Wow. He sent me a picture of him on the London Eye—this from someone who sometimes got vertigo when looking out of his bedroom window.

I guess, despite knowing she wasn’t available, he was still totally into her.

OH AND YOU’LL NEVER GUESS WHO I RAN INTO ON THE TRAIN BACK?

I asked him who, but he’d gone. And that’s why phones should be charged more than once every three days, Fred.

But as chill as Fred was, I couldn’t make myself not be mad about what happened. My friends had done so much with Elle—and she’d just ditched Fred? Fueled by the adrenaline of friend loyalty, I messaged Elle and asked if she was around tomorrow for a chat. But she sent back a short reply saying she was busy. Weird. As far as I knew, the only thing she had planned was the Christmas market.

“So we’re literally in a place that looks like a snowman barfed—and your face looks like…that?” Nick looked concerned.

“Numb bum.” I didn’t want to go into it. “Jury’s out on if snowballs make the best cushions.”

“Come on, then.” Nick stood up and reached for my hand. “We can watch Gremlins for real when we get home. But for now…” He looked toward the large stand behind a huge, hanging red curtain. “How about I get a picture of you in that?”

How had I missed it?! Behind the curtain was a huge, twenty-foot-high snow globe with real trees and a real NYC cab inside. In the background was a mini Statue of Liberty, the ice rink at Central Park, and an Empire State Building.

“Nick! It’s…” I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “It’s my snow globe.” Uh-oh, my voice was shaking like it wanted to cry. “In r-real life?!” I gulped. Not only was this a little emosh, and a bit weird, but it was also categorical proof Ruby was an actual wizard. “Is this Christmas magic or what?!”

“Well…I mean. They are kind of famous landmarks…” He saw my face. “But sure, yes. Christmas magic. You want to go in?”

“Together or not at all.”

He stepped back. “It’s not really my thing.”

’Course not. Way too Christmassy and cheesy. But I had guilt on my side. “Pleeeeease?” I’d gone low, but I could go lower. “It is meant to be my perfect Christmas trip…”

So in we went—the fake-snow fans firing up as a lady shouted poses at us. “Throw snowballs! Sexy spin! FROLIC!” Watching Nick not wanting to do it, but also not wanting to look rude, was a Christmas present in itself.

They emailed us the GIF straightaway—hilarious but I loved the strip of photos even more.