Page 123 of Under the Mistletoe with You

In the group chat, Haf replies to a message sent earlier that’s just a Twitter link.

Haf:Open this

Christopher:I don’t have Twitter.

Ambrose:it doesn’t matter just open it!!!!!!

It’s a tweet that says ‘spotted on TikTok: Nash Nadeau in Wales??’

It has hundreds of retweets and quote tweets, and so many thousands of likes that there’s only a ‘K’ after the first three numbers.Attached to the tweets are grainy screenshots from a video, zoomed in as far as possible, showing Nash in the kitchen.

A cold shiver runs down his back.

‘Oh fuck,’ groans Nash, peering at the screen.

Laurel:I think I found the source.Do you happen to know this teenager?

At the same time, a screenshot and a TikTok link arrive in the chat from Laurel and Ambrose respectively.And while Christopher might not understand TikTok, he does absolutely recognise the heavily eyelinered teenager smiling and grimacing at the camera, dancing around a café,his café, showing off all the things they have been cooking for Christmas dinner and the beautiful table settings she spent all morning on.

It’s Tegan.

And when he plays the video just for a flash in the background you can clearly see Nash and Christopher working in the kitchen.It’s not the best-lit shot, but it’s very clearly him.

Ambrose:there’s a whole hashtag where they’re cross-referencing Nash in the background with side profiles from his films, it’s wild

Ambrose:his fans were sharing it with each other

Haf:And somehow that got out of fan circles onto like everyone’s Twitter

Laurel:It’s all over Instagram too.They think you’re re-enacting one of your films or doing it for PR.The press has gotten hold of it too, and keep talking about a deal?

‘Oh FUCK.’Nash turns a spectacular shade of green for someone with a seemingly permanent California tan, and starts pacing back and forth in the kitchen.

Christopher:Christ this is bad.Thank you for warning us.

Ambrose:idk how we can help with this one im sorry

Haf:Do you have a Santa costume lying around?Perfect disguise right now?

Kit:Or, you could just hide him upstairs?

Laurel:That’s terribly dull darling.What about the possibility for hijinks?

‘What do we do?’he asks Nash.

‘I have no idea.But I’m fucked if this gets back to my team, which it probably will, even though it’s Christmas Day.And I’ve heard that the British paparazzi can be vicious.’

There is no script for how to proceed here, and Christopher is floundering.He needs to help Nash, but how?

‘Do you think any press will even be able to get here?The roads are still pretty bad, right?’Nash splutters.

His gut twists.That van.What if the van that pulled up outside is the press?

How are they going to even explain this?Though the press obviously know Nash is trans, they otherwise seem to think he’s a somewhat reclusive straight man.What if this outs him?What will that do to his career options?He’s spiralling, and they need help.They need Shaz.

‘Shaz,’ he calls, trying to keep his voice calm but deeply aware he’s doing thatwe need your help because a crisis is unfoldingvoice.

‘What’s up?’She walks into the kitchen bringing a stack of dirty plates with her.‘Is a crisis unfolding?You’re doing your stressed voice.’