“Sometimes thirdhand. What about my expensive skin care addiction?”
“I never said you were perfect.”
She snorted, then hit him on the arm with a pillow, which made him laugh. She couldn’t believe how much this man laughed—she didn’t know what she was thinking when she thought he was stoic.
“Okay, I’m adding violent to your list of faults,” he said, taking the throw cushion from her. “No one else would put up with either of us this month, please don’t make me take the girls toThe Nutcrackeralone.”
She grinned. “Okay. We can be friends, but no strings,okay? This isn’t so I can get anything from your family.”
He nodded. “Deal. Or rather, no deal. You’ll come to the ballet?”
She nodded. “I’ve always wanted to see it. Ooooh, I know exactly what to wear—I thrifted this red and black boucle coat last month. Very Jackie O. It’s perfect for the ballet.”
“I don’t know what that means, but thank you.”
She nodded. “Hey, I was going to order a poke bowl or salad and watch a movie tonight. Want to join me?”
He stared at her. Oh god, maybe she shouldn’t have offered that? Was she taking this friendship too far?
Finally, he nodded. “Okay, but no dessert. I’m still feeling the blondie and Nanaimo bar. And no Christmas movies.”
She grinned. “Okay on the food, but Ionlywatch Christmas movies in December.” She made a sweet face and batted her lashes a bit. “Pretty please? After we were talking about Dickens, we should watchA Christmas Carol. The Muppets one is one of my all-time favorite movies.”
He raised a brow. “Seriously? I’m not sure I want to experience the Muppets’ take on Dickens.”
“You’ll love it. Trust me. Would I ever disappoint you?”
He laughed. “Why do I get the impression that I won’t ever be able to say no to you in this friendship? Okay, let’s watch the Muppets.”
“OH MY GOD, Ican’t believe Gonzo is Dickens,” Rashid exclaimed after about a minute ofThe Muppet Christmas Carol.
“Believe it,” Ruby said, stirring her spicy salmon poke bowl. “This movie is closer to the source material than most adaptations—just with frogs and pigs.” She was sitting on the floor with her bowl on the coffee table, while Rashid was on the sofa, holding his. They’d ordered from Ruby’s favorite poke place, and Ruby got hers with salad instead of rice. She didn’t want to go anywhere near carbs for the foreseeable future.
“You’re loving this, aren’t you?” she asked twenty minutes into the movie. His eyes were glued to her TV.
“Honestly, if every Christmas movie had Kermit in it, I’d watch them all.”
Ruby grinned. Maybe she should dig up some of the lesser-known Muppets Christmas movies. After a few more minutes, she joined Rashid on the couch. Her butt was starting to hurt on her hardwood.
“Young Ebenezer is hot,” Ruby said after the scene whenyoung Scrooge told his fiancée that they’d have to put off their wedding because he needed to make more money first.
“When you called me that, did you really think I was as bad as Scrooge?” Rashid asked.
Ruby frowned. She’d never actually thought Rashid was a Scrooge. He was smart with his money, but he was far from miserly. The number of gifts he bought at the craft sale today was proof of that. “No, you’re not cheap. You bought me a necklace for no reason.” Then she remembered Jasmine telling her that his last ex dumped him because he wouldn’t propose. Was this scene hitting close to home for Rashid?
“I didn’t buy you the necklace for no reason. You’re a friend, and you liked it.”
She shrugged. “You’re generous. I’m sorry I called you Ebenezer. It was the first person I thought of who hates Christmas. You’re really more of a Grinch than a Scrooge.”
He frowned. “I’m not sure that’s much of an improvement.”
Ruby nodded emphatically. “It is. Believe me—I’d much prefer you to be covered with green fur than turn into a crabby old white man. A crabby old man infinance, too! I swore off finance bros a long time ago.”
They watched silently while they finished eating. Rashid laughed at the funny bits and was appropriately somber at the sad bits.
After the Ghost of Christmas Future showed Scrooge Miss Piggy and Kermit mourning Tiny Tim’s death, Rashid didn’t exactly shed a tear, but his expression told her he was moved. Ruby had tears flowing, though. She always did for this scene. “Michael Caine is acting the hell out of this role,” Rashid said.“How is he keeping a straight face talking to literal puppets? He’s crying over a dead frog! I’m practically crying over a dead frog!”
“I told you you’d like this movie.”
