Page 34 of Last Christmas in London

‘I don’t doubt it,’ he murmured, his voice teasing.

I cleared my throat, desperate to break the sudden electrifying tension before I did something stupid, like stare at his mouth. ‘So is that why you’re busking so early? To get away before the madness descends?’

He cleared his throat, turning and running his hand through his hair. I got a good look at his biceps from the gesture and my stomach stiffened; he had muscles. ‘That and it was the only slot available,’ he admitted, looking back and leaning in conspiratorially. ‘It gets pretty cut-throat around here this time of year.’

‘You make it sound like Game of Thrones or something.’

‘It kind of is.’ He laughed at his own joke pre-emptively. ‘Winter Wonderland is coming.’

I moaned. ‘I walked right into that one.’

‘I regretted it as soon as I said it.’

‘No, you didn’t.’

We stood there chuckling and for a moment his face softened, his gaze turning to me thoughtfully. ‘Right,’ he said finally. ‘I need to get back. I’ve got ten more minutes to fill. And you.’ He pointed to my feet. ‘Try not to fall flat on your face in those shoes.’

I laughed, taking a step back. ‘No promises.’ I gave another short twirl. ‘Go back to your adoring fans. Have a good show.’

‘Cheers,’ he said, stepping back already.

As I walked away, the first notes of ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town’ floated through the air, his voice wrapping around me like a hug. I glanced back, just once, to see him watching me, his smile soft, his eyes warm.

Seven Dials seemed less of a place and more like one large crowd. All the streets were blocked, either by characters in an array of familiar costumes or race organisers in red outfits and Christmas hats, wearing large badges and waving hands and clipboards above their heads like exhausted parents hosting a children’s party. My body seemed to relax as I saw them. It was not unlike the behind-the-scenes of one of Pim’s many TV appearances.

I looked about, trying to spot Josh, Alex, and Megan and seeing multiple Grinches, Santa Clauses, the occasional Buddy the Elf and Muppets character, but no John McClanes or Cindy Lou Whos.

But suddenly I heard someone scream, ‘Evie!’ from behind me. And it was a scream, not a shout.

Josh was running towards me wearing a muscle suit and holding his unflattering bald cap. He grabbed both my arms, his eyes wide and almost bloodshot.

‘We have a disaster,’ he said, turning and pulling me into the throngs of reindeer and Kris Kringles.

‘Where are we going? Where’s Megan and Alex?’

I heard Josh repeat ‘Alex’ in a very frustrated tone.

‘Josh?’ I asked, as he pulled me into an alcove where Megan was pacing on the phone. She looked so cute in her little pink Cindy Lou Who costume – even if she was about two feet taller than the actual Cindy Lou Who.

‘Megan?’ I asked but she shook her head, looking very worried. ‘He’s not answering,’ she told Josh more than me.

‘That Ebeneezer,’ he hissed.

‘What is going on?’ I asked, holding my hands up to stop both of them, only noticing as I did so the green Grinch costume over Megan’s arm. ‘Where’s Alex?’

‘He’s ill,’ she said, unsympathetically.

‘That’s no excuse,’ Josh said, throwing his hands up dramatically. Megan sighed, her voice cracking as if she might cry.

‘Now he’s not answering his phone,’ she said.

‘Wait, what?’

‘This morning he said he was unwell and wasn’t going to make it. He wouldn’t get out of bed; he’s got this cold that’s been going around.’

‘Tell him to man up!’ Josh shouted, and I stopped myself from pointing out the sexism in that statement, since he was slowly turning as red as one of his Santa suit swatches. ‘He’s going to be in costume. No one will see the snot pouring down his face.’

‘Gross,’ I said. ‘So we’re down a team member.’