customer was at the other end of the store, picking out even more sets to add to the pile.
“You’re not supposed to be here anymore. Let me take over. Your skin doctor is here,” Jenisha said.
Ruby scowled and looked up, and sure enough, Rashid was near the entrance, holding a couple of pink cups from Sophie’s Café. He really was like a bad rash she couldn’t get rid of. “He’s notmydoctor.”
“Well, he’sadoctor, and he’s certainly not here to see me. Sexy doctors never wander in for me. Clearly, I’m doing something wrong with my life.”
Ruby wasn’t sure he was here to see her, either. After she told him off last night, she figured he wouldn’t want anything to do with her. Or at least he would have gotten the hint that she didn’t want anything to do with him.
He noticed her then, and those intense eyes locked with her for a moment before he started walking toward her. She sighed and handed Jenisha the next makeup set to wrap, then walked around the counter to meet him.
His fitted charcoal pants, dark green shirt, and wool overcoat was a look. A look that would normally be exactly Ruby’s type. Too bad his insides were nothing like his outsides.
“This is for you,” he said, handing one of the cups to her.
She did not take it. She raised a brow.
“It’s a new drink they had—sticky toffee pudding latte.”
Oh. Well, that sounded delightful. She took it and was hit with the aroma of ginger, cinnamon, and rich caramel. “Why are you here, and why are you bribing me with beverages?”
