“Damned straight, and don’t you forget it.”

“How could I? Especially with you to constantly remind me.” She scrunched her nose at him and they grinned. “There is just one more thing.” She looked at him curiously. “How can I ever make this up to you, all this palaver. Please tell me there’s something I can do, something special.”

Chloe’s eyes narrowed and her lips curled into a smile. “Actually, there is something. It’s kind of a big ask though.”

“Anything,” he replied, and she knew he meant it.

“Well, I have an idea. It’s about New Year’s …”

Chapter 33

“Will! Will! A car’s pulled up.”

Lucy ran down the staircase to the foyer and, not stopping to put on her coat, shot out the front door, down the steps, and onto the driveway of the Colorado cabin.

She bounced on her toes as the large, black four-wheel-drive pulled to a stop. Will appeared beside her, slinging an arm around her shoulders. Car doors opened and within moments, there were squeals of delight, hugs, and handshakes.

Lucy wrapped her arms around her best friends, and they enveloped her in a three-way hug. “I can’t believe you’re here,” she said, her voice muffled against Jules’s shoulder. When they broke from their hug, Chloe stepped away to talk to Will and Jules stood rooted to the spot, staring at her intently.

“Are we good, Luce? I mean, really?”

Lucy grabbed Jules’s hand and squeezed tightly. “We’re good, Jules, I promise.”

Jules hugged her tightly and Lucy heard a sigh, then a whispered, “I’m so glad, Luce. I’ve missed you,” against her ear.

“Hey, I’m Will.” Lucy looked over Jules’s shoulder to see Will shaking hands with Matt, then Alan. Archer, she reminded herself. As she and Jules stepped back from their hug, Archer strode over and scooped her up into another one. “Hello, Lucy. Wonderful to see you.” It was the greeting of a dear friend, even though they hadn’t seen each other in years, and Lucy was both surprised and touched that he regarded her that way.

“Hello, Al—Archer, sorry.” She shook her head at herself and he waved off her apology.

“Honestly, it’s fine. They’re both me. Besides, Chloe tells me that we English apologise far too much.”

“Oh, she does, does she?” Lucy asked, smiling. She glanced at Chloe who was chatting to Will, then caught Matt’s eye. He was unloading the car and seemed to be hanging back, perhaps a little shier than the others. “Excuse me for a moment? I want to meet Matt.” From everything Jules and Chloe had told her about him, Lucy just knew she’d adore him.

“Absolutely. I should help him with the cases, too. And we should get you inside. You forgot your coat.” Lucy suddenly realised how cold she was.

“Oh, yes, quite right.” She wrapped her arms around herself as she bustled past Jules, Will, and Chloe, who were chatting animatedly.

“Hello, you’re Matt.”

“I am, and you’re Lucy.” He smiled warmly as he placed a case on the ground, then pecked her on the cheek. “Great to meet you.” Oh, he’s lovely.