18. Chapter 18
This was the worst idea he’d ever had in his life!
Oli paced from one tree to the next, cursing himself for coming up with such an idiotic date… especially considering Ruby was such an epic flight risk.
It had all seemed like such a great idea when he’d roped Caroline in to help him set it up. Even when the pair of them had been busy running around town that morning - dashing into the various shops, calling in favours and leaving behind clues - he’d been convinced that Ruby would love it. He’d been so certain nothing could possibly go wrong.
Now, with far too much time on his hands to overthink it all, Oli had realised that there were a few fatal flaws in his genius plan. For one thing, he’d be repaying the various favours he’d called in for years to come. On top of that, by asking so many people for their help, he’d basically broadcast the fact that Ruby meant far more to him than a simple blast from the past. He wasn’t going to live it down in a month of Mondays!
Still… it’d be worth it if Ruby had fun… if she turned up, of course!
‘Shut up, brain!’ he huffed, letting out a little laugh.
This was the other side of his grand plan he hadn’t quite thought through properly. He’d been here for what felt like hours already. He’d given himself far too much time to set up, and now all he had left to do was tie himself up in knots while he waited.
As soon as the pair of them had finished their coffee, Caroline had given him a lift and dropped him off at Crumbleton Clump. In his head, Oli had figured that it would take at least an hour to set everything up and make sure it was perfect and ready for Ruby’s arrival.
Not so much, though. It had taken just five minutes to string the woodland clearing with fairy lights, and another ten to line the path from the road to the clearing with dozens of tealights set in jam jars. Then he’d spread the tartan blanket out on a comfortable spot – and everything was ready in less than half an hour.
All he had left to do was wait for her… and pace.
And sit.
And obsess.
And pace some more.
Oli made another circuit of the clearing, checking everything for the umpteenth time.
‘Yep. Still perfect,’ he sighed. There wasn’t a light out of place.
Wait… was that candle out?
‘Get a grip!’ he laughed, as the little flame fluttered back to life.
With a long sigh, Oli flopped down onto the blanket and made himself a promise that he wouldn’t budge again until Ruby turned up… or it got so late he’d know for sure that she wasn’t going to come.
Pulling his legs to his chest, he wrapped his arms around them and stared intently at the entrance to the candle-lined path.
‘One, Mississippi… two Mississippies,’ he muttered. ‘Three… pfft!’
He promptly gave up and lay back on the blanket to stare up at the green canopy of leaves swaying far above his strings of fairy lights.
‘She’s going to come. She’s going to come!’
He let out a huge yawn and his eyes fluttered closed. A gentle breeze brought the scent of the woodland to him - rich and earthy - and the sound of the rustling trees started to calm his taught nerves.
‘She’s going to come,’ he yawned again.