“Look, Hol.” Ruby could tell I was dwelling. I always ate crisps when I was overthinking. “You know I just want you to be happy. He just better not be an idiot this time.” She waved her hands over the mystic pebbles, murmuring something about “Kit Kats” and “personality transplant.”

This time. Yes. Ruby was right! There was going to be a this time. And despite her wanting me to think twice (well, fifty-two-th), suddenly it felt real. Brilliantly, sickeningly real. Like Christmas Eve, but even better.

Woody and I were going to get back together. Have our second magical Christmas. Then travel the world. Open the world’s first Shetland pony café.

Probably.

But I didn’t just want me to have the perfect Christmas—I wanted Fred and Ruby to have theirs too. Although…maybe that was the perfect thing to put Ruby’s newfound mystical skills to work for? “Rubes, while you’re busy channeling good stuff, could you manifest a replacement for…Eve?”

Eve was Fred’s ex whom he never got over. It had been three and a half years since they’d split up, and Ruby and I were at the point of wondering when an ex became just “someone from a long time ago,” but we didn’t want to rush him.

“Too soon, Hol.” Fred pretended to sniff. “The only girl I’ll ever love…and she left me to pursue her dreams.”

“Fred.” Ruby dropped her hands. “She left you because you were twelve and she wanted to spend more time at Guides.”

He clutched his heart. “The wound is still raw.” He sniffed again. “Anyway, what about you, Rubes? Who’s on your Christmas list?”

“Nah,” is all Ruby said. Subject closed, even though Fred and I knew Ruby only had eyes for one person—Temi. Temi, who she’d met back in September at the panto audition. Temi, who she’d stayed in touch with ever since. Who clearly liked Ruby as much as Ruby liked her. But neither of them had done anything about it. Yet.

“Fine.” There was no point trying to make Ruby talk about her feelings, I’d been trying for years, and all I ever found out was I’d made her feel annoyed. “In that case, ask Fred’s path to ask the universe to hurry up and call about the panto.”

She made a sort of whimper. Nervous Ruby was a side we hardly ever saw. “Can we talk about something else?” But I did have something I could distract her with. “HOW COULD I FORGET THE ACTUAL NEWS?!” I opened @OneElleOfATime’s feed. “Look, Rubes…” Ruby squinted at the picture of Little Marsh, all covered in snow. “We’re basically famous.”

Fred peered over my shoulder. “Remind me who @OneElleOfATime is again? And why she’s posting about Little Marsh?” He’d have more of a clue if he had a single social media account.