‘How are you?’ Cal asked, his eyes scanning my face.
‘Fine, thanks.’ I looked down at my shoes.
‘Are you embarrassed about something?’
‘What?’ I looked back up.
‘It’s just that your cheeks are quite red …’
I gave him a rap with the large candy cane I’d had hanging in my belt. ‘Very funny. Anyway, what are you doing here? Xander had assured me that you wouldn’t be coming tonight. Some meeting or something?’
Cal took the cane off me and studied it for a moment before beginning to twirl it between his fingers, absent-mindedly.
‘Finished early, luckily for me,’ he said.
‘Unluckily for me.’
‘Wow. I’ve made that good an impression?’ Cal took a small step back and I suddenly realised how that sounded.
‘Oh no! I mean … I just sort of hoped you wouldn’t be here tonight.’
‘Right.’ He gave a nod.
‘Not because I didn’t … it’s just that … oh for goodness’ sake, Cal. Look at me!’
He took the step back closer again. ‘I am looking.’
‘I look a complete idiot.’
‘I think you look cute. In fact –’ he leant towards me so that I could feel his warm breath on my ear, contrasting exquisitely with the crisp, cold air of the night ‘– I think you might be the cutest elf I’ve ever seen.’
Never in my life would I have believed I’d ever think this but – thank God my mum drew big rosy cheeks on me earlier – because right now, I was pretty sure my own would have been indistinguishable from them.
‘You’re making fun,’ I croaked out, before clearing my throat quickly.
Cal smiled and held out the candy cane. I kept my eyes focused on it for a moment before I closed my hand around it, my fingers brushing Cal’s. Slowly my gaze began scanning up the broad chest, over the day-old dark stubble, and finally arrested when it met those intense grey eyes.
‘I’m really not,’ he said softly, his voice almost a whisper, but roughened with the raw edge he always spoke with.
I swallowed, not sure how to respond. I was out of practice at all of this. Way out of practice.
‘Oh,’ I eventually squeaked out.
A fleeting expression of amusement mixed with confusion scudded across Cal’s eyes. He held my gaze for a moment longer as he released his hold on the cane entirely.
‘Thank you,’ I mumbled, dropping my gaze as I felt the warmth burn again beneath my make-up.
‘I should go and find George.’
I nodded.
Cal gave a half-smile accompanied by a tiny headshake and headed off into the shop behind me. As he left, I realised I’d been holding my breath. I let it out in one slow movement, waving at the passing shoppers as I tried to pretend I was feeling perfectly normal and parts of me weren’t currently a lot more … alive … than they had been in a long while.
‘Ooh la la!’ Giselle exclaimed as she appeared beside me and gave me a big hug. She was followed by Xander who did the same.
I glanced down at my costume. ‘Not the first expression that came to mind when I saw it again, I must admit.’
‘I wasn’t talking about the costume. I was talking about you and Cal!’
‘I … what?’
‘We were just on our way over when Dan went into the shop with George and left you two alone. Very tactful by the way.’
‘He wasn’t doing it to leave us alone. He was …’ I looked from Giselle to Xander. OK. So, apparently he was. I’d totally missed that.
‘And from the looks of it, Cal was pretty pleased about it. All that whispering in your ear, and then the whole candy cane thing … Oh my!’ Giselle flapped a cerise leather gloved hand just under her chin.
I rolled my eyes. ‘Did you two have popcorn whilst you enjoyed the show? Really, it was nothing. I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it. He’s probably just had a mulled wine or two.’
‘Cal doesn’t drink.’
‘Oh.’
‘Well … maybe …’
‘Maybe he likes you?’ Giselle tilted her head at me. ‘Ever think of that?’
I fiddled with the pompom on the end of my hat. ‘Honestly? No.’
Giselle gave Xander a glance.
‘Maybe it’s time you did think about it, Muppet. And you know I wouldn’t be telling you that if I didn’t think he was good enough for you.’
I nodded. ‘I know. But honestly, that’s the last thing I’m looking for. Especially right now. Plus he has a little boy.’
‘So? I would’ve thought you’d be the last person to be put off by that.’ Xander frowned at me.
‘I’m not put off. It’s just … it’s another consideration. I made a complete mess of my last relationship and I’m not about to launch into something else feet first again, even if Cal was interested. Which, by the way, I don’t think he is. Things get messy and painful and I’m certainly not going to involve a five-year-old in that!’
Xander gave me a quick squeeze around the shoulders. ‘You can’t think all relationships are going to end messily, you know.’
‘I don’t.’
‘Good.’
‘Just mine.’
Xander blew out a sigh and gave me a look. Giselle patted him on the arm.
‘We shall see,’ she said, enigmatically. ‘Now, we’re going to head off and do some pressie shopping. See you later.’ Giselle kissed me on my bright red cheek and they headed off towards to the warm glow of the little shops, all decorated for the season, their soft lights enticing shoppers in out of the cold.
Before I got a chance to think much more on the subject, another group of shoppers surrounded me, and the inevitable elf-selfie session ensued. As they moved to swap places, over the top of them I caught a glance of Cal. George was boosted up onto his hip, resting his head on his father’s shoulder with Bear cuddled into him. Opposite him was a tall, elegant woman. Her long, slim legs were encased in denim and finished off with boots that had a fur trim, as did the fitted jacket she wore. On her head she wore one of those big Russian-style fur hats. Her make-up was flawless and she looked – as did the young child whose hand she held – like she’d stepped from a magazine. Giselle was most definitely right about Cal and his play date popularity status.
I smiled at the camera for the group still surrounding me before letting my eyes wander again. The woman laughed at something Cal said, her hand resting briefly – but a touch longer than was necessary – on his arm. He smiled and dipped his head as he hoisted George a little higher.
The group of shoppers thanked me, and headed into the shop. Dan was right. The costumes definitely helped boost sales. I glanced at the woman and Cal and then down at my stripy legs, and the curly-toed shoes, which were now slowly wicking up dampness from the ground. I flicked the pompom on the end of my hat as it dangled in front of my nose. Sales it might boost; ego it most certainly did not.
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