Page 128 of Under the Mistletoe with You

Nash shrugs.‘The unseasonal desire for sausage?’

‘Stop,’ hisses Christopher.‘I’m too tired for your mischief.’

‘I doubt that.You love it.’

Christopher could swear there’s a hitch in the air.That word spoken out loud, even in jest, feels so awkward, like it’s ripe for misconstruing.Either way, Nash decides to steamroller past it.

‘We should call him Karma.’

‘Because he stole my sausages and now I’ve imprisoned him?’

‘No, because of the song lyric, you know?’He points at the cat curled up in Christopher’s lap, purring like a steam train.

‘Did ...did you just make a Taylor Swift reference at me, Nash Nadeau?’

‘Don’t look so surprised.I’m a man of taste.I saw the Eras tour.Plus, you’re the one who recognised it.’

‘Fair point.And yes, I quite like a few of her songs.Just as long as you don’t start singing—’

‘Darlin’ aye fancy yewwww,’ Nash sings in his very loud faux cockney accent.After delivering his performance, he leans back and laughs loudly, extremely pleased with himself.It’s terribly annoying, but Christopher can’t help but smile.

‘There it is.’

‘Well, you are a London Boy.’

‘Not any more.And arguably, it was only temporary.I’m an Oxlea boy, if you want to be technical.’

Nash waves this away like it’s far too much detail.‘Close enough.’

‘It really isn’t.’

‘Has no one sung that to you before, really?’

‘Surprisingly no.Thank you for bringing about that experience for me.’He feels heat in his cheeks.Every word feels heavy, laden with some deeper meaning, nowthat they’re just sitting here alone again after another busy day.Perhaps he’s just overthinking things, but obviously Nash picks up on it too because he raises his eyebrows and laughs awkwardly.

‘Stop it,’ groans Christopher.God this infuriating man.

‘You’re the one who is being all weird.Look, you’ll upset the cat.’

Naturally, the cat looks completely unbothered, and has started softly snoring in his lap.

‘Fine, if not Karma, which personally I think is a fun little suggestion, what are you going to call him?’

‘I was thinking something classic.Perhaps something like Felix.’

‘When I used to make my videos, I had, like, three British trans friends called Felix.’

‘I’m not sure what to do with that information, Nash.’

Nash clearly doesn’t know either, because he just repeats Christopher’s words back in a sleepy bad English accent, before yawning loudly.

‘Do you need to eat?’They had come upstairs with a plate of leftovers each, but they had put them in the fridge wrapped in clingfilm for later.After cooking all day, Christopher is not sure he’s even that hungry right now, but he knows Nash hasn’t eaten anything for a while.Is it weird that he noticed that?He hopes not.

‘You could call him Paddington?’Nash says as the cat’s ears stand up straight and he hops over to Nash’s lap instead.

‘Why?’

‘A little lost creature that you rescued ...’