“And maybe I’m going to where Iwantmy home to be,” she spat out.
He didn’t say anything to that. Just stared at her with that intense gaze that she used to have trouble deciphering. Now she wondered if that look was Rashid upset that the world wasn’t falling into place the way he expected it to.
Ruby took a deep breath. “I’m going, Rashid. In two days, I’m getting on a plane and making my lifelong dream come true. And maybe it’s a good idea to move that end date for our… fling. I think it needs to end right now.”
They were supposed to have two more days together, but she didn’t want to spend those days with someone who didn’t understand why she was going. Who didn’t understand her.
He stood. “Okay. Ruby, I’m sorry I wasn’t completely honest with you. I’m sorry you think I was trying to manipulate you—that wasn’t my intention at all. Most of all, I’m sorry that you still feel that you’re alone in this world, because that’s the furthest thing from the truth. But I am really glad we met and that we had this time together. Even if this is how it’s ending.” He headed toward the door. Ruby didn’t turn to see him go. She was afraid that if she looked at his face even one more time, she would give in. She would stop him from leaving and she would spend the next two days with him. But that would make it even harder to go.
And she was still leaving. There was nothing in the world that would make her change her mind. Not even Dr. Rashid Hakim.
RUBY EMAILED AYESHA THEmoment Rashid left her apartment, writing that she was flattered and thankful for the job offer, but she was still planning to move to the UK. She wrote that if a position in any of the Hakim hotels in the UK should become available, she would be grateful for a chance to interview for it. By that evening Ayesha had written back thanking Ruby and saying no hard feelings and she understood. And that she would definitely look out for a position in the UK for her in the future.
Ruby was glad she could keep busy preparing for her move for the next two days so she could attempt to keep the Hakim family off her mind. She packed and repacked her suitcase a few times. She went shopping to buy all the things that she wasn’t sure she’d be able to get right away in London. She booked a car to get her from the airport to the apartment hotel she’d reserved there. But staying busy wasn’t enough to prevent her from thinking about Rashid and how upside down everything had gone in the last few days.
She didn’t have one moment of regret for turning down the job in Toronto or for ending her relationship with him a few days early. She knew it was the right thing to do. But that didn’tmean she wasn’t devastated. And to add insult to injury, now she had to spend New Year’s Eve alone. Her flight on January first wasn’t until three p.m., but she needed to be out of her apartment on the thirty-first, so Rashid had booked a room in a hotel for their last night together, and then he’d planned to drive her to the airport. But now she was staying at Marley and Shayne’s instead. Marley, Shayne, Nik, and Anderson were all going to some posh party downtown. They invited Ruby, but she was not in a clubbing mood.
It was almost six on New Year’s Eve when Ruby was finally ready to leave her apartment. She called an Uber to take her to Marley and Shayne’s house, grabbing her final mail from the mailbox in the lobby and leaving her keys with security on the way out.
When she got to her cousin’s house, there was no answer. They must have already gone downtown. Ruby unlocked the door using the code they gave her, and immediately after opening the door, she heard a loud “Surprise!”
Ruby’s hand went to her chest when she saw all her friends clapping and cheering in the living room. The strangest thing wasn’t that they were all here when they were supposed to be partying, but theiroutfits. “What are you all… wearing?”
Reena and Nadim appeared to be in Victorian costumes—Reena in a long dark dress with a corset top, Nadim in tan pants tucked into tall boots, along with a pretty good period-appropriate jacket and even a freaking cravat. Anderson was dressed like… maybe the seventies UK punk scene? Biker jacket, no shirt, and lots of chains and spiked hair. It was such a change from how he usually dressed that Ruby wasn’t one hundred percent sureit was actually him. Shayne was easily recognizable as Freddie Mercury from the “I Want to Break Free” music video—pink sleeveless sweater, leather miniskirt, and black thigh-high boots. It worked because he already had a very Freddie Mercury mustache. Marley and Nik were dressed sixties mod—Marley in a psychedelic Twiggy-esque dress, and Nik wearing what looked like a cheap Austin Powers Halloween costume.
“This is your going-away party!” Shayne said. “We’re dressed like the UK!”
Ruby smiled widely. Shayne had even decorated—there was a Union Jack bunting hanging on the wall and a big sign that saidBON VOYAGE, which was French, not English, but it was the thought that counted. “When did you plan all this? Where did you get those clothes?”
“Therearecostume stores in this city, you know,” Shayne said. “And we couldn’t let one of our friends be alone on her last night in Canada.”
“You needed a send-off party!” Reena added.
“But you guys all had New Year’s Eve plans!”
Marley shook her head. “Believe me. Any excuse not to go to an industry party is welcome.”
“We even left Aleem and some pumped milk with my parents!” Reena said. “I made trifle! And scones with clotted cream, and sausage rolls! Come on, we’re going to drink Pimm’s Cups and Beefeater gin. I don’t have to breastfeed tonight!” It sounded like Reena had already started drinking.
This was so sweet of her friends. Ruby had a strong suspicion that this party wasn’t just because she was leaving tomorrow, but also because of the implosion of her relationship withRashid. But this was a much better way to spend her last night in Canada than crying alone with Marley’s cat. She grinned and kicked off her shoes.
“There’s a dress for you upstairs in the spare room,” Shayne said. “I’ll start mixing the cocktails.”
Her friends knew her, so she expected the dress would be an Austen-esque Regency gown, but that’s not what was draped over the bed. It was a Union Jack dress with red boots—a Ginger Spice costume—in Ruby’s size. She changed into it before joining her friends downstairs, ready to celebrate.
Ruby’s going-away party was hilarious. She should have known these guys would do something so extra. After pouring delicious gin martinis, they silly-danced to the Spice Girls, Queen, and the Sex Pistols, then played a goofy UK trivia game before crowding around the coffee table to eat. Reena had tossed off her corset, and Shayne made a pitcher of Pimm’s cocktails for them all to share.
After her argument with Rashid, Ruby hadn’t expected to have any joyful moments before her flight overseas. But her friends banded together to make sure her last night in the city was the definition ofjoy. They even, quite obviously, were staying far away from one topic—the Hakim family—because they didn’t want to upset her more.
“I always forget details before trips like this,” Nadim said. “Passport renewed? Keys turned in? Online check-in done? Mail forwarded?”
Ruby nodded. “I had a five-page checklist. I’m good.” She looked at Marley. “Thanks for letting me forward my mail here. I don’t expect it will be anything but junk. Oh wait, I didn’t look at today’s mail.”
Ruby took out the small stack from her purse that she’d grabbed on her way out. She hadn’t checked her mailbox since Christmas, and as expected, it was all junk—plus Christmas cards from her dentist and her bank. But… “What’s this?” Ruby said, looking at a white envelope from a law office. She was immediately brought back to the last time a lawyer mailed her something unexpected—when she got notice of the trust from her mother. But this wasn’t from the firm that handled her trust.
Could this be…? With shaking hands, Ruby opened the envelope. And then dropped it three seconds later. “Fuck,” she said quietly, her eyes welling with tears.
“What is it?” Marley asked, voice laced with concern.
