“Right now?”
“In a little while.”
“Yeah, sure, sounds good,” Matt replied with a smile.
“Do you know how to ride a snowmobile?” asked Jules, panicked. She eyed the pressure bandage around Matt’s left wrist. “And what about that?”
“Oh, yeah,” said Chloe, “Sorry about that, Matt. I should have warned you ahead of time that Jules has a history of horse-riding accidents.”
“That’s not fair. Cabo wasn’t my fault, and neither was this. There was a snake.” Jules felt bad enough that Matt had gone horseback riding even though it had scared him—and for her, to make her Christmas special.
“Hey, it’s all good. The wrist is nearly a hundred per cent, and to answer your question,” he turned back to Jules. “No to the snowmobiling, but I’ve got the quad bike, remember, and my motorbike license.”
“He’ll be fine,” added Will. Neither of their assurances did anything to ease Jules’s concerns. Will could be pretty hardcore when he went snowmobiling, He was way too much of a daredevil for her liking.
*
“You’ve ridden before, right?” Chloe asked Archer. She was perched on the couch next to him, her legs tucked underneath her, a mug of tea in one hand and a piece of Christmas cake in the other—her idea of bliss.
“It’s been a while—I had to ride one in A Forgotten Promise—but I suspect it’s a bit like riding a bike.”
“See?” Will asked the room. “We’re all set.”
“You did your own stunts in that?” asked Matt.
“Some of them, but only the ones that wouldn’t kill me if I cocked them up,” Archer replied, grinning.
“I’ve seen that movie, like, four times,” said Matt.
“That’s four more than me,” announced Chloe. She took a bite of cake and when everyone except Archer eyed her incredulously, she spoke with her mouth full. “What?” A quick glance at Archer revealed an amused expression. She swallowed. “My friends seem aghast, Archer. Maybe when you go snowmobiling, I should get started on watching your back catalogue,” she deadpanned.
At that, he threw back his head and laughed heartily. Then he drew her close and gave her a smack of a kiss. “And that, Ms Sims, is one of the many reasons I love you. You will never allow me to wallow in my own importance.”
Chloe shrugged, threw a somewhat smug look at her besties, and went back to her cake. Archer stood. “Right! Snowsuits, I presume?”
“Yeah, whatever you’d wear skiing or snowboarding. Matt, I’ve something you can wear, if you need it.”
“All good, mate. Brought my own.” Chloe caught the surprised look on Jules’s face. Matt clearly did too. “So much you don’t know yet,” he said to Jules. He gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek before leaving with the other guys to get ready. Chloe watched Jules watching him go, a dreamy expression on her face.
She loved seeing two of her closest friends together—Jules, the anti-love poster child, and lovely Matt, who deserved far better than that lying cow of a woman, Kirsten. It wasn’t that she and Ash had conspired as much as hoped that Jules and Matt would like each other. And they did and they are in love and yay, yay, yay.
“You okay, there, Chlo?” asked Jules, eyeing her suspiciously.
“Yep.” She blinked deliberately and fluttered her eyelashes—her I’m-so-innocent look.
Jules plonked down on the couch next to her. “What?”
“Nothing. Just that you guys are sweet together. It’s nice.”
Jules rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, it’s still early days yet. We’re a long way from ‘I love you’, just so we’re clear.”
“Why do you have to do that?”
“Do what?”
“Pretend it’s all just …” She waved her hand in the air and looked to Lucy for backup. A little help, here, Luce, she pleaded with her eyes.
“I think what Chloe’s saying is that we’re happy for you.” Not quite, Lucy.
“Good, ’cause I’m happy for me too,” replied Jules.
“So why play it down?” demanded Chloe.
“I’m not!” Jules hissed, “Geez.” Jules glanced furtively at the doorway.
“Sorry,” Chloe whispered. “Look, the guys are going out. Maybe we should wait ’til they’ve gone to talk properly.”
Jules groaned out a sigh. “Why do we have to talk everything to death?”
“Hey, that’s not fair. I don’t do that. And besides, I still haven’t told Lucy my news yet.”
“Oooh, that’s right,” said Lucy, her anticipation obvious.
Will stuck his head around the doorway. “Hey, we’re heading out. Wanna come see us off?”
“I’m not going outside,” said Chloe. Her hands were only just starting to return to their normal colour. “Will a goodbye from the door do?”
Will grinned at her. “Sure.” He jerked his head. “Come on.”
They sent the guys off on their outing—Will mentioned they’d only be gone a couple of hours—as though they were about to climb Everest or something. They’re only going outside to play in the snow! Chloe thought.
*
The door had been closed approximately three seconds before Lucy blurted out. “Right, Chloe, your news—now.” She marched off towards the living room and when she turned to see that Jules and Chloe were both standing still and staring at her, seemingly dumbstruck, she added, “Well, come on!”
Lucy perched on one end of the sofa and watched the doorway expectantly. It didn’t take long before her best friends joined her, their expressions still bearing the stamp of surprise.
“So, Luce, this is new,” said Jules.
Lucy lifted her chin. “I’m being more assertive and asking for what I want.” Her bravado slipped a little and she nibbled on a thumb nail.
“I like it,” declared Chloe. “It looks good on you.” Chloe’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t believe that, do you?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Don’t worry, it’s only because I know you so well. And, hey, you can practise on us.” Chloe looked at Jules, as if for agreement.
“Oh, yeah, whenever we’re being massive pains in the ass, feel free to rein us in.”
“You mean like when you bicker all the time?”
Chloe and Jules shared a guilty look and burst out laughing. “Yeah, like that, Luce,” said Jules through her
