“Oh!” Ella sat up straight and set the vodka bottle down with a clang. “I’ve just had the best idea.”
Henry narrowed his eyes, knowing from experience Ella’s drunken ideas never worked out well for him. “No. Whatever it is, just no.”
“You’ve not even heard it yet.” She grabbed her phone, and after a couple of attempts at typing something, sat back with a satisfied smile. “Now we wait for him to reply.”
“Who? And about what?” He nudged her with his foot. “What have you done?”
“Stop looking so moody. I’m trying to sort out a holiday for you.”
Henry frowned and ran a hand through his hair, massaging his temple where a headache threatened. “I can sort out my own holiday, El.”
Her phone buzzed and she snatched it up off the coffee table, her smile widening as she read. “No need. It’s done. And it’ll only cost you about two hundred quid for the week.”
“That sounds suspiciously cheap.” Where the fuck was she sending him? “I’m not spending a week in a freezing caravan somewhere. I’d rather stay at home, thanks.”
“It’s not a caravan, and you won’t need to drive all that far either.” She made her eyes wide and gave him that look. The one that spelt trouble and, unfortunately, the one he couldn’t say no to. “Do you trust me?”
He slung his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his side. “You know I do.”
“Then believe me when I say you’ll enjoy this. I know you don’t mind being on your own, so this is perfect.”
Knowing he was most likely going to regret this, but having had far too much vodka to care, Henry nodded. “Okay, fine.” Ella clapped her hands and snatched her phone up to type a message back to whoever she’d been chatting with.
“Right, so, three weeks on Friday, you’ll be going here.” She held up her phone triumphantly, showing him the website for a family holiday park, and Henry groaned. “Their Christmas decorations go up throughout the park next week. It’ll besofestive.” She laughed. “Even you won’t be able to resist getting in the Christmas spirit.”
“It’s not even December yet.” Not that Henry was averse to Christmas or anything, but he didn’t normally go mad with it like Ella. And he doubted he’d be feeling the urge to celebrate, considering he’d just broken up with his boyfriend.
“Have you already forgotten that I’m heartbroken?”
That wiped the smile off her face and Henry instantly felt guilty. “I’m sorry. I keep forgetting that you’re upset about it all, whereas I couldn’t be happier.”
Henry snorted. She’d never hidden the fact she thought Kyle was a knob. Turned out she’d been right after all.
“Just go away for the week, enjoy the crisp fresh air and pamper yourself. They have a huge spa, massive swimming area, and lots of restaurants. And you can walk to your heart’s content.”
“But it’s afamilyplace.” Henry liked children well enough, but being surrounded by them whilst holidaying alone wasn’t his idea of fun.
“It’s not even the school holidays. How many kids can there be?” The way she wouldn’t look him in the eye as she said it told him all he needed to know.
Arse.
I’m never drinking vodka again.
* * *
November 26th
Henry thanked the very nice lady at the check-in booth as she handed him his villa keys and a map, then he followed the arrows to the massive car park. Apparently he couldn’t go into his one-bed villa until 4pm, but he could enjoy the rest of the facilities that the holiday park had to offer. Which he had to admit after looking them up online were an impressive amount.
They’d spared no expense on their festive holiday decorations either. The long winding road through the forest had been littered with LED animals and trees.
Even Henry was starting to feel Christmassy.
But going anywhere new unsettled him until he’d got his bearings, so with more than a little trepidation, Henry parked up, grabbed his rucksack, and headed in the direction that everyone else seemed to be going.
He’d arrived early. Might as well get his money’s worth, after all. But the car park was already packed.
And despite his sister’s assurances to the contrary, therewerekids.
