Page 93 of Actually Yours

“What do you know?”

She narrows her eyes. “Amelia told me about Robby busting in on you guys last night. And that she gave you a Christmas card telling you how she feels and that you haven’t contacted her since.”

Oh. So she knowseverything.

“Yes, well. That’s all true,” I agree as Lilly sits down next to Bella, both of them with their arms crossed. “There’s been a bit to sort through, you know? With Robby…” I trail off when their expressions don’t shift.

Hmmm, what to do to get them on side?

“It’s really quite simple, Jake,” Bella says, unknowingly answering my unspoken question. “Do you care for Amelia? And if so, are you going to do anything about it?”

This I can answer. “I do and I am.”

Lilly grins at me. “Right answer. So, what are you doing here? Waiting for Amelia?”

“No!” They both jump. “No,” I repeat in a softer voice. “I came to talk to you both. You’re her best friends, and I want to make all of this up to her. The not returning her text, the whole Robby situation. All of it. I want to let her know how I feel in a way that she deserves and I want to do it right.”

They’re both silent, watching me with wide eyes.

“I need your help.”

“Well then.” Bella’s face is shining with happiness. “Our help you will get.”

“Starting with brownies!” Lilly bounces off to get us some treats, and I let out a relieved sigh.Part one, done. Friends are on my side. Now, we need a plan.

“What are you thinking?” Lilly places three plates filled with brownie and vanilla ice cream in front of us. I dig in immediately, chewing through my muddled thoughts.

“Amelia told me about the grand gesture Daniel did for you when the two of you started dating.” I swallow a big bite. “Maybe something like that?”

When Bella and Daniel were finding their way to each other, Daniel had copied a scene from Bella’s favourite TV show,Dawson’s Creek,and had won her heart with this gesture. Amelia had spoken of it often while dating Robby and I’d paid attention. I was always paying attention to Amelia.

“It was pretty romantic,” Lilly says while Bella blushes prettily. “Are you thinking something like that?”

I nod. “Amelia deserves to be wooed. Don’t you think? A grand gesture all of her own. She gave me what I needed with that Christmas card. I want to do the same for her.”

Bella’s face turns thoughtful. “That’s it. The Christmas card!”

“He can’t just give her a Christmas card back, Bella. That’s lame,” Lilly argues, while I silently agree.

“No, not the actual Christmas card,” Bella clarifies in a huff. “But where did the Christmas card idea come from?”

Lilly’s smile grows wide with recognition while I sit in the dark.

“Where? I’m confused.”

“Jake, have you ever seen the movieLove, Actually?”

I search through the recesses of my brain. It sounds familiar. “Maybe?”

Bella scoffs. “You men can’t ever remember anything important. It’s only the most iconic Christmas movie ever. With Hugh Grant playing the role of the Prime Minister of England?”

This is ringing more bells and the image of Hugh Grant dancing on the stairs to some old 70s songs floats through my brain. “Is that the one with all the different storylines happening at the same time?”

“That’s it!” They both look proud of me and my chest puffs.

“And it was while we were watching this movie that Amelia came to the realisation that it has always been you. Hence the Christmas card.”

I’m confused again. “Huh?”

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