Page 17 of It Happened on Christmas Eve
‘I’m sorry I don’t remember meeting you. And that I was mean,’ I say. ‘I was pretty broken at the time.’
Adam nods and hold his glass up to mine. ‘To healing hearts.’
‘To healing hearts,’ I echo, clinking his. We smile at each other for a long moment and then, out of the corner of my eye, I spot something that makes my heart drop into my feet.
It’s Mitch.
He’s at the other end of the bar with a girl and he’s looking right at me.
Chapter Ten
Christmas Eve 7:35 p.m.
Shit. Why? Why is this happening. Today of all days. I’ve managed to last a whole year without bumping into Mitch, which I’ve considered lucky since he lives just down the road in Kensington. What is he doing in Notting Hill? This is my patch. He’s invaded my turf! Yes, it’s been a year since I ended things but still. I’m not ready to see him. Argh!
I stare at him and he stares right back at me. God. I’ve imagined him many times over the last year, but seeing him here in real life, with his dark mahogany muscled arms and those sloping, long-lashed eyes makes me feel horny and angry and sad all at once. The woman he’s with picks up his hand and fondles it. She looks very comfortable around him. Girlfriend? Mitch smiles the lazy half smile that used to drive me wild and it pulls me out of my trance.
‘Phoebe, are you alright?’ Adam asks. ‘You’ve turned rather a funny colour.’
I swallow and it gets stuck in my throat. I look down at myself, cringing as I realise I’m still in my work clothes, makeup up sweated off, hair bunched up under my woolly hat.
Do not cry, Phoebe. It’s been over for a year, you goon.
‘My ex,’ I tell Adam in a strangled voice. ‘At the bar, with who I am assuming is his new girlfriend. Don’t make it obvious that we’re talking about him. Don’t look.’
‘The ex from last Christmas?’ Adam asks, very casually casting his eyes around the bar until he spots Mitch.
‘Yeah,’ I say, my stomach twisting. ‘I should be over it by now. I just feel so angry at him for stringing me along for a year and but also attracted to him, which makes me feel even worse. Like I’m an idiot.’
‘There are no rules when it comes to heartbreak.’
‘Christ. His girlfriend’s gorgeous. Of course she is.’
‘You’re gorgeous, Phoebe. In fact, I think you’re —’
‘She looks like the fairy on top of the Christmas tree.’
‘You’re smart too. And you take no shit.’
‘Argh, this is horrid. He keeps looking over.’
‘You know what you need to do, right?’
‘What?’
‘You need to make him jealous. Show him that he really fucked it up the day he messed you around.’
I take a large gulp of my drink and yank off my hat, smoothing down my hair self consciously.
‘No.’ I shake my head. ‘I don’t know how to make him jealous.’
‘Just flirt. With me. He’s looking right this way.’
‘I’m terrible at flirting.’
‘Well, I happen to be rather good at it.’
‘We made an agreement that you weren't allowed to flirt with me.’
