That word had literally never come out of my mouth before—and never should again. It was like when Colin-human once said Mum’s date-night dress “slayed.” Actual shudder.

Did you get panto tickets? Think Fred has a spare one for Wednesday??

A little white matchmaking lie never hurt anyone. Ruby and I had come up with the plan—she’d get a pair, and I’d do the setup.

Thanks but I’m already on it

Ouch. Was that a brush-off? Maybe facts about massacres weren’t her thing.

You didn’t answer though. Say yes and I’ll do an extra Christmas Cracker. I’ve got the best idea for a surprise for our moms

That sounded awesome, but handing over my holiday—me, a girl who packed turkey slippers—to someone who talked her way into first class on the plane sounded like nothing but a disaster.

And what if I don’t?

The holidays will be ruined hahahahhaha.

Sorry—slightly dramatic. How about if either of us don’t do them…

She was typing. And untyping. The suspense was too much.

Yes!!

But when I looked at my message flying out of my phone to Elle’s I yelped. I’d meant to say “Yes??” not “Yes!!”

What kind of twisted keyboard inventor would put ! and ? next to each other? She was going to think that was me agreeing to it.

But my message explaining didn’t send. And it didn’t send again. And it didn’t send even when I went back to where we’d started the conversation, waving my phone around as much as I could without causing a security alert. Wi-Fi, why have you dropped at this crucial time?! Why, Wi-Fi, whyyy?

I huffed so hard, I created a face full of steam.

Guess there was nothing I could do except wait for reception. And enjoy the lights. And fret. And buy emergency hot chocolate.

Which I finished in record time. I took aim with my empty cup at a bin that was a penguin with a giant hole for a mouth and threw.

I shot. I scored. I celebratory danced.

“Well, hello there.” A deep British voice popped up beside me. I stopped dancing, spun around, and saw someone I didn’t expect. Nick.

“What are you doing here?” He’d given me a fright. Mainly due to the fact he wasn’t wearing a coat. In the snow.

“Just testing out my British accent on strangers.” His voice was back to normal, and he almost, almost smiled. Maybe it was the cold affecting his face. “Or maybe I thought I’d come see if you’d found everything okay…”

Well, that was nice of him, especially as Jess said he had basketball practice. “I thought you were with your mates?”

This time he definitely smiled. “Mayyyyytes.”

“Needs work. See Daniel Radcliffe for details.”