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!
Now I knew who he was, I noticed how many people stared wherever he went.
Well, let them look. They could find out who he really was.
“Work. Yeah, totally.” I flashed the quickest fake smile. “Come to think of it, that’s what all my photos with my friends look like too.” I rolled my eyes. “Sorry, not friend. ‘Better Half’.” I was not going to hold back. I couldn’t. “Oh, and nice work on sharing the photos with whoever. Nice touch. Really private.” Joseph took a deep breath in, like he was composing himself. “In fact, why are you even here? Haven’t you got some famous friends to hang out with? Not ‘fans’ like me.” He was leaving the country in a few days; couldn’t he just leave me alone?
“I’m here because I wanted to talk to you.” He paused, his voice serious. “There’s nothing going on with me and Maeve. Never has been.”
“I was wrong about the acting, by the way. You’re actually quite good.”
I was done with this. Time to go. I pressed the lift button.
“Honestly, Mol.”
I tried not to snort. Honest and him did not go together.
“Sure. I heard you tell the interviewer that.” I hated that my voice was wobbling. I hated that I could picture his grin when he’d said it. “Heard you laughing at the ‘just a fan’ you’d been hanging out with.”
“Mols.” Joseph grabbed my arm. I shook his hand straight off me. I wasn’t his to touch. I jabbed the lift button on repeat. “It’s not like that. That photo wasn’t us kissing, it was Maeve and me goofing around. When I said I liked you, I meant it.”
