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Maya frowned, trying to assess the cloud that had passed over his features.
“Ooh,” Liv said to Maya. “Do you want to go into town after this? There’s a sale in your favorite jewelry shop. You can pick something for your Christmas present.”
Maya shifted her eyes off Ben, still troubled by his change in demeanor. “Sounds great. You can choose something too.”
“Nah, I’ve got enough jewelry. But I’ll think of something you can spend your dough on for me.”
“Right.” Ben rose from his chair. “Duty calls. Maya, I’ll send you all the details of the job plan, plus a digital contract. Can you start on Tuesday?”
“Coolio,” Maya said, giving him a two-fingered salute. “No worries, Triple B.”
Ben shook his head with a laugh, and gave them a wave as he left the area.
“He looks pretty stressed,” Maya said to Liv in a low voice.
“Yeah. But you helping out will be a weight off.”
“I dunno,” Maya said as they stood and put on their jackets. “I feel like there’s something else bothering him.”
The high street was dusted with snow, and the lampposts all carried their own individual Christmas lights in the shapes of holly leaves, Santas, snowmen, and Rudolphs. The shop fronts were lit up with festive displays, their doorways adorned with sprigs of mistletoe and holly.
Maya and Liv left the bookstore where they’d been browsing for a half hour, and Maya gave her a nudge. “Better watch who you shop with. There’s mistletoe on nearly every doorway.” She stuck her tongue out as if she were going to give Liv the mother of all French kisses.
Liv smiled, glancing away. “I wish.”
They crossed the road to the jewelers, and Maya fingered her charm bracelet. This was where she’d bought it, aged sixteen. As they entered, she let her touch linger on the moon charm. It too had come from this shop, though she hadn’t been the one to buy it.
“Look,” said Liv, distracting Maya from her thoughts.
Maya went over to join Liv at the charm section.
“Are there any you like?” Liv asked.
Maya examined the wares through the glass. “I’d quite like a Christmassy one.”
She cast her eye over them, thinking about the tiny star charm that had been in this section when she was eighteen, and how she’d coveted both that one and the moon. But once she’d saved the money and come to the store to claim the star, it was gone. She’d never seen another one she liked as much.
Maya pointed through the glass. “How about that little robin? He’s cute.”
Liv bumped her shoulder. “Like you.”
Maya shot her a disapproving stare. “I’m not cute. I’m ferocious, like a lion.” She pretended to roar, then realized the shop assistant was giving her a funny look, so she stopped, heat rising in her cheeks.
“Ferocious my arse,” Liv said, signaling to the assistant that they wanted something from the cabinet. “You’re the most conflict-avoidant person I’ve ever met.”
Maya kept quiet as the shop assistant arrived, and Liv got them to take out the robin charm, then paid for it at the desk.
They left the store, Liv pocketing the charm. “I’ll wrap it for Christmas.”
Maya opened her mouth to ask what Liv wanted for her present, but her voice caught before it reached her vocal cords. Sam and Cat were farther down the street, looking in a store window, hand in hand.
Maya took Liv’s elbow, her heart rate accelerating. “I’ve just remembered I need to go back to the bookshop for something. Let’s cross over.”
Liv nodded. “Okay.” She turned her head to check the traffic. “Oh, wait, there’s Sam.” She waved. “Sam!”
He looked up and smiled as he spotted his sister. Then his face fell as he took in Maya’s presence.
Maya gritted her teeth as she followed Liv over to where Sam and Cat were standing. Cat appeared as if she were munching on a nest of wasps.
