Page 90 of Christmas off Script
Swallowing her tears, she tried to smile.
His face became bleaker as he took hers in. Seeming to make a decision, he got off the bed.
Icy terror gripped her. ‘Where are you going?’
‘Just for another run. I’m going to leave you in peace for a few hours, maybe go to Connor’s for dinner later.’
‘Oh… okay. So, er, I’ll see you tomorrow?’
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. ‘Sure.’ He paused, as if deciding what to say next. Then he turned and left.
As the door closed behind him, Ella stared at it in shock and disbelief. She’d just been rocketed to heaven, but was now dropping into a dark pit with no clear way out. All she knew was that she had to make things right with Leo. If that meant giving him space to process what had happened, then so be it. But she couldn’t allow one silly mistake of hers to destroy a lifetime of friendship.
16
Waking up in the darkness of the early morning, every part of Ella’s body hurt. Her eyes were sore from too much crying, her head was splitting through lack of sleep, and her bones ached. There were still two more weeks of school left before the Christmas holidays, but she didn’t feel like getting out of bed to face any of it.
How could she fix things with Leo? Her tummy flipped at the thought of seeing him again. However, the excitement was tempered by nerves. How could it not be weird after yesterday?
Getting out of bed, she went to the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror, not quite believing that she was looking at the person who’d had the best orgasm of her life thanks to her one hundred per cent platonic best friend.
She needed to talk to someone about it. But who? Not Leo. Nor his family. And definitely not her absent mother, her uncaring stepmother, or her uninterested half-sisters.
Ella’s mind jumped to Lila, then quickly backtracked. Lila was still her best female friend, but she now lived in California, so conversations were sporadic and they usually just communicated through voice notes every few months.
And anyway, she’s the love of Leo’s life, Ella thought bitterly as she brushed her teeth. Sure, they’d broken up years ago, but Leo hadn’t had a girlfriend since.Well, none that you know of. And it didn’t matter how many times Lila had dumped him in the past, he’d still come running the moment she wanted him back.
Back in her bedroom, Ella dressed and turned on her phone, hoping for a message from Leo. Messages pinged in. However, the first one she saw was from Kyla-Marie.
Kyla-Marie: I can’t believe you left Mum with that slapper
Kyla-Marie: Ure such a selfish bitch
Sitting on the edge of the bed with a thump, Ella hung her head. Yesterday, Dervla had told her Michelle had been much improved after a night of sleep, and hadn’t kicked off to discover Dervla looking after her instead of Ella.
Unbidden, fresh tears dropped onto her clenched hands.Why does it always have to be so bloody hard with them?Swiping her fingers across her cheeks, she took a big breath and opened the messages from Leo.
Leo: Night-night, Princess, and sweet dreams. I’m staying at Connor’s, so I won’t see you at breakfast. Chat at lunchtime? X
Leo: Morning, my BFFFFFFF! Hope you slept well. And remember… If you ever use a word that starts with S and ends with ORRY, then AN ELF DIES IN SANTA LAND!!!!!
Leo: #ElvesAreForLifeNotJustForChristmas
Smiling for the first time since Leo had left the previous day, Ella typed out a message.
Ella: That goes for you too, you know
His reply came through almost immediately.
Leo: She wakes! How did you sleep?
Ella: It was suboptimal
Leo: Dammit! I forgot to remove the pea from under your mattress
Ella: Ha ha
Leo: If it makes you feel any better, my sleep was rubbish, too. Connor’s spare bed was designed with elves in mind, not people
