Page 111 of Christmas off Script
He shook his head. ‘Not properly. I’ll probably go in Jan when the tickets are cheaper.’
‘But what about your free ones?’
‘Free ones?’
‘You know. Everyone who works here gets two free tickets for each new show.’
‘No, they d—’ He broke off, his expression revealing why he was suited for a job off-stage and not on it. ‘I gave them away.’ Sweat beaded on his brow at the obvious lie. ‘To my granny.’
Ella’s blood ran cold. How many hundreds, if not thousands of pounds had Leo spent on tickets for them both over the years?
‘Hi Jules! How’s it going?’ Leo said behind her.
‘Er…’ Jules replied, before turning forty-five degrees to grab a ticket from an older gentleman. ‘Sir, let me show you to your seat.’
Leo pulled a face as he watched him go. ‘What was all that about?’ He gave a shrug, then handed Ella a glass. ‘Prosecco for the lady.’
‘Thank you,’ she replied automatically, then paused. ‘Leo…’
‘Hmm?’
‘Are these tickets really free?’
His eyes darted from side to side, then finally settled on her. ‘No. But I get a discount.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me? You must have spent a fortune!’
‘I haven’t. And I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to say no.’
‘I could have paid something towards them!’
He sighed. ‘I know you would have wanted to, but I also knew how little money you had to play with at the end of every month. You’re so sweet and kind and generous, Ella. But I’m around you enough to know how short money is.’
She crossed her arms over her chest, defensive and ashamed, as if he could see into every sad facet of her life. ‘What do you mean?’
He raised an eyebrow as if asking if she really wanted to go there.
She stared at him unblinking, even as hot, shameful tears welled behind her eyes. She’d grown up with nothing, and despite how hard she’d worked and all her best intentions, thanks to a low-paying job and the extortionate rent she’d been paying to Oliver’s parents, not to mention the money she’d spent on Michelle, she was flat broke and had been for years. The fact made her feel like a total failure.
‘What do you think makes me happier?’ Leo asked. ‘Receiving a present from you that you’ve made, or bought? Money is a useful tool, but that’s it. It doesn’t measure you as a person.’
Ella was silent. It didn’t matter that he was right, she was still mortified.
‘Going to the theatre with you makes me so bloody happy it’s almost painful,’ he continued. ‘There’s no-one I’d rather be here with than you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth. I just didn’t want you to feel guilty. I wanted you to enjoy the experience as much as I did.’
‘Anything else you want to tell me?’ she asked with a tentative smile, trying to lighten the mood.
He hesitated, his cheeks colouring.
‘Leo?’
‘I’m saving it for Christmas.’
‘We’re at the panto. It doesn’t get much more Christmassy than this.’
He grinned. ‘Want to bet?’
She rolled her eyes.
