Page 136 of Christmas off Script
Lila’s head snapped to Zach, her eyes widening. ‘Holy shitballs! You got bust up bad!’
He smiled. ‘You should see the other guy.’
Lila glanced between him and Ella. ‘So, you two are all cool now?’
Zach took Ella’s hand. ‘Yeah, all good.’
‘Uh-huh.’ Lila raised an eyebrow as she looked at their hands.
Ella pulled hers free. ‘Lila, sorry, I’ve got to dash. I’ve got to find—’ She broke off as Leo entered the front door, out of breath.Oh, thank god. Thank god.
His eyes found hers, and he gave her a tentative smile.
‘Baby!’ Lila squealed, launching herself across the space and throwing her arms around him.
Leo froze, his arms stiff by his sides as Lila hugged him.
‘How’sthisfor a surprise?’ she said, pulling back and giving him a once over.
Ella clutched her stomach as it rolled with nausea. Leo’s face was white, his mouth hanging open as he blinked at his ex-girlfriend.
Lila took his arm and pulled him back over to Ella and Zach. ‘We’ve got the whole gang back together!’
‘Just like old times.’ Zach grinned up at Ella. ‘The next thing you know, Ells, we’ll be on a double date again at Maccy D’s with Barbie and Ken.’
Leo caught Ella’s eye, but she glanced away, her heart breaking. Leo and Lila were a blindingly beautiful couple, with their golden hair and bright blue eyes. Their ‘Barbie and Ken’ moniker may have started as a joke, but it couldn’t have been more apt. They were perfect together.
‘Ella,’ Leo said, ‘can I have a quick word?’
She took a step back. ‘I’ve got to go.’
‘Me too,’ Zach said. ‘I’m on stage in a couple of minutes. We’ll leave you two to catch up.’ He turned to Ella. ‘Can you open any doors for me on the way back?’
‘Yeah, sure.’ She rushed to open the first one at the back of the entrance hall and Zach wheeled himself through.
‘You’ve got about twenty-five minutes before you’re on stage!’ Zach called over his shoulder to Leo. ‘So don’t let your romantic reconciliation take any longer than that!’
Ella ran ahead of Zach after he’d pushed through each door. The last thing she wanted was talk to him about what had just happened.
‘We found Leo!’ Zach announced triumphantly as he entered the dressing room.
‘Is he okay?’ Willow asked.
‘Better than ever,’ Zach replied. ‘He’s with Lila!’
‘Lila?’ Willow and Dervla chorused, glancing Ella’s way.
‘Yeah. She’s come back to Foxbrooke.’
‘Where is he now?’ Libby asked. ‘The panto was meant to start a couple of minutes ago.’
‘Ells and I left them in the entrance hall to catch up,’ Zach continued with a smile. ‘I told him not to take too long.’
‘Oh, okay.’ Libby clapped her hands. ‘Right then, Zach, let’s get you on stage. Willow, can you run and let Connor know we’re back on track?’
‘Sure!’
As everyone bustled about, Ella left the room to stand in the wings on the opposite side of the stage to Zach. She was overjoyed that Leo was alright, but in a pit of misery at seeing him next to Lila. In her dreams, Leo and her would be together, but that tentative picture of a future with him had just been torn up by the arrival of his ex.
