Page 67 of The Night Before Christmas
Tristan (after an hour):
Good. That’s settled then. I’m working tonight but I’ll message you properly later, okay?
Okay ??
A bubble of hope swelled and popped in her chest.
Of course, he didn’t message later that night.
He didn’t message back the next day, either.
But he did. Eventually. Tentatively. Politely. Perhaps even apologetically.
It was a start, she thought.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
After a weekof torment from all angles, on Friday afternoon Andrea finally addressed the small matter of the penguin in the room.
‘So, any news from our mutual friend?’ she suddenly said during their lunch break, after a particularly busy morning doing meets and greets with potential rehomers.
Felicity feigned innocence. ‘Our mutual what?’
‘You know exactly who I mean. Tall? Broad?’ (So broad!) ‘Handsome? Blond? Am I ringing any bells yet?’
Felicity let out a giggle that she hoped sounded nonchalant. ‘Oh, him!’
Andrea raised one eyebrow and peered at her over her glasses. ‘Yes, of course, him. Penguin Man. James. Who else? Have you heard from him? Are you two getting it on or what?’
‘I really don’t think you’re supposed to ask me questions like this during work time,’ said Felicity, piously.
‘Fine, I’ll just ask you later.’
‘Fine.’
‘Fine.’ She paused. ‘Okay, no, we are not dating. No, I don’t know if he’s available. No, I haven’t seen him, and no, I don’t know what went wrong. Okay?’
She didn’t mention the planned coffee. She was nervous enough about it without getting Andrea all wound up.
‘Right,’ said Andrea, her mouth twitching.
‘What do you mean, right?’ said Felicity, voice strained with the effort of appearing breezy about this thing that she was most definitely not breezy about.
‘I mean, I don’t entirely believe you, but I’ll let it go for now.’
‘How can you not believe me? Why would I lie? And also, I really like him.’ Felicity hadn’t planned on saying this last bit. ‘I didn’t mean to say that last bit.’
‘I know.’
‘You know I didn’t mean to say that last bit or you know I really like him?’
‘Both.’
‘Right.’
‘Well, if it’s meant to be, it’ll work out,’ said Andrea.
‘I think that’s the most philosophical thing I’ve ever heard you say.’
