14. Chapter 14
‘Talk,’ echoed Ruby. ‘Right… talk.’
‘But first…’ he drew the basket towards him. ‘Here’s a plate for you… knife… fork… napkin…’
He handed each item to Ruby as he went, and she softened when she noticed that his hands were shaking ever so slightly. Perhaps he was as nervous about this whole thing as she was?! It seemed unlikely – Oli had always been pretty sure of himself. Not cocky – just comfortable in his own skin with a no-nonsense, straightforward attitude to life. It was something she’d always loved about him.
‘Earth to Ruby!’ said Oli.
Ruby glanced up to find him smiling at her, and she had to do her best not to melt.
‘Sorry,’ she said quickly. ‘I was miles away!’
‘Anywhere nice?’ he laughed, handing over a slightly greasy paper bag.
Ruby just shrugged. She wasn’t about to answer that. Instead, she opened up the bag and took a sniff.
Sausage rolls. YUM!
It looked like everything about this little meeting was going to act as a time machine. She reached in and gingerly extracted a golden pastry, placing it carefully on her plate before handing the bag back to Oli.
‘Ta!’ he said. ‘There’s ketchup in there for you too.’
Ruby grinned at him. She couldn’t help it. The fact that he’d always kept a bottle of ketchup in his rucksack just for her had been a long-standing joke. It might also explain why she hadn’t eaten ketchup in six years.
She really was a headcase!
‘Thank you!’ she said, reaching into the basket for the bottle.
‘My pleasure,’ he laughed. ‘I wasn’t about to face the wrath of Ruby by forgetting the red stuff. Made that mistake once… never again!’
The “once” in question had been one of their early study sessions. Oli had returned from the bakery with the usual haul… and a bottle of salad cream. She’d nearly called things off right there and then. It had taken a lot of making up. Not that either of them had minded that bit.
Ruby gave herself a mental kick and helped herself to a dollop of ketchup.
‘So,’ said Oli, taking a bite of his sausage roll. ‘Like I said… we need to talk.’
Ruby nearly choked on her first mouthful.
‘We do…?’ she spluttered.
Oh hell, did they really? She had so many questions… but couldn’t they just sit there in silence, eat their sausage rolls and pretend nothing bad had ever happened between them?
Couldn’t they pretend she hadn’t just spent the loneliest six years not living her life - because he hadn’t been there with her.
‘Drinks!’ she said, shooting to her feet, jostling the table and setting the plates rattling. The bottle of ketchup fell over with a dull thud.
‘Oh!’ said Oli. ‘Let me-’
‘I insist!’ said Ruby, her voice slightly too loud.
Oli looked suspiciously like he was trying to smother a smile.
‘What do you fancy?’ she added in a strangled voice.
‘I’ll take a pint of lager, please.’
Giving him a curt nod and doing her best to ignore the fact that his lips were twitching, Ruby darted towards the bar. She stood with her back to Oli and their little picnic, desperately trying to pull herself together. She was being ridiculous - and if she didn’t calm down, it was just going to go from bad to worse.
This was a business meeting, for heavens’ sake! All she had to do was talk to him calmly. Like an adult. She needed to stick to the plan – play it nice and safe, stay away from the past, and focus on the ins and outs of the event.
The problem with this most excellent plan was that she had so many questions… and now that he was right there across the table, they felt more important than talking about book stuff.
Ruby really wanted to know what he was doing back in Crumbleton… and why had he bought the bookshop, of all places? She shook her head. No. She just needed to get this job done - stay on topic - and then get the hell out!
‘What can I get for you?’
Ruby glanced at the young girl who’d just appeared in front of her and was relieved to find it wasn’t someone she knew. A touch of anonymity was exactly what she needed right now.
‘A pint of lager and a ginger beer please,’ she said, making a snap decision to stick to soft drinks. The last thing she needed was for her already slender grip on things to be loosened even further by alcohol.
‘Wow,’ said the girl, as she started to pull Oli’s pint. ‘I can’t believe I’m serving the Ruby Hutchinson! I’m Kendra, by the way.’
Ruby’s smiled awkwardly at the girl.
So much for anonymity!
‘You’re an awesome writer,’ breathed Kendra. ‘I love your book. It’s just amazing. I can’t wait for you to sign it for me!’
‘Well, thanks,’ said Ruby. ‘So… you’re coming to the event?’
‘Yeah,’ said Kendra, who looked like she was practically vibrating with excitement. ‘And Oli said I get fifteen minutes alone with you afterwards to ask as many questions as I like – only if I don’t bug you this evening… but I have to tell you… it’s so cool you came home for your last stop on the tour. I’m well chuffed. I think I got the first ticket!’
‘Erm… great,’ said Ruby, wrapping her hands around the drinks. ‘Good for you.’ As usual, she had precisely zero idea about how she should respond. She never knew what to say when someone liked her writing. Of course, part of her was pleased – but she always found it a source of pure amazement that random strangers enjoyed her work. ‘I’ll… see you on Thursday, then.’
Ruby smiled awkwardly at Kendra and then hot-footed it straight back to the table.
‘Here,’ she said, plonking Oli’s drink down in front of him.
‘Meet your biggest fan?’ he chuckled.
‘You knew?’ said Ruby, her eyes widening.
‘What, that Kendra’s obsessed with you and your book?’ he said. ‘Oh, I knew! She works for me every Saturday, but she’s been into the shop practically every day since you agreed to the signing - just to double check her name’s still on the list and that you haven’t cancelled!’
‘Wow,’ said Ruby in a low voice. ‘She’s… a lot. I mean, really lovely but… wow! And what’s all this about promising her an exclusive interview?’
Oli rolled his eyes. ‘Yeah, sorry about that, but it was the only way to buy you any peace this evening. I would have warned you - but you did your great escape thing before I got the chance.’
‘Sorry,’ muttered Ruby.
‘No need to apologise,’ said Oli with an easy shrug, taking a sip of his pint. ‘The look on your face was priceless, though - best bit of entertainment I’ve had all day!’
‘Oh hush,’ muttered Ruby, reigning in the temptation to stick her tongue out at him like she’d done a million times before.
‘You know, I’ve been wondering how the introverted little bookworm was dealing with all the fame,’ he said, raising one eyebrow. ‘And now I know.’
‘You know nothing, Jon Snow,’ she sighed.
‘Is that right?’ he said. ‘Well… all I’ll say is that I wasn’t really expecting to recognise Ruby Hutchinson - celebrity author. Especially when I got that cut-out thingy they made me put in the window.’
Ruby wrinkled her nose.
‘I do recognise you, though,’ said Oli, watching her closely. ‘You’re still the Ruby I remember, and… it’s a nice surprise.’
Ruby watched him from underneath her lashes as he took another sip of his drink… and realised she felt exactly the same. Sitting in front of her was the person she used to know better than anyone else in the entire world - the guy who’d turned out to be so much more than the meathead jock she’d assumed he’d be.
‘Right then!’ said Oli, clapping loudly, making her jump.
It did the job, though - the noise had broken the spell. Suddenly she was back in present-day Crumbleton, sitting across from a man she’d once spent a summer with. She was a visitor - not quite at home… but then, nowhere was home anymore.
‘Right then,’ she repeated quietly.
‘Let’s talk about your signing,’ said Oli.
‘Oh,’ she said. ‘Yeah. Okay.’
Ruby reached for her glass and took a sip of her ginger beer. It was the reason they were both sitting there, after all.
‘Now, I’ve gone back through all the emails from Bobbi and Ben,’ said Oli. ‘I’ve got the brand of bottled water you asked for – still and sparkling, there are plenty of notecards too. I did have a bit of an issue getting holographic ones, but I managed to get metallic, and-’
‘Wait – what?!’ laughed Ruby in surprise. ‘You’re kidding me!’
‘Erm… not kidding,’ said Oli. ‘I can forward the emails to you if you’d like?’
‘God no – no thanks!’ she said quickly. Heads were going to roll when she got back to London! It was just the kind of thing she hated… and her team had done that? To Oli?!?! He must have thought she’d turned into a total diva. ‘What else did they ask for?’
‘Someone to be on hand to turn pages for you while you read, a bowl of fresh tomatoes – which I thought was seriously weird - oh, and a new toilet seat to be installed on the morning of the signing!’ he said, raising his eyebrows.
‘Okay – now you’re making it up!’ said Ruby, her eyes wide with horror.
‘Okay,’ laughed Oli, ‘maybe I added that last one. But the others are true.’
‘I’m going to kill them,’ she sighed, shaking her head. The terrible two had clearly decided that some end-of-tour hijinks were in order. They’d obviously decided that it was safe to have a little joke at her expense because she knew the bookshop owner.
‘Sorry, Ruby,’ said Oli. ‘I should have-’
‘Don’t you apologise,’ huffed Ruby, picking up her sausage roll and dunking it into her puddle of ketchup. ‘I should have called to confirm the details myself.’
‘Erm… isn’t that the whole point of having people on your team?’ laughed Oli.
‘Not for much longer!’ said Ruby darkly – though she didn’t really mean it… deep down. Very deep down right now.
‘Don’t look so horrified,’ chuckled Oli. ‘I always knew you were a diva deep down.’
‘Am not!’ she squeaked, completely indignant.
Oli snorted. ‘Chill - it’s fine - I’m just joking. You know – it’s so good to have you back for a few weeks. I was chuffed when Bobbie mentioned you were staying in town for a while.’
‘Yeah well, she got that bit wrong too.’
The words were out of Ruby’s mouth before she could stop them.
‘What?’ said Oli. ‘You’re not serious?’
‘I’ve got an open-ended ticket,’ she said with a shrug, ‘but I’m leaving straight after the event on Thursday.’
The smile dropped off Oli’s face and he looked… hurt.
‘Do you really hate this place so much?’ he said quietly. ‘I mean, what happened to make you stay away for so long? I thought you were happy here… you seemed happy when…’
He trailed off, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.
Ruby swallowed. ‘I didn’t mean… it’s just… I…’ It was her turn to trail off. Why was she getting so flustered here? She didn’t have to explain herself. Yes, she’d left Crumbleton behind her, and Sure, she hadn’t exactly built herself a life in London – but she’d certainly forged a career for herself instead. ‘I don’t hate Crumbleton. It just brings back a lot of memories.’
‘But not good ones?’ said Oli.
Ruby frowned at the look he was giving her. He didn’t get to look hurt. Hadn’t he left Crumbleton in his rear-view mirror too? Just because he was back now - it didn’t mean she should feel guilty because she wasn’t.
Of course there had been good times. Crumbleton hadn’t been a bad place to grow up… but she’d felt so stuck those last few years, so hemmed in and trapped - until that last summer when the little town had come alive. Because of him. Then he left.
‘Look,’ she said, her voice tight. ‘I’m sorry, but I’m really not up for a trip down memory lane right now.’ She dropped the remains of her sausage roll onto her plate and brushed the crumbs from her fingers. ‘I’m sorry. I’m exhausted. Let’s just go over any details I need to know about the event.’
‘Oh,’ said Oli, ‘okay - I understand. You’ve had quite a trip.’
Ruby shot him a tight smile.
‘So, we’ll start at ten and aim to be done by twelve-thirty. You can do the reading first, then a question and answer session with the audience - and then plenty of time for signing afterwards.’
‘You want a reading?’ she said.
‘Erm… it’s kind of the main draw to the event,’ said Oli.
‘Oh.’ Ruby swallowed.
She’d had to do exactly the same thing at all the other venues… but for some reason, she’d blocked out the idea of having to do the reading here. After all, she was going to know most of the people in the audience. They weren’t going to be the usual nameless, faceless crowd.
‘Is that okay?’ said Oli, looking concerned.
‘Yes,’ she said quickly. ‘Of course.’
‘Cool.’
Ruby wished her heart would calm down. She needed air. She needed space. She needed to get out of Crumbleton!
‘You know I don’t really need posh bottles of water, right?’ she said, feeling like she’d been painted as a bit of a knob by her team.
‘What about the chocolate-covered pretzels?’ said Oli raising an eyebrow. ‘Because I’ve bought in a hundredweight.’
‘You… you have?’ she gasped.
‘Nah - not really,’ said Oli, winking at her, ‘but I can get some if you still like them?’
Ruby shook her head. Damn him and his ridiculously good memory.
‘Okay… well that’s it really,’ he said. ‘Nice and simple - hopefully we’ll sell loads of books and have a blast. I’m really looking forward to it.’
‘Right,’ said Ruby, nodding on autopilot. ‘Right, it’ll be good. Well… I’ll see you there then?’ She got to her feet.
‘You’re leaving?’ he said. ‘Already?’
Ruby stared down at her half-eaten sausage roll, the ginger beer she’d taken just a sip or two from… and made up her mind.
‘Yeah. Sorry - I’m shattered.’
‘Oh,’ said Oli, looking crestfallen. ‘Okay - I get it.’
Ruby threw on her jacket and smiled at him. ‘Thanks, then.’ She cleared her throat awkwardly. ‘I’ll… see you.’
Making a dash for the main door with her head down, Ruby felt inexplicable tears prickling behind her eyes. Why couldn’t she just be a normal human being for once? Why couldn’t she have relaxed, chatted and reminisced – and maybe asked him some of the questions that had been prodding her in the back of her brain all day? But no - here she was - doing a runner yet again.
Pushing her way out of the bar into the evening air, Ruby marched towards the City Gates, taking the cobbles at a reckless pace. She didn’t slow down until she’d scooted under the archway – eventually coming to a halt a couple of steps outside of Crumbleton.
Taking a long, slow breath, she stared out across the surrounding marshland, willing her hot cheeks to cool down.
‘Rubes?!’
Oli’s voice made the hairs on the back of her neck tingle. There had been so many times over the years she’d dreamed about hearing his voice again.
Still - she really couldn’t handle talking anymore this evening. She was tired and over-emotional, and something told her she was a hair’s breadth away from doing something ridiculous if she got too close to him before she’d had the chance to have a good, long sleep.
‘Ruby?’ This time his voice was soft - and right behind her.
Hoping she’d managed to arrange her features into a vaguely normal expression, Ruby turned to look at him.
‘Yeah?’ she said. There was no heat in her voice. She just sounded exhausted.
‘You… you forgot these.’ Oli held the jug of yellow roses out towards her.
Ruby paused for a long moment before reaching out and taking them. Their sweet scent drifted up to her and suddenly, the tears she’d felt prickling behind her eyes felt dangerously close to falling.
‘Thanks,’ she said quietly. ‘They’re lovely.’
‘Rubes, will you…’ Oli cleared his throat and Ruby raised her eyebrows. ‘Actually, never mind.’
‘Never mind what?’ she said.
‘Well… I was wondering… would you spend tomorrow with me?’
‘What, in the shop?’ said Ruby in surprise. ‘I mean, I guess I could pop in and sign-’
‘No,’ said Oli. ‘No, I mean… can we spend tomorrow… together.’
‘Oh!’ said Ruby.
This was a bad idea.
The worst.
She should definitely say no and get out of there asap.
‘Okay then.’