Page 29 of Christmas off Script
Finn growled.
‘What was that, Finley? I’m afraid I’m not conversant in Bear.’ Leo turned to Ella as she made her way across the room towards them. ‘Do you speak Loser, Ella? I don’t, because I always come first.’
‘So say all the women in Foxbrooke,’ Finn said.
‘Oi! At least I’m actually getting—’ He broke off as Ella reached his side.
‘And it’s also the title of your sex tape,’ Finn continued.
Scott snorted, then gazed at what Ella was wearing. ‘Seriously? You too?’
Her eyes widened innocently. ‘What?’ She pulled the bottom of her sweatshirt away from her body and gazed at it. ‘Oh! This old thing? I can’t remember what it says. Leo, can you read it out for me?’
Bringing a hand to his chin and furrowing his brow, Leo fought to keep a delighted smirk off his face. ‘It says “The Noel it Alls, Christmas Tour”, and then there’s a list of dates spanning the last five years. Wow, theyhavebeen rather successful.’
‘Do you know them?’ Ella asked Finn and Scott. ‘I could get you their autograph if you like?’
Finn crossed his arms and lifted his chest. ‘Enjoy it while it lasts. Becausethisyear, you’re going down.’
If Leo hadn’t known Finn all his life and knew underneath the gruff exterior lay a heart of gold, he would have been legging it by now. Finn’s expression was terrifying.
‘Name all of Santa’s reindeer,’ Ella asked.
‘Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen,’ Scott said quickly.
Ella’s face lit up. ‘Wrong—’
‘Plus Rudolph and Olive, if you want to include them,’ Finn added.
Ella’s face fell.
‘What’s the name of the reindeer popularised in a nineteen-ninety-five parody song?’ Leo asked.
‘“Leroy, the Redneck Reindeer”,’ Finn replied without missing a beat.
Fuck.
‘How many of the reindeer are female?’ Ella asked.
‘All of them. Because male reindeer shed their antlers in the winter,’ Scott said triumphantly.
Double fuck.
One corner of Finn’s mouth twitched upward. ‘Like I said, enjoy it while it lasts.’
‘There’s no need for us to enjoy it,’ Leo blustered. ‘Because we’re still going to win. We’re—’
‘Morning everyone!’ came a booming voice from the door.
Arthur entered the room with Dervla and Steve Perry, the other ugly sister. As they said hello to everyone, Ella pulled Leo to one side.
‘They’ve upped their game!’ she hissed.
‘They’ll never beat us.’
‘But if all four of them are studying properly? And what if they draft in someone else? You’re allowed up to five on a team and we’ve only got the two of us. Should we start looking for reinforcements?’
Leo hesitated. It made sense, but he liked it being only the two of them. ‘Who would take it seriously enough?’
