Page 20 of A Very Crumbleton Christmas
‘Bloody actors!’ huffed Caroline, rolling her eyes at him.
Jack grinned at her. ‘Seriously though,’ he said, letting his voice drop to its normal pitch, ‘thank you for this. I think I’d still have had a half-naked tree when New Year rolled around if you hadn’t turned up.’
‘You’re very welcome,’ said Caroline. ‘It was fun. But… now that’s done, I think I’d better see if things have eased off out there. With any luck, I might be able to get home…’
Jack nodded, doing his best to ignore the sinking sensation in his stomach. He didn’t actuallywanther to leave… which was a bit of an odd realisation, considering the circumstances.
The pair of them moved to the window, and Jack couldn’t help but laugh.
‘That’d be a no, then,’ said Caroline.
‘Erm… yeah,’ said Jack. ‘That snow’s being far too enthusiastic for its own good… and I reckon if the beach is still white, the roadsdefinitelywill be too.’ He raised his hand and ruffled his hair, a sense of unaccustomed nervousness washing over him. ‘I guess you’re stuck with me.’
‘Nope,’ said Caroline, shaking her head, ‘I’m afraid it’s you who’s stuck with me. But I promise I’ll try not to be too much of a pain in the bum.’
‘I’ll hold you to that!’ said Jack. ‘Anyway, it’s just as well I’ve got plenty of food in. If this had happened yesterday, we’d be sharing half a dry crust of bread and a bowl of soggy cornflakes – without milk!’
Caroline crinkled her nose. ‘Wow, how the other half live!’
‘Right?’ chuckled Jack. ‘Not today, though. We’ll feast like the three kings, thanks to Brian.’
‘Brian?’ said Caroline. ‘You mean Brian Singer?’
‘My saviour!’ Jack nodded. ‘I’m not sure what I’d have done without him since buying this place. He brings me shopping so that I don’t have to out myself by visiting the supermarketor ordering online. Plus, he ferries me around whenever I’m in town. The man’s a saint, and he never tells anyone I’m here… well… not until today, I guess.’
‘Oh, it wasn’t Brian who told me!’ said Caroline quickly.
‘Really?’ said Jack, looking sceptical. ‘Trish then?’
‘No chance. Neither of them would dream of it! Lee, however…’ she glanced at Jack’s new bookcase.
‘Ohhhh!’ said Jack as the penny dropped. ‘I didn’t think he recognised me!’
‘Erm… yeah, he did,’ said Caroline. ‘And Lee is an idiot. Much as I love him…’
‘You do?’ said Jack. This admission didn’t make his stomach flip. Instead, it dropped right through the centre of the earth, and the Christmas lights suddenly lost all their charm.
‘We’ve known each other forever,’ said Caroline.
‘Oh. Well… that’s nice.’ Jack cringed. His voice had just gone all hard and cold.
‘It’s the only reason I let the plonker get away with being… well… himself!’ laughed Caroline.
‘So… how long have you two been together?’ said Jack, turning to head back through to the kitchen. Suddenly, he needed to get away from the festive scene.
‘Wait – EEW!’ said Caroline, grabbing at his hand and swinging him back towards her. ‘Together?!’
‘You and Lee,’ said Jack. ‘I mean, you said…’
‘Hell no!’ Caroline wrinkled her nose. ‘That would be like… EWW! He’s like my brother. No – not even that. Like an annoying cousin who turns up and ruins your Barbie dolls. I would never,everkiss…’
Jack started to laugh as Caroline tailed off and started to make barfing motions at the floor.
‘Okay, okay,’ he chuckled. ‘My bad! I got the wrong end of the stick.’
‘Wrong end of the entire forest, more like!’ said Caroline, staring at him with horror still in her eyes.
‘And you thinkI’mthe drama queen,’ said Jack, shaking his head.
