Page 17 of All I Want for Christmas

‘I know,’ Darcy shrugged. ‘Mental. The universe is messing with us.’ She looked sheepishly at her flatmate in the mirror. ‘I googled him when I got in, you know. Max the Lawyer, I mean.’

‘Yeah?’

‘He looks pretty well connected. I did an image search and he came up at a lot of grand, society-type events.’

‘Not that surprising if he’s on Raya. The whole point is it’s for that strata.’ Freja squirted some highlighter into her palm.

‘Yeah. He seems to know alotof beautiful women. Model types. I’m not sure PhD students quite cut the mustard.’

‘Youare the catch, babe, not him,’ Freja said loyally. ‘Remember that. If he wants to surround himself with vapid skeletons, let him. You deserve way more than some pretty fuckboy.’

‘I know that. But I thought the whole point of this was to provide me with some meaningless diversion over the Christmas holidays.’

‘He won’t be here over Christmas. His sort never are. He’ll be skiing in Gstaad or lying on a Harbour Island beach.’ Freja turned to look at her as she applied the highlighter to her cheeks. ‘Thing is, Darce, I know we’re calling this a post-Lars revengespree, but fundamentally, you’re a relationship girl. You catch feelings – a guy like that would be bad news for you.’

Darcy let her words settle, knowing her friend was right. She hadn’t been able to go through with going back to Erik’s last night, in spite of the fact she was tipsy and he was clearly keen. Max had been on her mind during every conversation. However much she wanted to see herself as a weapon of seduction, the evidence suggested otherwise.

‘Do you want my advice?’

‘I sense I’m going to get it anyway,’ Darcy said with a wry smile as she pulled on a fleecy hairband to hold her hair back.

‘Forget him. If he was calling another woman as he was walking away from you, he’s a serious player and he’s only going to hurt you. Remove the temptation now, before things can develop, and just move on. You’ve had enough turmoil lately. Keep things simple. We’re not looking for either loveordrama; just a little festive fun, so you’re not completely alone while you get your thesis done.’

Darcy stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked pale and slightly panda-eyed, traces of last night’s mascara remaining in spite of the fact she’d applied her micellar water three times. But last night, by Max’s side, his hand on her back as they walked, she’d felt beautiful, seductive; powerful, even. When was the last time she’d felt that? Had sheeverfelt that, in fact? Everything in her world had felt fundamentally different beside him.

‘You said Erik the Property Developer’s fuckable, right? And attentive and funny. That’s all you need. Nothing more, nothing less. Go with that package. Emotional slug can’t hurt you.’

Freja stuck her face in Darcy’s eyeline, forcing her to look away from her reflection – and deep thoughts – and make eye contact. Take notice.

‘Go on another date with Erik.’

‘No, he’s...Erik’s...’ Darcy wrinkled her nose. ‘It’s just not right between us. He’s too...flashy for me. He spent half an hour telling me about his watch collection.’

‘Hm.’ Freja made a disapproving sound. ‘Well, what about the third one?’

‘Aksel the Vet? He seems...sweet, I guess,’ she sighed, soaking a cotton wool ball with more eye make-up remover. The conversation with him was dull but ongoing, with a few faint flickers of life.

‘Yeah? Show me him again, I’ve forgotten which one he is.’

Darcy brought up his profile on her phone, watching as Freja flicked through the carousel of images.

‘Oh yes, the one with thegorgeouseyes,’ Freja said encouragingly, ever her hype woman.

‘Yeah, soulful. And he saves animals, so he’s a good human too.’

‘Total winner.’ Freja looked at her. ‘...Show me this Max, then.’

Darcy hesitated. ‘You didn’t like him. He’s the arrogant-looking one.’

‘I don’t remember,’ Freja shrugged. ‘Show me.’

Darcy brought up his profile, her breath catching as she saw again the haughty stare that had felt so mesmerizing in 3D.

‘Oh yeah,’ Freja breathed. ‘He looks...he looks...’ She swallowed. ‘Yeah. No one should be that hot.Totalfuckboy...No. I’m telling you, Darce, he’ll wreck you. Block him.’

‘But—’

‘No buts.’ Freja made the sign of a phone with her hands. ‘Mr Booty-Call?...Unmatch with him now. Let me see you do it.’

---