Chloe nodded. “Yes, actually I have met him. And he’s an absolute sweetheart.” Lucy sighed, hoping she was off the hook. This conversation was almost more than her sore head could bear. “But here’s the thing—”
“This is like if there was a Hemsworth living down the hall from you and Ash,” interjected Jules. She lingered on the thought, considering which one she’d prefer, Liam, Chris, or Luke? Liam. Definitely Liam.
“Sure, Jules, but I—” Chloe made a second attempt to explain her current, confusing situation.
“Hold on,” said Lucy, “But how did you meet him? And where?” Lucy had a sudden image of Chloe peeking through the windows of the Tates’s house and stifled a giggle. “You didn’t find out and then go skulking about the village to ‘accidentally’ run into him, did you?” The giggle took hold.
“You will be pleased to know that I did not. It was a complete surprise. It was because of the Christmas Fair …”
Chloe went on to tell her tale, starting with Dierdre’s foot stuck down a rabbit hole and finishing with the Capels’s reunion. Lucy wiped tears from under her eyes with her ring finger and Jules blew her nose loudly.
“Wow,” said Jules quietly, a pang in her chest. Why was everything suddenly signposting how single she was?
“I adore the Capels,” said Lucy with a little sniff.
“Right? I mean, you should have seen that kiss. This is probably going to sound really naïve, but I had no idea older people still, you know … kissed like that.”
Jules nodded sombrely. Even the Capels were madly in love.
“And I think Alan’s right,” said Lucy. “I mean, Archer, sorry, old habits and all that, but right about their story. It would make a wonderful film. ‘Inspired by true events …’” Lucy smiled to herself. She loved a good romance.
“Oh, for sure, and he’s already done a bunch of research,” added Chloe.
“He should interview them,” suggested Lucy. “Especially as Mrs Capel is not likely to remember things for much longer …” She trailed off.
“And, if they’re both eighty-plus …” noted Jules.
“Hmm,” murmured Chloe, the underlying urgency of the situation tugging at her heart.
“So, are you and Archer, like, a thing?” asked Jules. She’d been watching Chloe closely, and was sure there was something going on. She’d never seen Chloe this infatuated before—with a guy, anyway. Chloe did have an almost freakish love of closet organisers and stationery.
Lucy was shocked to see the pinkness rise in Chloe’s cheeks. “You’re blushing,” she declared.
Chloe couldn’t conceal her grin. “He kissed me.”
“Oh, my god!” Jules exclaimed. How awesome was it that her best friend had kissed a Hollywood hottie?
Lucy squealed, ignoring the sharp pain that stabbed her temples. “Chloe, that’s wonderful. Alan’s—Sorry, Archer’s so, so lovely.”
“Yeah, he is. And look, I know it’s only been a couple of days, and it’s definitely surreal at times, but honestly, being kissed like that, Lucy … I’ve never …” She sighed. “Let’s just say, it’s a first for me.” She bit her lip, realising as she said the words, that it was more than just the kiss. The feelings she was having were a first too.
“I’ll tell you what’s a first—you’re practically tongue-tied,” said Lucy. She and Chloe exchanged grins.
Jules watched Lucy’s face, seeing how genuinely delighted she was for Chloe, and felt like crap. Why had she given Lucy such a hard time about Will? She knew why—sort of—but still, Lucy was one of the people dearest to her and it was Christmas. She’d been such a shit, but before she could say anything to make it right, Chloe interjected.
“There’s something else, though,” said Chloe, her good cheer fading. “So, just trust me on this and do exactly what I say, okay?” Jules sat up a little straighter and Lucy nodded solemnly. “I want you to google Archer, then select ‘news’. Go ahead, I’ll wait.”
Chloe watched as her friends’ fingers flew over their respective phone screens. Their twin looks of shock—or was that horror?—landed at almost exactly the same time. “Yep,” declared Chloe. “That. That happened.”
“Oh, my god, Chlo,” Jules exclaimed. She seriously wished she were more sober for this conversation; she was barely able to keep up.
“Oh, Chloe, I’m so sorry. Are you all right?” asked Lucy.
“Thanks, Luce. I’m a little shaken up, to be honest. I mean, Archer came and told me as soon as he knew—this morning, actually.”
“Well, Merry Fricking Christmas, huh, Chlo?” asked Jules rhetorically. “I don’t know what’s worse—your face splashed all over the tabloids or that you don’t even have a name. You’re just ‘mystery woman’.”
“Yeah, thanks for stating the obvious, Jules,” said Chloe with a laugh.
Lucy, damned if she was going to let this conversation devolve back into another quarrel, stepped into the fray. “So, Chloe, what now? Do you think you will continue … uh … things with Al-Archer?”
Chloe sighed. “I’ve been going back and forth all day. He was so lovely this morning, Luce—devasted to have dragged me into all this, just by the very nature of being who he is. And he gave me an out. He told me straight up that he completely understood if I never wanted to see him again.”
“But do you?” asked Lucy. Even with only a few minutes to get used to the idea, she could just imagine Alan—Archer, rather—with Chloe. They would be wonderful together.
Jules was silent, also invested in her friend’s reply.
“I think I want to see him again. I mean, it’s a lot. I’m not going to lie. But he’s so lovely, just a wonderful person. You should see how he is with everyone in the village. He’s …” She sighed. “I think I need to see how things go,” she said simply. She saw Lucy nodding as though she was listening to some unheard music.
“Jules, what do you think?” Chloe asked.
Jules chuckled. “Dude, seriously, it’s Archer Fricking Tate. You
