Page 87 of The Unhinged Christmas of a Cat Lady
Not a casual brush. A familiar touch.
I turn.
Sim-Sim’s smile is easy, like we’ve just bumped into each other at the school gates. His coat’s sharp, scarf knotted neatly. Effortless, like always. My spine straightens before I can stop it.
“What… are you doing here?” I blurt out.
He jerks his chin toward the field. “SJ invited me. Said I’d miss out if I didn’t come. Apparently, there are sausages involved.”
I glance automatically toward the food stands, where SJ is mid-order, gesturing wildly with a napkin while Jasper chats to the guy manning the grill.
I look back at Sim-Sim. “Right. That makes sense.”
His hands slide into his pockets. He shifts his weight like he’s bracing for something, or maybe trying not to say it.
“I wasn’t trying to ambush you,” he adds. “Didn’t think it’d be a big deal.”
My eyebrows lift.
He sees it. Offers a slight wince. “Okay. Maybe a small deal.”
A beat of silence.
Then, because apparently I enjoy leaning into social landmines, I step sideways and gesture between them.
“Sim-Sim,” I say, “this is Callum, my boss, and Stella, his PA-slash-girlfriend.” I hesitate a beat, then sigh. “Sim-Sim, I mean, Simon is… SJ’s dad.”
There’s a round of polite nods. Callum’s jaw is tight, his expression cool but not impolite. Stella’s trying to smile without looking too nosy, which, frankly, is an impossible task when I’ve just introduced my ex whilst the man she knows I’m dating is a few feet away.
Sim-Sim, to his credit, doesn’t flinch. “Pleasure,” he says easily.
And then, just in time to throw petrol on the awkward fire, SJ comes charging back, Jasper close behind.
“Dad!” he yells, launching himself into Sim-Sim’s side.
Jasper arrives a second later, balancing an impressive number of sausage buns. SJ points at one with glee. “Mum, look how big Jasper’s sausage is!”
Callum makes a strangled sound. Stella doubles over, mulled wine sloshing perilously close to the rim.
“Right,” I mutter, pinching the bridge of my nose.
Jasper, entirely unfazed, casts a glance at Sim-Sim, then shifts the sausage tray to one hand and extends the other. “Jasper Corbin.”
Sim-Sim adjusts his posture, gives a smile with just the right amount of charm, and accepts the handshake. “Simon Gordon. Good to finally meet you.”
Their handshake is brief but loaded. The sort of handshake that says,I will keep my eyes on you.
Jasper nods, eyes cool. “Didn’t know you’d be joining us.”
“SJ invited me. Didn’t want to miss the fun,” Sim-Sim says easily.
“Oh, I thought you lived in London?” Jasper asks, tone light.
“Still do,” Sim-Sim replies. “But you make time for the important things.”
Jasper smiles. “True. Some things are worth making the effort for.”
“Exactly.” Sim-Sim glances at me, then back at Jasper. “Especially this time of year.”
