Page 121 of Christmas off Script
The news triggered a memory Leo had successfully forgotten about.Zach. Of course, he had to make an even grander entrance than they’d just done. The light dimmed a little in Ella’s eyes. What was she thinking?
Elyse, Ryan’s girlfriend, was coming through the pub, clearing a path for Zach in his wheelchair, a pair of crutches across his lap. He was being pushed by—
‘Oh my god,’ Ella whispered. ‘It’s Kurt.’
The last time either of them had seen him, Zach’s younger brother had been a scrawny kid who thought he was a gangster just because he was selling drugs for Ella’s dad. After recovering from being stabbed and nearly dying, he’d left Foxbrooke behind to travel, eventually settling in Australia. Now he looked like a surf god. He’d grown a few inches, filled out with muscle, and his shoulder-length blond hair was sun-bleached and tousled.
Leo glanced between Kurt’s face and Ella’s, seeing her anxiety, then the moment Kurt clocked her. He stood, his body primed to protect her if Kurt decided to kick off.
‘Love the costumes!’ Zach said, his attention all on Ella. ‘What do you think of my t-shirt?’ Flexing his arm muscles as if posing in a body-building competition, he pulled the bottom hem down so she could read the text, ‘Aren’t we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa’.
Ella smiled. ‘Love it. And I see you’re going full method for your team.’
Zach wiggled his eyebrows and gave her a smouldering look as he passed a hand over his growing beard. ‘Do you like it?’
‘Hi Kurt,’ Leo said before Ella could reply. ‘How are you doing?’
‘Good.’ His gaze flicked warily to Ella. ‘How areyoudoing?’
‘Oh, you know, same old, same old,’ she replied breezily. ‘Trying to keep my head down and avoid drama.’
The corners of his mouth twitched as he gazed at the enormous glittery box around her.
Ella looked at it as if seeing it for the first time. ‘Oh, this old thing? First thing I grabbed from the wardrobe.’
‘And Zach tells me you’re playing Cinderella in the panto.’
She frowned. ‘Yes. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and don’t know how to say n—n—n—’ She broke off. ‘See? It gets me in all sorts of trouble.’
Kurt laughed freely, his perfect white teeth contrasting with his deeply tanned skin. ‘Can I buy you a drink?’ His gaze showed an interest that went beyond catching up as friends.
Leo stiffened, opening his mouth to speak, but Zach was quicker.
‘Back off, little brother. I’m the one who owes Ella a drink.’ He smiled at her. ‘What do you fancy?’
Me! She fanciesmenow, you dipshit!But even as the thoughts shouted in Leo’s mind, he glanced anxiously at Ella to see her response.
Her cheeks were burning. ‘Er…’
‘Come along, Mr Soap Superstar and Mr Bondi Beach,’ Derek said into the microphone. ‘Pick your team and let’s get on with it.’
‘I’ll find you in the break,’ Zach said to Ella, then swivelled his chair to the right to join the Beardy Boys.
Kurt stayed next to Leo and Ella. ‘Is it just the two of you on your team?’ he asked. ‘Fancy a third?’
No! Fuck off!Biting his tongue, Leo turned to Ella. She was the one who had the most history with the Price family. The decision had to be hers.
‘Yeah, sure,’ she replied. ‘Take a seat.’
Kurt went to grab a chair and Ella whispered, ‘Sorry’ to Leo under her breath.
He took her hand and squeezed. ‘It’s fine. It’s not going to make a difference. We’re still going to win.’
‘Okay then, ladies and gents, are we finally ready to get this sleigh in the air?’ Derek asked.
Everyone cheered.
‘Now, you know the rules,’ he continued. ‘Mobiles on aeroplane mode or turned off. If for any reason you need to be contactable, your phone can sit in this box next to me. Write your answers on the piece of paper in front of you, and I will mark them during the break. Once I ring my bell, signalling the start of the quiz, you may not leave your seat. No “going to the toilet”, or “nipping out for a cheeky fag”. If any member of the audience attempts to communicate in any way with you, be it through the medium of sign language, bodily function, or interpretive dance, your team will be disqualified. Do I make myself clear?’
