So I did the only thing I could think of.

Grabbed his hand, and went back into the cinema to watch my date pretend to fall in love with someone else while I tried not to fall too hard for him.

CHAPTER

21

TO DO:

•Set alarm for Grace’s train

•Go get that yurt

•Update invites & send

•Make 69 snowflakes

•Brush teeth

•Wear Christmas pin

•Brush teeth again

•Remember not to smile like this around

Where Mum!!!!!! was I?

RING RING!

Why were my feet jingling?

I opened my eyes.

RING RING!

Hotel.

London.

JINGLE MY BELLS! LAST NIGHT WENT ON A DATE WITH JOSEPH D CHAMBERS!

I sat bolt upright, sending my laptop flying.

What were the rules around falling asleep while watching interview after interview with the boy you’d just been on a date with?

MUST delete my history asap.

RING RING!

I hit the alarm clock.

RING RING!

Oh, my phone!!!

I dug around in my duvet to find it. I maaaaay have fallen asleep clutching it, but Grace and I had a LOT to message about, as she’d been at her cousin’s wedding and her dad wouldn’t let her ring.

Her face popped up on screen.

“I want to hear every detail. EVERY look. Every word. Every silence.” I shuffled back on my pillow. I looked a big hairy mess on screen. A big hairy happy mess. “Every breath. Every sniff. Every…” She gave what I think was meant to be a brooding look.

I laughed.

“Would now be the time to say maybe I am into Christmas romance after all?”

Last night, during the film, as I’d watched confident on-screen Joseph make Maeve swoon, and real-life Joseph cringe into soda, I’d finally given up trying to control what I did and didn’t feel. Given up trying to pretend I didn’t like Jay. Given up trying to not enjoy a full-on, big cheesy Christmas dollop of romance.

“Now WOULD be the right time. In fact, the ONLY thing you’re allowed to talk about is yesterday.” Grace fanned her face. “My bestie is dating Joseph Chambers!!” She took some fast breaths. “MY BESTIE IS DATING JOSEPH CHAMBERS. Bry and Cate are going to be our in-laws. Your in-laws, our in-laws – whatever.” She swallowed. “Have not slept one bit. Here I was, excited about just watching the film, and you’ve gone and lived an even more romantic version of it.” She looked into the distance, a grin on her face. “Two main characters. Both gorgeous inside and out. From opposite sides of the Atlantic but destined to be together. Throwing popcorn. Rubbing out phone numbers. Soz I encouraged that, by the way.” I wasn’t getting a word in edgeways, was I? “The fundraising prizes?! The thoughtful mum biscuits?!” Genuinely was wondering if she liked him even more than me. “It’s all too much!? I mean, THIS is how you take off your boyfriend stabilizers?! With the most eligible guy in the world.” I still hadn’t said a word. “From popcorn covered lock-in … to true love.”

“Erm.” Probably should rein this in a bit. “One step at a time, Gracey. We haven’t even…”

“Kissed,” she said, matter-of-factly. “But that’s on the cards. Tonight’s plan. And what a location. The final stop of the Sleigh Another Day tour. In snowy London. Capital of romance. Molly Bell, waving to Joseph D Chambers’ legions of fans as the world realizes she’s his one true love, and the shipping begins. HARD.” She stopped for half a breath. “Molsephs? Jollies? Either way. I stan!”

I had to laugh. “Not sure it’s quite like that.” I was still having a hard time believing this was happening. That Jay, Joseph, really might like me. The real me.

I pulled back the curtain. It was still snowing.

Grace’s eyes widened. “Are there paps outside? You’ve got to lie low now, Mol. Girlfriend of the lead? The world will want a piece of you!”

I sat back on the bed, properly laughing. “First up, we’ve had one date. Sure, one quite eventful date, but only one. And second up, the world is NEVER finding out.” I’d made that really clear to Jay last night. One step at a time. I wasn’t ready for my life to go even weirder than with Elf Girl. “And thirdly, can you, my best friend, not already relegate me to girlfriend of someone famous? I’m actually a very talented, er, lyric writer, bass player…”

“Music producer,” Grace added.

“Why thank you … and, er, elf in my own right.”

But … girlfriend did have a nice ring to it.

“You’re grinning about being his girlfriend, aren’t you?”

“No,” I lied.

“You’re lying.”

“No.”

“I thought we said no secrets!!”

“Fine.” I couldn’t help but smile. “Maybe it is kind of…”