Page 42 of Christmas off Script
‘You don’t have to play Cinders. Asking you in front of everyone was unfair. Willow can do it.’
‘It won’t work. You know she can’t sing very well. And I was at some of the auditions with Libby. The other candidates made Willow look like a pop star.’
‘But—’
‘Honestly, this is what I need right now. Something so terrifying it will force me to think of something other than Oliver, my dad, or Zach.’
‘Surely the Beardy Boys beating us in the Christmas quiz ismoreterrifying?’
‘It’s on a par. But now I know Zach’s on their team, it gives me even more of an incentive to beat them.’
The clenched fist around Leo’s heart released its grip slightly. Zach might have wanted to rekindle something with Ella, but it seemed his wish wasn’t reciprocated.
‘Why is he here? Why does he want to be in the panto?’
Leo swallowed. ‘He said he had a few reasons, and one of them was to apologise to you for what he did.’
‘Oh.’
‘You really don’t have to do this. You need to put yourself first for once. Everyone will understand.’
She was silent. They both knew he was speaking the truth, but Leo also knew that once Ella had made a commitment, she wouldn’t shy away from it, no matter how difficult or unpleasant.
The silence between them grew heavy and sad.
Shuffling closer, Leo put his arm around her. ‘You’ll find your Prince Charming one day.’
She huffed. ‘Well, I hope he’s as kind and dependable as you are.’
Ella’s words jabbed uncomfortably in his stomach.What about ‘sexy’?He blinked at where his thoughts had taken him.What’s got into you? You don’t want her to think of you as sexy.
He cleared his throat. ‘I truly am Buttons. The most dependable friend you could ever wish for.’
‘You’re more than that.’ She let her head drop to his shoulder. ‘You’re funny, and loyal, and sweet.’
‘Don’t forget devastatingly handsome.’
‘Of course.’
‘With washboard abs and buns of steel.’
She giggled. ‘I’ll take your word for it.’
‘And a world-leading authority on Christmas.’
‘You’d better be. I’ve never been more determined to win the quiz than this year.’
Leo kissed the top of her head. ‘We’ve got this.’
She squeezed his hand. ‘We do. Now I think we’d better get Cinders and Buttons out of the oven. I don’t want this panto to turn into Hansel and Gretal.’
‘Luckily Michelle’s not around,’ he replied before thinking. ‘Or we’d be cooked by now.’
Ella snorted, then clapped a hand to her mouth. ‘Leo!’
He grinned. ‘I didn’tsayshe was a witch.’
She gave him a look.
