Page 71 of Under the Mistletoe with You

‘Are you sure you slept enough?’Christopher says, swerving the conversation away from logistics for now.They can pick it up later when he feels less like a barely held together ball of anxiety.‘I always thought I was an early riser but you always seem to beat me.’

‘I think that’s the jet lag, but yeah.Once I’m awake, I’m up.I find it hard to just sit still,’ he admits, pouring the last of the batter into the pan.‘It’s why acting works for me because there’s always something to learn or I have to be up early in make-up, or doing press or whatever.Someone’s always telling me where to go.’

‘That sounds exhausting.’

‘It is, but I think I thrive off it a little.’

While the compote slowly cooks down, Christopher sets the table for two.Once everything is ready, Nash piles up two short stacks of pancakes, topped with icing sugar and deliciously sweet blueberry goodness.It’s a weirdly domestic situation, sitting here with him, eating pancakes.Really good pancakes, at that.

‘Have you heard anything from Christmas HQ?’Nash asks, and when Christopher gives him a confused look adds, ‘The town hall?Shaz.’

‘Oh.I haven’t checked my texts yet.Sorry, I thought you were asking if I’d had a message from Santa.’

‘And have you?’

‘Not this year.’

‘Pity.Feel like he might have some philosophical insight into this deeply weird situation.Anyway, we should probably go be good helper elves and head over to the town hall after we’ve eaten.’

‘Community centre.’

‘Right, this place is not big enough for thetownpart.’

‘It’s a good thing your pancakes are delicious.And yes, I just need to check in with my sister before we go.I think she’s a bit worried I’m ignoring her.’

‘And are you?’

That throws him.Well, he’s notnotignoring her.But the missing them and the whole Nash of it all means that there’s a big conversation to be had when he finally does get in touch.‘Maybe a little,’ he admits.

‘I should probably speak to my agent too.I am avoiding him.’

‘Perhaps we can be brave and face them both.’

Nash laughs.‘Oh, it’ll take more than a pact over pancakes to psych me up for that call.’

He says no more, and Christopher still feels a little strange about probing given the wholeI know your entire film catalogueof it all.Though, he does wonder what has got Nash all tangled up.

Full of sugar and pancakes, they clean down the kitchen, once again in companionable silence, but moving in a gentle rhythm around each other.Nash packs away the remaining pancakes, and Christopher puts them in the fridge to keep them fresh.

It’s strange how in sync they are here even though Nash has only been here two days.How has it only been two days?And, given it’s almost Christmas, he’s going to be here at least three more nights.Maybe even longer.

‘I didn’t see any signs the cat had been back when I got up,’ Nash says, checking the window is closed.‘Do you want to go look for it while we’re out?’

‘We should prioritise helping everyone out.But yes.Please.’Normally, he might have felt a little awkward admitting that he really wanted to go out into the snow to find a cat, but then there have been so many embarrassing moments in the last twenty-four hours that this barely even registers.‘I’m just going to text my sister.Shall we aim to leave in about fifteen, twenty minutes?’

Nash nods, and disappears off into the bedroom, perhaps to make his own excruciating phone call.

Christopher takes the sofa and makes an executive decision to not read back up through the Spanks Squad group chat.It’ll take him ages, given that WhatsApp has stopped actually tallying how many messages he has and instead has just added a helpful plus sign to the number.He’s also not sure he wants to see what they’ve been discussing, even though he knows that’s avoidant of him.And true, he could message Kit and Haf directly, but somehow, with Laurel and Ambrose there too, this feels easier.

Christopher:Morning everyone.Sorry I’ve been a bit AWOL.There was a meeting called yesterday and I’ve been helping out the other villagers, cooking and driving the van up to people.Just wanted to reassure you all I’m all right.

Haf:oh thank God.I was worried you’d gone all hermit on us.

Christopher:All hermit?

Ambrose:she thought you were wallowing.i said you were fine.

Haf:Yeah but he hadn’t told ME that had he?Or Kit.