Sean and Vic approach the hut, hand in hand, both of them smiling. The sharp pang of jealousy takes me by surprise and I push it away with a frown. I’m happy for them. Sean’s been my friend for years. He deserves to find someone who makes him light up like that.
I want it, too. But I don’t want to be envious of my friends to the point where it shows. I plaster on a smile that becomes more genuine when they finally reach me.
Until Vic opens his mouth. “Sooo, you and Charlie?”
I’d glare at Sadie if she wasn’t out cutting a tree down for a customer. “No.”
“What do you mean,no?”Vic cocks his head to the side. “You met him for lunch on Sunday, right?”
“Yep, lunch.Justlunch.”
Both he and Sean look so disappointed, I want to laugh at their faces.
“Not interested?”
“Not interested in having this conversation with you two.” Or anyone.
Vic puts a hand over his heart. “Don’t be like that, Pete. We want you to get your man.”
I glance at Sean. “Has he been reading Hailey’s books again?”
Sean laughs. “Yep.”
That makes me think of Charlie, and I bite back a smile. It’ll only encourage them. “Just friends,” I repeat.
“Fine, fine,” Vic concedes.
“Are you here to pick up a tree?” I ask, wanting to move the conversation along.
“Yeah.” Vic nods at Sean. “He’s going to cut it, not me.”
I reach behind me and hand him a saw. “Need a hand?” I ask, glancing between them.
“Nah, we should be good. As long as Vic doesn’t take ages to pick one.”
“Me?” Vic scoffs. “I’m not the one who’s picky.” He turns to me. “We’ll shout if we need any help.”
“Can’t wait.” I watch them walk off to choose a tree together, trying not to let it bother me. I’ve not got mine yet. I’m usually one of the first to put one up. For one thing, it’s a good advertisement if I have anyone round, and as a family, we’ve always got our trees up early. I always think if I’m going to have a real tree, I want to get the most out of it.
I serve a few people who’ve opted for the pre-cut trees, and I’ve just finished ringing someone up when Vic and Sean reappear, carrying a tree between them.
“Relatively quick for you two,” I call as they get nearer.
Vic laughs. “I bribed him.”
“Yeah. Not sure I want to know.”
They set the tree down and I take the card Sean offers me.
“You seeing Charlie again?”
“Why?” I don’t look up as I take payment.
“Just wondered.”
I hand him back his card and finally glance up to find them both staring at me. “What?”
“You should bring him here,” Sean says, casually enough, but Vic’s smirking.
