Page 11 of The Christmas Holiday
‘There’s a lot about me you don’t know.’
The fact that I wasn’t remotelyfriendly with any A-list actors and had done nothing more than be in Bradley Cooper’s way earlier this evening was neither here nor there. For some reason, it seemed to irk Hunter and, after his behaviour today, I was going to take full advantage of that fact.
‘I just wanted to say I’d appreciate it if you’d stop trying to get me bumped from this now. It’s an opportunity that might not comeagain so I’d be grateful if you didn’t do your best to try and ruin it for me.’
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘What I mean is that we’re both on this job now and obviously that’s not ideal. But it is the case and while you get to pick and choose your assignments now you’re Mr Big Shot, I still have to grab an opportunity like this with both hands. And that’s made ten times harder whenthere’s someone trying to yank it out of them!’
He’d been looking off into the middle distance, and now drifted his gaze back to me. ‘Are you done?’
‘Are you?’
He shrugged. ‘Fine. Liv and Sandy can’t say I didn’t warn them.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘It means I think there are better people for this assignment but I can’t do anything about it.’
‘I don’t think it’sgot anything to do with them or the job, Hunter. I think it’s because the thought of having to spend time with me clearly isn’t one you relish.’
‘Or maybe it’s both,’ he said, sticking his arm out to hail a black cab.
‘Right,’ I said. ‘I see.’ I swallowed hard and made a show of busying myself with my scarf as I took in his blunt statement. A cab pulled up alongside us and I got in, directingthe driver to London Bridge station. I would have been happy to get the Tube, but Olivia and Sandeep had insisted I get a taxi. The flat was close to the station so it was always just easier to get one to there.
‘I’ll share if you don’t mind,’ Hunter said, jumping in the cab after me. ‘I’m heading that way myself.’
‘I’m surprised you’re not getting a separate one, seeing as how spendingany sort of time with me is clearly so repellent to you.’
‘I never said you were repellent.’
‘Neither did I! I just said the… oh, never mind.’ I slumped back in the seat.
He gave me a look and seemed about to say something, but stopped. ‘This way we only have to bill the client for one cab ride. I like Liv and Sandy. Yes, they’ve got pots of money between them but that doesn’t meanI take advantage.’
‘And I suppose you think I would.’ It wasn’t a question and I didn’t have any energy left to argue with him. I was mentally exhausted. I was ecstatic over the job, and ordinarily I’d have been bursting with excitement, but it was hard to get excited when the person you were going to be spending the next couple of months with couldn’t stand the sight of you.
‘I don’tknow, Mia.’
I stared at him for a moment, shocked he really did think I was that low. Turning my head, I looked out of the window, opting not to answer at all.
He frowned momentarily. ‘We haven’t seen each other in five years. Time changes people.’ He paused. ‘But no, I don’t think you would.’
I kept silent. The cab pulled up at the station and I handed over the money quicker thanHunter could. The driver gave me a receipt in return. I stepped out one side and Hunter got out the other. Keeping my cool, I pushed the door closed on the cab as Hunter strode around the car. His eyes flicked over me.
‘Mia, yo—’
‘Please don’t say any more, Hunter. This has been a difficult enough evening for both of us. I just hope that now we can…. Arrrrgh!’ The cab pulled away witha corner of my scarf caught firmly in its door. It yanked me to the side and I overbalanced. Hunter wrapped one arm firmly around me and with the other banged on the roof of the cab. It halted immediately. The window buzzed down and an assortment of colourful words tumbled out. Hunter held up his free hand and quickly explained the situation. The tirade stopped and my scarf was set free. I croakedan apology. The driver nodded and pulled away again, this time uninterrupted.
Hunter’s arm was still around me.
‘You all right?’
So long as feeling like an absolute idiot doesn’t count, then sure, I’m absolutely bloody peachy!
‘Thanks.’ I nodded stiffly, acting terribly British and hoping that single action and word covered everything.
‘Guess I’ll see you at the airport then.’
‘Yes. I guess so.’ Silence. ‘Are you getting a train?’
He shook his head. ‘No,’ he said, checking his watch. ‘I’ve got a friend just down the road. I think I’m going to stay there tonight.’
Can anyone say booty call?
‘Right. That’s nice then.’
That’s nice then? Jesus, Mia.
The smallest of smiles flickered at the corners of his lips. ‘See you in a few days, Mia.’ With that,he turned and walked away, shoving his hands in the pockets of his impeccably cut woollen coat, the collar turned up against the chill of the wind. I watched him for a moment before turning away and heading in the opposite direction to my flat.
