Page 18 of The Night Before Christmas
‘I just got here,’ said Adam –another shrug– but to Felicity’s relief he did take a small step backwards.
‘And I was just arriving,’ said James coolly, never taking his eyes off Felicity. ‘I’m sorry I’m late, but I did bring us dinner. It’s New Year’s Eve, after all.’
From somewhere behind him, James produced an enormous pizza box and a six-pack of beer, waving them in her direction. At this clear display of male dominance Adam retreated a few steps further, and Felicity took the opportunity to duck past him. She tried to look like she had some important purpose as she moved down the room towards the door.
‘You’re late,’ she said, ‘but you’re just in time to help with rounds,’ and she threw the damp tea towel playfully at James as she went past. Hopefully he couldn’t see that her hands were shaking.Don’t look back, don’t look back.James seemed to relax a little at that and – just as she hoped he would – he followed her out of the door. After a moment, Adam sauntered along behind.
What now?Felicity felta cold spark of panic.I have to get him out of here.
And there, as if by royal appointment, was Andrea, waiting by her office door. ‘We have lots to be getting on with. Apotentially busy night as you can imagine. Shall I show you out?’ she said to Adam in a tone that implied this was not up for debate.
Felicity kept her head down and kept moving, heading into the puppy room to start her rounds, James hard on her tail. She prayed Adam had finally learned to understand tone of voice. It had never been one of his strongest traits.
Just as they had a few days earlier, Andrea, James and Felicity sat around together in the break room after Adam had gone, but this time there was a heavy, weighted silence. They all stared at the pizza boxes but no one made any move towards them. When James finally excused himself and went to the bathroom, Andrea took her chance.
‘Well… this is awkward. Who the hell was that guy?’ she hissed.
‘My ex,’ Felicity hissed back. ‘Adam. Thanks so much for getting rid of him. I could have kissed you for that.’
‘Don’t mention it. He’s gorgeous by the way!’ said Andrea. ‘He looks like that actor, ooh, what’s his name? Dev something.’
‘Patel. Dev Patel. I know. A cross between Tom Cruise and Dev Patel, I always thought.’
‘That’s it exactly!’ said Andrea and Felicity shot her a look. ‘Sorry!’ she added, lowering her voice.
Felicity rolled her eyes and pulled her chair closer so she could whisper properly.
‘He’s hot and he’s trouble, that’s what he is. I haven’t seen him in years, and then in he walks out of bloody nowhere and tells me he misses me. God knows why. He must be drunk, I guess. Or high. Or something.’
‘Talk about bad timing.’
‘I’ve no idea what he’s up to. He said he’s been trying to find me for ages, fed me some story about how he “just happened” to meet some of my friends in town and they told him where I was. But who? And why? What does he want? And why hasn’t he been before? It’s all a bit weird.’
‘And besides, you don’t have any friends,’ said Andrea, helpfully.
Felicity laughed. ‘Yes, thanks for pointing that out.’ It was a running joke. Her friend count was decidedly, deliberately low.
Felicity remembered the Tiffany box then, and her palms started to sweat. As far as she knew, it was still sitting there, on the counter near the sink, but she hadn’t had an opportunity to retrieve it since Adam left. What the hell was in that box?
‘What I don’t get is, why today of all days?’ she said, her brain starting to hurt.
Andrea shrugged as if this sort of thing happened to her all the time. ‘It’s New Year’s Eve. The night when you regret all the terrible decisions you ever made and all the people you let go. It’s obvious really. He can pick his moments though.’
‘You’re telling me.’
‘How did you feel when you saw him again?’
Howdidshe feel? It was a good question. Confused, mainly.
‘Oh, nothing, I felt nothing, it’s been too long, and I mean, Iproperlymessed it up. Like, it was an absolute disaster. I’m amazed it’s only taken him three years to forgive me, to be completely honest with you.’
At that point, James came wandering back into the room. ‘What are we talking about?’ he said, a little too loudly.
‘Who’s going to kiss who at midnight,’ said Andrea, quickly.
James nodded as if she’d said something very profound and handed them both a beer, not looking directly at Felicity ashe did so. Felicity gave a nervous smile and tried to wipe her sweating palms discreetly on her jeans.
‘Shall we get started on this pizza then, folks?’
