Page 86 of The Wedding Pact
Chapter 60
August
Their guests arrived in quick succession, appearing generally in threes and fours, sharing taxis to the top of Elizabeth Street to avoid walking too far in their smart – and most likely uncomfortable – shoes, and in the frosty December air.
August surveyed the scene with warmth in her soul. Sia’s ‘Santa’s Coming for Us’ was playing in the background, the snowball cocktails were a hit, Flynn’s work friends were mingling seamlessly with hers, and, most importantly, Flynn looked relaxed. His face glowed in the soft glimmer from the fairy lights, and his eyes had more sparkle than the drapes of tinsel August had strung around the window panes.
There was a knock on the door, interrupting her thoughts, and she bopped over to open it, finding Callie and her mum, bedecked in sequins and reindeer antlers, waving her card.
‘A Christmas Party!’ Callie exclaimed. ‘Hell, yes. This was such a great idea, thanks August! Ooh, are these your friends?Hell-o.’
Uh-oh.
Callie was inside her flat, making a beeline for one of Flynn’s workmates, a man named Joe. Callie’s mum handed August a bottle of red and danced her way inside as well, and August darted a glance to Flynn. Their eyes met in joint panic mode, and without further ado, Flynn rolled off the back of the sofa and twirled in front of both Callie and her mum, taking one hand from each of them and spinning them both to face away from the bedrooms. August reached the rooms in three strides and whipped both doors closed, containing their separate sleeping quarters behind them.
Flynn caught up with August by the kitchen. ‘Erm,’ he started.
‘I swear, I didn’t invite them,’ August hissed. ‘I clearly said on the cardwewere having a small party and that we wouldn’t disturbthem.’
‘We can’t ask them to leave,’ Flynn said. ‘ …Canwe? You do it!’
‘No, we can’t ask them to leave, we just have to stop them talking to anyone.’ Even to August that was easier said than done, knowing Callie. ‘It’ll be fine, it’ll be fine! Most of my friends know we’re having to live this lie anyway,’ It was becoming harder to admit that was what they were doing these days. ‘I’ll go round and let them know to play along if needed. Do you want to warn any of your work friends?’
‘Not really, not here, but I will if it becomes necessary.’
August forced a smile back on her face. ‘It’s no big deal though, right? We’ll just make sure Callie and her mum are always talking to you, me or Bel. Let’s get back to enjoying the party.’
‘You’re right,’ Flynn nodded. ‘It’ll be f—’
‘Gotta go,’ August interrupted him and flew across the room to grab Callie who was circling Joe like a predator and her prey. August grabbed Callie’s hands and led her in a mid-living room jive to ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’.
Callie looked so happy to be dancing and August felt a rush of warmth towards her, which may have been fuelled by the cocktails. Callie really was a great friend to her.
Bugger it. August opened her mouth because she couldn’t hold the secret any longer. And Callie was fun, she’d understand, maybe she’d even find it hilarious. Over the music she called, ‘Callie, I’ve got something really funny to tell you.’
Chapter 61
Flynn
Flynn was just about to get back into the swing of the evening when there was another knock on the door.
‘Allen, Maud,’ he greeted them, because of course they were here too. ‘Merry Christmas.’
‘Merry Christmas, lad,’ Allen said. ‘I feel like I’ve barely seen you around the place lately, so we couldn’t miss the opportunity for the party.’
‘Oh, there’s a lot of young people here,’ said Maud, taking a cautious step into the flat.
Flynn nodded, trying to look disappointed. ‘I know; we’ll completely understand if it’s not your scene.’
‘Nonsense!’ Maud said, and started shuffling in.
Allen surveyed the scene with a beam on his face. ‘We haven’t been to a Christmas party like this since we lived in Stratford in our younger years.’
‘Ah, you’re an East Ender, Allen, like I was for a while.’
He nodded. ‘Maybe I’ll try and make some acquaintances this evening.’
Flynn’s eyes widened and he called out loudly, ‘Great!August, look who’s arrived!’
