Page 24 of Hope and Hot Chocolate on Mistletoe Lane

‘You mean…’ She turned back to me in shock. ‘Is that Holly?’

Rach had been at school with us, although she was a couple of years younger. She’d asked me once if Holly and I had been a couple and had seemed relieved when I’d told her we’d never even kissed.

‘That’s right. She’s working at Birch Tree Farm for Christmas.’

‘Well, okay, maybe next time then?’ Rach looked hopeful but I wasn’t sure why; she had been the one to end things.

‘Maybe,’ I replied, unsure what good it would do either of us. I waved goodbye and carried on skating for the rest of my session. When I finished, I changed back into my trainers and found Holly heading for the bar.

‘What drink can I get you to help you forget the tough week?’ I asked, joining her.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said, ignoring my question. ‘In the car… I’m sorry.’ She reached for my arm and gave it one gentle squeeze.

I was startled by the sudden touch. ‘It’s fine. Maybe you’re right. We don’t know each other any more.’

‘No,’ she said quickly. ‘You were right about me and my mum, and that’s why I got so annoyed. You do still know me and that’s scary.’

I looked into her green eyes, behind those cute glasses, and suddenly wanted to erase all her fears forever.

‘Hey, guys.’

We both jumped as Elliot appeared beside us and we broke our eye contact. I had a funny feeling that we were both relieved he had come over.

18

PAUL

My worlds had collided.

Drinking with Elliot and Lewis like I’d done for the past few years on a Saturday night but now Holly was with us. We sat in the bar that overlooked the rink, music in the background, a lively weekend atmosphere around us as all four of us drank a beer.

‘So, has our Paul changed much since you last saw him?’ Elliot asked.

Holly’s red lips parted in a smile as she cradled her beer. She had removed her jacket and wore a red jumper that matched her lipstick, finishing the look with jeans and boots. I tried not to think that she looked cute but it was impossible not to. A few men dropped glances in her direction so I knew I wasn’t the only one who’d noticed. ‘He was always annoyed he didn’t have much facial hair so that’s definitely changed,’ she joked.

I thought about what Willow, Daisy and Sabrina had said in the café about Holly preferring men who didn’t have a beard. I wondered what Holly’s exes had looked like.

‘But this hasn’t changed…’ She reached out to tug the edge of my beanie.

‘He wore them back then?’ Elliot asked, shaking his head. He was always telling me they were not at all fashionable, as if I cared about that.

‘I have a confession – they are my fault,’ Holly said, holding her hands up in defence. ‘I bought Paul his first one.’

‘Holly!’ Elliot and Lewis cried out while she giggled.

‘I feel naked without one,’ I said with a shrug, wondering if she remembered telling me that I looked cute in the one she’d got me for my birthday. I’d kept on wearing it until it became part of me. I suppose like Holly had become part of me. I took a long gulp of beer and told myself to stop getting soppy.

‘They suit you,’ Holly said quietly.

‘Has Holly changed?’ Lewis asked me then.

‘She didn’t wear glasses,’ I said. ‘But she always towered over the rest of the girls at school.’

‘They used to call me Holly-Long-Legs,’ she added with an eye roll. She touched her glasses. ‘My eyesight got worse after university. I can’t bear to put contacts in.’

‘They suit you,’ I told her.

She smiled. ‘Yeah?’ She sipped her beer as Elliot told us a story about how he was teased at school for liking a cheesy pop band. ‘Kids can be cruel,’ Holly told him. ‘They were just jealous of your good taste, I bet.’