Page 144 of Under the Mistletoe with You

‘But yeah, Shaz is the mastermind,’ Haf says.

‘Haf’s parents made it onto their cruise so we’re staying at theirs instead of squeezing in upstairs with you,’ Kit explains.

‘Unless you want us to.’Haf waggles her eyebrows.‘We can all get snuggly.’

‘I think he’s had enough only-one-bed this year,’ says Ambrose, and everyone but Christopher shushes, hushes and even hisses at them.‘What?’

‘Ixnay on the Ash-Nay,’ growls Haf.

‘What??’Ambrose repeats, looking around at the others.‘So what, we’re going to just avoid talking about it?’

‘Yes becausehis feelings are hurtand we’re trying to be sensitive about it,’ she urges.

Kit groans, her face in her hands.‘I think that ship has sailed.’

His heart aches with how much he loves his friends.‘Guys, it’s fine.We can talk about it.’He’s not ready to say his name out loud just yet.

Shaz takes his arm in hers.‘Are you sure?I only just got you out of your sadness pit.’

‘I prefer misery pit.But yes.It happened.He left.It sucks and I’m sad and no I haven’t heard anything from him and, yes, I ...technically have his number but I’m not going to be the first one to reach out either.That’s pretty much it.Now, let’s have a nice time together, shall we?’

There’s a pause as the others seem to digest this list of non-news, and he gets it.It is a weird end-of-a-situation to walk into while trying to be happy and excited and united.And he knows that’s why they’ve come – they want to cheer him up.But there’s nothing they can do except be here, which they are.

‘Can we see the cat?’blurts Haf.

‘Have you been waiting to ask that this whole time?’

‘God yes.We just, you know, had to do all the polite, normal-people bits first.’

They all file upstairs and find the cat curled up on the bed.On Nash’s side.Since he left, the cat has taken up residence there.Christopher wonders if the cat feels the lack of him too.

‘Oh, you’re so cute,’ babbles Haf, tickling the cat under the chin.‘Aren’t you the sweetest little creature?’

‘What’s their name?’Kit asks.

‘Karma/Felix/Paddington.’

‘Bit of a mouthful isn’t it, darling?’Laurel sniffs.

Shaz fills the kettle and flicks it on.‘Did you hear about his escapades with the puppies?He’s going to be a daddy twice over in two months’ time.’

‘Christ, please do not call me Daddy.Why do I always have to end up with a horrible nickname?’

Naturally, this leads to everyone calling him Daddy at every opportunity for the next few hours.They all squeeze into the living room, balancing cups of tea and gingerbread reindeer on armrests and tables and laps, as the cat weaves itself around them all.It feels so easy being together that time slips away, moving a little too fast if anything.The flat doesn’t feel quite so empty with all the people he loves packed in tightly.

Well.Almost all of them.

‘Right, I’m going to go get my glad rags on.See youse all in a bit?’says Shaz, and before she can get away from him, Christopher wraps her up in a huge hug.

‘Thank you, for everything,’ he whispers.

Once she’s gone, Laurel insists that they spend the next couple of hours getting ready and dancing and being silly.He finally remembers all the treats he’d made to bring to Christmas, still packed in his suitcase, and so hands them out to everyone, while Kit strictly controls the party playlist.It’s so nice, and just as he’s about to pick out something to wear, Ambrose holds out a wrapped parcel to him.

‘What’s this?’

‘Something I made.’

‘Youmade?’