Page 123 of Make You Mine This Christmas

‘I know you and my brother have some kind of extremely weird friendship, but maybe don’t mention this to him,’ she whispers.

Haf scoffs. ‘I think there’s a firm “Don’t talk about sex” rule, anyway, never mind when it involves you.’

As Kit reaches for the bronzed lock, Haf says, ‘I don’t...’ but the rest of the words die on her tongue.

‘I can’t promise it’ll happen again, Haf,’ Kit says softly, as if knowing exactly what Haf was thinking. ‘It probably shouldn’t have happened to start with.’

‘Wait . . . what?’

‘I’m still not ready to talk about it.’

‘But you’re ready to fuck?’ Haf asks, her voice rising. ‘Don’t act like this was just blowing off steam.’

‘It wasn’t, but I can’t ignore all the weird shit going on. Most of the time, I’m trying to decide whether I want to kick you or kiss you.’

‘Fifty per cent is good odds, though I suppose you could do both.’ It comes out sharper than she means it to be, and Kit fixes her with a hard stare.

‘I’m serious, Haf. All this? As much as I can admit it could be great, eventually... the price of admission is high.’

‘What are you talking about?’ Her voice wavers, and she wishes it hadn’t, but seriously, being dragged into a supply closet for sex seemed like a pretty definitive choice. But as Kit blinks furiously at her, she realises that she’s got it wrong.

‘Haf, I don’t generally care what my parents think, but even this – me stealing my brother’s girlfriend—’

‘Fake girlfriend,’ Haf mutters.

‘—might be more fucking weirdness than I can handle. And bless him, but Christopher couldn’t locate a spine on an anatomical model. He’s never going to tell them it was all a lie, so that’s the only scenario we as a couple would exist in. Is that how you want this to start? With everyone we know thinking you’re a cheat and I’m fucking horrible?’

She wants to defend Christopher, but all that comes out is, ‘Right, well, if you could let me know that you’re still just thinking about it before you fuck me next time, that would be great.’

There’s no more to say, and Kit ends the conversation by filling her arms with items from the list before bustling out of the cupboard into the garage. Haf follows silently, and Kit loads her arms with more ingredients, and then they’re back in the kitchen, and Kit disappears down the hallway. It’s just one huge blur.

She sets everything down on one of the clear counters, and Esther doesn’t even comment on her prolonged absence,probably because she’s surrounded by chopped and peeled vegetables in bowls of water ready to be used.

Haf excuses herself to the bathroom, and sits down on the closed lid, phone in her hand.

Haf:I did something stupid

Ambrose:hot and sexy stupid, or just plain stupid?

Haf:Both

Ambrose:please tell me you did not fuck that girl

Haf doesn’t reply.

Ambrose:wow ok

Ambrose:was it at least good????

Haf:Way too good

Haf:Like bucket-list good

Ambrose:are you planning on expiring?

Ambrose:at least I can say you died doing what you loved, shagging someone you shouldn’t

Haf::(