But Grace shook her head, her disappointment so very clear.

“I guess that’s my answer then.” She grabbed the handle of her case. “My train home is leaving in four minutes.”

“Please!” I shouted, as she turned to go. “Whatever you do, don’t call it off!”

I was going to fix this!

But when she looked back, there was a tear rolling down her cheek.

“And you know the worst thing?” She stopped and caught her breath. “It’s not even that you messed up.” Her voice started to break. “It’s that you said no more secrets – and I believed you.”

CHAPTER

23

TO DO:

•Find a venue / build a venue / JUST GET A

•VENUE Get Grace to talk to me (cookies?? Photos of Sosig in costumes??)

•Don’t cry

•Buy waterproof mascara

“Anything more from the Christmas Cheer menu?” One of our hotel waiters dressed as an elf offered a tray of reindeer-decorated breakfast muffins and Christmas-tree-shaped pastries. Could he not see I was one Christmas item away from bursting back into tears?!

I hadn’t slept a bit. I’d spent the night staring at my phone, hoping for Grace to read any of my messages, pick up any of my calls. At least let me explain.

All these years I’d thought the worst thing that could happen to me would be everyone finding out about that stupid Christmas song. About my elf past. About who my family really was.

But Grace being mad at me was worse. WAY worse.

Forget being an elf. I was the worst best friend on the planet.

I’d left messages begging her to not cancel Grampy G’s Grotto, saying I’d sort it, even though I had no idea how – but I didn’t even know if she’d got them.

And Joseph had rung and rung me, but I hadn’t turned up to meet him and I think he was getting the message I didn’t want to hear anything he had to say. His voice messages said the photo of Maeve wasn’t what it looked like. Sure. That he didn’t know how anyone had got the photo of us either.

Uh-huh

Blocking and deleting someone had never felt so good. I’d deleted my social apps too.

He’d never cared about me. Why would he? I was just stupid Little Elf Girl Molly. He’d probably shared our photo with someone for a laugh.

“Think we’re OK for Christmas cheer,” my mum said softly to the waiter, who was staring in alarm at me stabbing my candy cane croissant like it was personally responsible for Grace not speaking to me. For Grampy G’s Grotto being ruined. For me letting my guard down and trusting Joseph.

“Can I interest you in a paper instead?”

Why did I look up? WHY? As he flicked through options, right there on the front pages was that picture of Maeve and Joseph.

MERRY KISSMAS FOR SLEIGH ANOTHER DAY STAR COUPLE

I dropped my head on to the table, the expensive silver knives and forks rattling. I bet Elijah was already popping the champagne! Eurgh. Deep breath, Mol. Try not to be a Christmas grouch, not around Billy. But it was so hard when I was mad at everything – most of all myself.

“Think we’ll go freshen up in our rooms,” Mum said politely, allowing us to escape to the lifts.

“Don’t worry, Mols…” Billy put her hand in mine, gluing us together with the chocolate spread that was all over her fingers. “Mum said we could go to Hamleys, and that makes everything better.”

Oh yes, five floors of toys and bright lights and Christmas and cheerful people, when all I wanted to do was lie in a dark room and wait till February, or whenever it was that Grace started speaking to me again. If she started speaking to me again.

“Sounds ace.” I mustered all the smile I could. “You can give me some Christmas present ideas…” Although the only idea I really needed was how to save Grampy G’s Grotto.

“Mols…” Mum whispered. She looked concerned. “Don’t look now, but…”

Too late.

“I hoped I’d find you here.” Joseph?!

What was he doing here?! I never wanted to see his face again, not even on a poster from very far away.

I turned my back as he hurried over, snow still on his hair and coat. “Hope it’s OK to interrupt.” It wasn’t. “Hiya, Mrs B. Billy, cool hairclips.”

They were sparkly with unicorns on. Billy normally had beef with unicorns as she felt they tried to steal horses’ thunder, but these were cute.

I folded my arms. Read the room slash hotel lobby, Joseph. You’re not wanted here.

“Surprised to see you so early, Joseph,” Mum said frostily. “Seems you had quite the busy day yesterday.” Mum gave him a cool micro-smile. Yes, Mum!

DING. The lift arrived. “And that’s our cue to leave.” Mum stepped straight in, holding Billy’s hand. But I didn’t move. I bet Joseph was so used to everyone sucking up to him because he was famous, but I was ready to tell him exactly what an idiot he was.

“My sister’s the best, by the way,” Billy called through the gap. “And you’re terrible at riding. And unicorns aren’t cool. Everyone knows that.”

The doors snapped shut.

Yup. My family were the greatest.

“Molly.” Joseph stepped between me and the lift. “Please can I explain? It’s not what it looks like.”

No comment. I’d give him no comment!

“What, you slipped, fell, landed on Maeve’s face?”

Was I more mad about the kiss, that he’d shared the photo and it had ended up online, or that I’d been so honest with him and all he’d done was lie?

“It wasn’t a kiss, I promise.” He kept his voice low, looking round to check no one could hear. “Like I said, it was work?!”

Work? It was a couple selfie of him and Maeve!