Page 59 of The Day After Christmas
A shiver of pleasure ran down Felicity’s spine. ‘And what’s wrong with that, exactly?’
‘Nothing at all. I’m very happy you’re happy. But I did enjoy Cynical Felicity a great deal.’
‘She’s not gone anywhere, I promise,’ said Felicity. ‘Just wait for Bex’s wedding.’
‘Ah, yes, the wedding from hell. I’m looking forward to it in a strange way.’
‘You must be the only person on the planet then.’
‘Will your dad be there? Asking for a friend.’
Felicity rolled her eyes. ‘No, I don’t think so. I haven’t asked.’
‘Maybe he can be my plus one,’ said Andrea, her ice-blue eyes lighting up.
‘If not, you can always take Saskia. I think she likes you.’
‘Of course she does,’ said Andrea, with a wink. ‘She’s not made of wood, is she? She don’t cry splinters.’
‘What are you on about?’
‘She’s only human, is what I’m saying.’
‘Right. Sure, whatever. Anyway, stay away from my father, you hussy.’
‘That ship has rather sailed, I’m afraid, dear Miss Brooks.’
‘Yuck,’ said Felicity, sitting lower in her chair and scowling.
‘See, there’s the grumpy Felicity I love.’
‘If you keep banging my father you’re going to see a lot more of her, I assure you,’ muttered Felicity.
‘Who’s banging someone?’ said Charlie, sticking his head round the door with a cheeky grin.
‘Never you mind,’ said Felicity and Andrea in unison.
‘Shame,’ said Charlie and ducked out of sight to dodge the biscuit Felicity threw at his head. He really was incorrigible.
That night, James and Felicity lay side by side in bed, staring at the ceiling.
‘How much does she owe?’ said James.
‘Close to one hundred thousand apparently,’ said Felicity. ‘She said it was teeny tiny, the little liar.’
‘One hundred thousand. In thirty days?’
‘Twenty-eight days now.’
James scratched at his stubble. ‘We need to hold some kind of a fundraiser. And not just any old fundraiser. It needs to be something really exciting and dramatic so people get behind it.’
Felicity sat up in excitement. ‘Yes. That’s a super idea. What about a car wash? You covered in soap suds, me with a sponge, I could get down with that.’
James laughed. ‘Ooh, that is pretty tempting…’ Then he shook his head. ‘You need a lot of helpers otherwise it takes forever and you’ll only make £4.50.’
‘£4.50 in the hand is worth…’
‘£5.00 in the glove?’ finished James, with a grin.
