Page 25 of A Very Crumbleton Christmas
‘He didn’t,’ said Jack. ‘You… erm… mentioned it in the paper.’
Caroline peered intently at his face. ‘Waaaait!’ she gasped.
‘Anyway,’ said Jack, clearing his throat, ‘was this all the scripts?’
‘Don’t go changing the subject on me, Jones!’ she said, her eyes wide. ‘That was you, wasn’t it?’
‘I have no idea what you mean,’ said Jack lightly, flipping through a script as if his life depended on it.
‘It was! I knew it!!’ squealed Caroline. ‘Admit it!’
‘No comment,’ said Jack, shooting her a small smile.
‘Why on earth didn’t you put your name against it?’ said Caroline. ‘If you want to get on the right side of the locals, something like that woulddefinitelyadd to your street cred.’
‘I’m not saying Ididdonate that money,’ said Jack, ‘butifI did - it’s not about me. It was something important to Crumbleton… and definitelynotsome kind of publicity stunt!’
‘But—’
‘And that’s only if itwasme,’ he added. ‘Which I’m not saying it was.’
‘Fine. Fair enough,’ said Caroline. ‘But… if itwasyou, I know everyone in Crumbleton would want me to say thank you.’
‘I’m sure whoever it was would be grateful. Now which pile should I add this one to?’ he said, holding up the script, clearly keen to change the subject.
‘What’s it about?’ said Caroline.
‘Zombie dogs taking over the world,’ said Jack.
‘That would be… let me think… oh right – the bin pile!’
CHAPTER 8
JACK
Jack couldn’t believe how fast the time was disappearing. With the heavy blanket of clouds still covering the horizon, the daylight had faded fast.
‘I’m so glad you didn’t try to drive home!’ said Jack, tugging the heavy living room curtains closed to keep the room nice and toasty.
‘Erm… yeah,’ said Caroline, nodding from her perch on the old sofa. ‘I think I’d be stranded somewhere out on the marshes right about now… and I really don’t fancy that much. For one thing, I don’t even have a blanket in the car, and for another… no food!’
Jack grinned at her as the statement elicited a rumble from the vicinity of her stomach.
‘Oh my god,’ she laughed, clutching her belly. ‘Don’t tell me you heard that?!’
He nodded. ‘Sorry.’
‘Smooth!’
Jack laughed. ‘Well, thanks to Brian, I can do something about that.’
‘I can’t believe I have to slum it here with you instead of going back to my flat,’ said Caroline with a sigh. ‘I mean - beachside house… film star – what a let-down!’
‘I’m just Jack,’ he said. ‘I might be a sub-par actor, but I promise to feed you. Is there anything else I can get you, though? Anything you need? It looks like you’re going to be staying the night.’
Caroline paused and Jack raised his eyebrows at the look of longing on her face. He swallowed.
‘Erm… what? What is it?’ he said, his stupid voice coming out all husky again.
