“I’m hoping this time it will.” Ah, fuck it, there’s only one way to say it. “I don’t want to be friends anymore.”
The car swerves towards the verge before Pete straightens it out, and okay,maybeI should’ve waited until we were parked. “What?” He doesn’t look at me this time, but his jaw clenches and his fingers tighten around the steering wheel.
In retrospect, that wasn’t the way.
“I want more kissing, more touching,” I clarify. “Justmore.”
He swallows thickly. I watch his throat, already imagining tracing that heavily stubbled jaw with my lips and my tongue.
“If that’s something you’d be interested in?” I hold my breath, hoping I haven’t just made this the world’s most awkward car ride. We’ve still got a tree to pick out and decorate. Fuck’s sake, I so should’ve waited until later. If he says no, it’ll?—
“Yes.” He licks his lips, and I follow that movement too. “You leave in five days.”
“I do.”
So what happens after that?
He doesn’t ask it, and neither do I.
I don’t want to think about leaving when I’ve got five days and nightshere.
With Pete.
He nods. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
The look he sends me next is so filthy I melt into the seat. “Let’s go pick a tree and take it home.”
I’m tempted to ask him to turn around and go back now, but when I look out the windscreen, we’re pulling into the car park of his Christmas tree farm. “Are we still decorating it today?” I ask, my voice rough like gravel.
As much as I love dressing a tree, it is the absolute last thing on my mind right now.
He smirks as he turns off the engine. “Maybe later. Much,muchlater.”
Right, then.
Let’s go pick a fucking tree.
“Stop right there,”Pete’s sister yells as we enter what he calls the office. I recognise her from New Year’s Eve.
The office is more like a fancy shed, but it obviously has heating, and a I spotted a Portaloo out the back.
“What?”
She jabs her finger up at the doorjamb above Pete’s head. “You know the rules, Harbrook.”
We both look up.
A hearty sprig of mistletoe hangs above our heads.
“When did that appear.” Pete narrows his eyes. “It wasn’t there when I left last night.”
Sadie shrugs, feigning innocence. “You must’ve missed it.”
“Mhmm.” He glances back at the car park. The office has a great view of all the cars arriving. “You saw us pull in, didn’t you?”
She shrugs. “I have no idea what you mean.” Then she turns to me and smiles. “Don’t worry, you don’t have to kiss him. I’ll take one for the team.” Before I can react, she plants a wet smacking kiss on Pete’s cheek. “There you go, bad luck averted.”
