Page 22 of It Happened on Christmas Eve
‘I agree, but you usually only have squirty cream when you get hot chocolate in a café. It seems so over the top to have your own personal supply at home.’
‘Why would you settle for less than when it’s so easy not to?’
I blink. He’s right. Just because it’s not the norm to keep squirty cream in your house at all times, doesn’t mean it’s wrong. In fact it’s an excellent idea. I vow to pick some up from Tesco on the way home.
‘Mind blown,’ I laugh, squirting a generous blob of cream on top of each drink and carrying the mugs through to the living room, while Adam hops in behind me.
I perch on the edge of the sofa and take a sip, licking the cream from the top of the mug. Adam does the same and we catch each other’s eyes while we’re doing it which is very awkward and also very… No, I’m just tipsy. And on some sort of emotional high from finally getting some sort of resolution with Mitch.
I look away, and place my mug back down on the coffee table.
Adam does the same and scooches closer to me.
The pair of us say nothing. The air becomes thick with tension. I swallow hard because I am feeling things I did not expect to be feeling this morning when I woke up with the intention to get through this blasted day as quickly as possible.
I clear my throat. ‘So!’ I say brightly in an attempt to cut short the awkwardness. ‘What did you get up to on that flight from New York? The whole crew were in love with you.’
Adam laughs and does a faux modest shrug. ‘I’m just a very likeable guy.’
‘You are.’ I have to admit it. ‘But… that was insane. They were totally fawning. You must have done something other than be the most charming man on earth.’
‘You agree that I’m the most charming man on earth?’
‘Shut up.’
‘Ha! No, we had some pretty bad turbulence on the plane and people were starting to panic. So I bought everybody one of those mini tubs of Pringles. And then I lead everyone in a rendition ofJingle Bells.’
‘Who does that?’ I laugh. Who would even think to do that? Or have the confidence?
‘A few of the other passengers thought I was a crazy person. They did not want anyone loudly singingJingle Bellswhile they sped towards their collective deaths. But it worked. Everyone was distracted, even if they were a bit pissed off with me. I guess the crew were just grateful because they were panicking too.’
‘You’re odd,’ I say.
‘So are you,’ Adam replies.
‘Why do you like Christmas so much?’
‘Because I like to mess about and break the rules and have fun, and Christmas is the only other time of the year where the rest of the world allows themselves to do that too. And it makes them so happy! I wish the world were like that all the time, but I suppose if it were then it wouldn’t feel quite so special at Christmas. All bets are off at Christmas, you know?’
I nod. I have to admit that I’ve been swayed by all the good cheer around me today. And by Adam. Christmas might actually be rather lovely.
I smile to myself and am about to ask if I can get some more squirty cream when all at once Adam leans over, grabs me, pulls me up and sort of plonks me on his lap so that I’m fully straddling him. I make to clamber off him at once, but quickly realise that no…. this feels… nice.
‘What are you doing?’ I murmur.
‘Should I not?’
‘It’s alright.’
‘I’m glad.’
‘Me too.’
‘Good.’
‘Good.’
I peer into his eyes and notice that they’re even darker than normal, glinting with lust. He smiles. But this time it’s not the big disarming grin he’s been giving to people all day. But a slow, small smile full of promise and anticipation.
