Page 89 of All I Want for Christmas

‘Okay, yes, exactly. That’s a big bloody statement to make in front of the entire company, especially when you’re there on a placement. It will complicate things with your manager. Why rush into this?’

Freja shot her a sheepish look. ‘Because it’snotactually as rushed as you think...There were mutual feelings for a while before anything happened between us.’

Darcy’s eyes narrowed. ‘Define a while.’

‘Since the first day I got there.’

‘In September?’ Darcy was shocked. ‘But you never said anything.’

‘Of course not! He was the top dog, and I just figured it was a crush. I never for a minute thought anything would happen between us –’ she leaned in closer, dropping her voice – ‘but any time I would see him, my body would go into full blue light mode – sirens in my head, lights flashing. I could hardlybreathein his presence, Darce.’

‘Please do. I prefer my friends breathing.’

‘Then when we first got it on at the conference, I still just assumed it’d be a fling. I figured I’d just enjoy it for whatever it was. You know me.’

‘I certainly do,’ Darcy nodded.

‘But the thing is...it’s not a fling. I actually think this is the real deal.’ Freja looked nervous as she spoke, as if she was admitting to a dirty secret. ‘He’s the one, Darce.’

‘Stop that Hallmark talk!’ Darcy scoffed. ‘There’s no such thing as The One.Youtold me you can have plenty of Ones.’

But Freja looked at her pityingly. ‘It’s true what they say: when you know, you know. The body knows. It always knows. This –’ she pointed to her heart – ‘knew long before this did.’ She pointed to her head.

‘It’s called lust. It’ll pass.’

‘Darce, you know me. I’m a scientist. I’m a logical person. I live by rules and metrics. I’m not “that girl”. And yet...’ Her voice trailed off.

‘And yet, now everything is puppies and poems?’

Freja grinned. ‘Exactly. Shoot me already.’

‘I fully intend to,’ Darcy muttered, eating her chilli with appetite. ‘...Well, just so long as you don’t want me to be happy for you both.’

Freja laughed. ‘I’m worried your heartbreak and celibacy are going to kill my vibe! We could always hit up another three guys on Raya for you?’

‘No!’ Darcy said quickly. ‘Uh-uh. I’m far too busy now, and this first trio have caused me quite enough drama already.’

‘True...I still can’t believe you struck out on all three.’

‘Thanks!’ Darcy gave a sarcastic thumbs-up. ‘So, the dress, then – did you get one?’

‘You better believe I did. I was in the changing rooms before he could say-lentino.’ Freja gave an excited squeal.

‘Describe.’

‘Long. Red silk. Tight. It sort of drapes a bit at the front and drops off on one shoulder.’

‘So...quiet and discreet, then? No one will notice you in that.’

‘If I’m going to have a Valentino dress, it may as well be a Fuck-Off Valentino dress. I’ll probably never have another one for the rest of my life.’

‘Well, unless you marry the g—’ Darcy looked up beforeshe finished the sentence and met Freja’s gaze. ‘...Oh God, you don’t think...?...Amsterdam?’

Freja’s mouth had fallen open. ‘...No.’ Her brow furrowed. ‘...No...I mean...he wouldn’t...Would he...?’

‘He might,’ Darcy breathed. ‘He is old, remember.’

Freja lobbed a kidney bean at her.

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