“I think it was you nearly dropping that plate of biscuits at the door and not letting me into my childhood home that did it for me,” he teased. Her mouth dropped open to form an O in mock-indignation and she swatted him playfully. “You thought I hadn’t noticed.” Chloe pinned him with a hard stare and quietly growled.

Amusement danced across Archer’s face, then his expression softened, and Chloe’s breath caught. “I definitely noticed, Chloe. I’ve noticed everything about you since we met. You’re a wonder to me.” His eyes glossed with a sheen of tears.

“I love you,” he said simply.

“I love you too,” she replied.

They skipped dinner out, instead nibbling from the cold plates of room-service food. Chloe couldn’t remember enjoying a meal more.

Chapter 28

Lucy

The next morning’s eruption of activity reminded Lucy of the opening scene in Home Alone—the one where they’ve overslept and have to get two sets of parents and all those children to the airport in less than forty-five minutes. She tried to stay out of the way as seven family members packed up and got ready to depart the cabin, retreating to her room after breakfast to start working on her email to Angela.

There was so much commotion, especially from the cousins as they gathered their belongings and Christmas presents from various corners of the cabin, that Lucy barely registered that Will was gone for most of the morning. He’d returned by the time Steph called her downstairs to say goodbye to Jackie and her brood.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Bridget said to her quietly, “but I sent you a friend request on Facebook.” The hopeful look on her face sent a wave of affection through Lucy, but before she could reply, Bridget added, “But you don’t have to accept it or anything.”

“Oh, I absolutely will.” They shared a smile and Lucy saw the colour creep up Bridget’s cheeks before she reached down to give her a hug. She wished that she’d had an older friend when she was Bridget’s age, someone who saw the world through a similar lens, someone who understood what it was like to be introverted and awkward.

When the door closed behind Jackie, Bob and their three children, there was almost a collective sigh. “We’ll be out of your hair soon, too,” said Steph. Lucy wanted to protest that she was in no hurry for Steph and Joe to leave but worried it would come across as trite. Besides, it was only partially true.

She returned to her room and opened up her laptop to read over her draft email to Angela. There was a gentle knock on the doorframe and when Lucy looked up, Will was filling most of it. His hair was messy as though he’d just pulled his beanie off. It made him look especially handsome, she thought.

“Hey,” he said, “can I come in?”

“Of course.” She closed the laptop and made room for him on the bed, clearing away a notepad and pen and smoothing the duvet.