Page 42 of Harper's Holiday Romance

“Fine, but I have to approve it.”

“Deal.”

Billie typed out a message.

Me

Hi Julia,

It’s me, Harper—

“Absolutely not,” I said.

“Why not?”

“It’s too formal.”

Billie huffed. Attempt number two.

Me

Julia, it was great to meet you yesterday.

“I didn’t even meet her yesterday, and again I’m not texting my mortgage advisor. Is this how you text your Tinder dates?” I questioned. It would explain why half of them don’t work out.

“Okay, I was trying to be polite and not too forward, but if you want me to be a little more casual.” Billie typed away for a third time and immediately hit send.

I heard the familiar sound effect of a text message delivering to its recipient.

“What did you just do?”

The look on Billie’s face spelt trouble.

Me

I had a dream about you last night.

It turns out it wasn’t a dream.

I’d love to see you again.

Dinner, tonight?

“What are those ants doing?” Sarah asked.

She was hanging over the edge of her sunlounger staring intently.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Look.” she pointed towards a small hole in the sand where two dozen ants ran back and forth.

“Are they carrying bits of sand?” I edged closer.

“I think so. Look, they’ve made a little pile,” Sarah said. We watched for a short while as one ant after another frantically raced around the sand hills excavating debris from the hole in order to create their living space.

“That’s fascinating,” I gushed. “Switch beds with me?” I asked Sarah. She obliged, quickly bored with the insects. I spent the next few minutes offering them words of encouragement.

“They’re so hard at work.”