‘Open it.’ Nate nods in encouragement.
I lift the lid and tear away the tissue paper impatiently. Another bauble gleams back at me. This one is a gorgeous pale rose-gold embellished with Swarovski crystals. But that’s not the best thing about it. The selfie Nate took of us the night we went to see the lights being turned on stares back at me from the centre.
Tears prick the back of my eyelids. ‘Wow, Nate. It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s the most thoughtful gift ever.’
It’s not the beauty of it. It’s the sentimental value. Because one day, all of this will be a distant memory, but now I’ll always have a part of Nate and this surreal, special time that I can hold in my hands.
‘I’m glad you like it. Who knows, maybe it’ll become our new tradition.’
Something dangerous like hope blooms in my chest, unfurling like a flower in spring.
Before I can come up with a coherent reply, his warm lips dust over mine with a fervour that conveys so much more than ‘like.’
ChapterTwenty-Five
NATE
14th December
‘Yoohoo! Nate! Over here.’ The screeching of my mam’s voice is unmissable as she charges through the castle’s wrought iron doors and barges straight onto set.
Penny Jackson is not known for her subtlety. In a red knee-length trench coat, she looks every bit as festive as the rest of us who are actually in costume.
‘Cut,’ Max yells, his head whipping round in frustration at the interruption. A collective sigh ensues from the cast.
The scene we were filming was really intense. My character has to break some horrific news to his love. The atmosphere is tense enough without the arrival of my theatrical mother.
‘Oh, sorry, am I interrupting?’ Mam ploughs on past Max, not really giving a fuck what she’s interrupting.
‘Ten-minute recess,’ Max sighs, resignedly.
Olivia tuts and stalks off, presumably in search of caffeine because I’ve yet to see her actually eat anything the entire time we’ve been here.
Holly, on the other hand, continuously munches on the endless supply of sandwich platters. She’s not fussy. It’s one of the things I love about her.
Not that I’ve told her that yet. Because once I do, there will be no going back, and I’m not sure either of us is prepared for that. She’s only just beginning to trust me enough to open up, and I refuse to do anything to jeopardise that.
‘Oh, Nate, it’s so good to have you home.’ Mam’s arms wrap around my shoulders as she pulls me down to her level for a hug. Dad hovers behind, slapping my arm with a solid, manly greeting.
‘I didn’t expect you until tomorrow.’ It doesn’t matter how big you get. How old you get. How wealthy. Or how successful. Even international movie stars have to suck it up when their parents turn up and embarrass them at work.
‘Your dad finally finished Mrs Farrow’s kitchen.’ Mam shakes her silver bob in mock despair. ‘If we left it another day, he’d have taken on something else and then we’d have never got here. He’s on about ripping out our kitchen next, and putting a new one in. I mean, this close to Christmas? Bloody madness if you ask me.’
‘Right.’ I disentangle myself from my parents and scan the room for Holly. She’s hovering next to Macy and her array of festive costumes. Not sure the Santa one will ever be the same after the other day, but hey ho.
‘Though, I suppose it would be nice having a brand-new shiny kitchen to cook the Christmas dinner in. A new double oven. You are staying for Christmas, Nate, right?’ She barely pauses for breath, taking in my appearance from head to toe. ‘You look tired. This movie’s definitely taking it out of you.’
I don’t tell her it’s the five-foot-three brunette across the room who’s taking it out of me. Every. Single. Night.
Though Mam would only love those kind of details.
Oh, God, I’m not sure Holly’s ready for this. I’d have liked a bit more time to prepare her for Penny and Frank ‘zero boundaries’ Jackson.
My parents are going to love her. Double points because she’s Irish. They’ll be hoping our new romance will mean I’m home more.
Maybe it will, because given our conversation round the Christmas tree, it looks as though neither of us are willing to put an end date on our relationship.
Last night, I emailed Jayden an official statement to send out, announcing my split with Celeste. It will air tomorrow. Celeste can go to Hollywood’s Annual Christmas Awards night with Spike if he gets invited. And the donation I just made to American Addicts Support Society was substantial enough to fund them for the following year without any other aid.
