Page 63 of Christmas off Script
He sent back a gif of Bugs Bunny with hearts popping out of his eyes.
Ella replied with one of Stanley Hudson from the US version ofThe Officeyelling, ‘Have you lost your mind?’
Another gif pinged in of Dwight Schrute saying, ‘Let’s put it this way… No.’
Laughing, she went into the bathroom, had a quick wash, cleaned her teeth, dragged a brush through her hair, then dressed in her jeans and a t-shirt which read, ‘Keep calm. Santa is coming’.
Ella: I’m ready
She heard Leo’s phone beeping in the corridor outside, then he flung open the door and entered the bedroom with his arms outstretched, showing off his t-shirt that read, ‘I can’t keep calm. Santa is coming’.
They gazed at what the other was wearing, then cracked up.
Leo lifted a hand for Ella to high-five him. ‘Legend.’
She grinned and slapped his palm with hers, warmth filling her chest like gooey marshmallows.God, I love him so much. The thought made her whip around, hiding her flaming cheeks.As a friend!Lifting a wrapped package from the bed with trembling fingers, she turned to face him.
He was disappearing back into the corridor. ‘Two secs!’ he yelled over his shoulder, then re-appeared a moment later with a rectangular-shaped package, wrapped with golden string and adorned with a bow.
He held it out. ‘Happy first of December.’
‘Leo…’ She took it, raising an eyebrow, then handed him the gift she’d made in return. ‘This looks and feels like it contravenes the guidelines.’
He sat on the edge of her bed. ‘I’m thinking outside the box. And anyway, mine are always a bit rubbish compared to yours.’
She sat beside him. ‘No, they’re not! It’s the—’
‘Thought that counts? I know, I know. But I’m about as creative as a caterpillar.’
‘Caterpillars turn into butterflies. That’s pretty magical.’
Leo gazed at her and opened his mouth.
Ella held her breath. There was something new in his expression.
Then the look disappeared. ‘You go first.’
‘Okay,’ she exhaled, undoing the ribbon.
Leo put the gift she’d given him to one side, his hands splayed on his thighs as if forcing them to stay still.
With a nail, Ella picked at the edge of a piece of tape, then peeled it off.
Leo huffed. ‘Just rip it!’
She raised her eyebrows. ‘If I do that, I can’t recycle the paper.’
He rolled his eyes.
‘And it’s more exciting to build up the anticipation.’ She picked at another line of tape. ‘The slower I go, the more pleasurable the experience is.’
‘I’m more of a rip-it-off-and-job-done-in-less-than-ten-seconds kind of guy.’
She smirked. ‘So I’ve heard.’
Leo’s eyes bugged out, then the corner of his mouth twitched. ‘Ella Chamberlain. Are you making a joke about my, er…’ He trailed off, his cheeks darkening.
Ella raised an eyebrow, trying to act cool, even as her heart thumped against her ribcage.Are you flirting? Jesus! Stop it immediately!
