Mistletoe on 34th Street Page 16

  ‘And you don’t want to just go to a bar? I’ll buy you mulled wine.’

  ‘Nope. I can do that anywhere.’ I took a deep breath. ‘Ice-skating it is.’

  ‘Ice-skating where?’

  I held the phone away and called over to Jon. ‘Ice-skating where?’

  ‘Rockefeller?’ Jon suggested.

  Hearing him, Elijah groaned down the phone. ‘Ice-skating at Rockefeller Center, oh my god. What are you turning me into?’

  ‘Well, if you want to see me that’s where I’ll be.’

  He chuckled. ‘Bossy lady, aren’t you?’

  ‘Nope.’ I smiled. ‘But you live in New York all the time. I’m only here for … well, who knows how long. And I’ve not shown Ms Manhattan the respect and attention she deserves so don’t go thinking I’m going to let you boss me around and tell me what I can and can’t do while I’m here.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am.’

  ‘Seriously though, if you don’t want to come ice-skating that’s completely fine. I understand that you’re a very cool and steely musician type so why don’t I meet you for dinner or a drink after skating and you can show me another little slice of your New York? If you want to?’

  ‘Nope, I’ve got exactly nowhere to be, so let’s do this.’

  ‘Good. See you at Rockefeller Plaza in an hour.’

  I hung up with a satisfied smile on my face. Yes, the prospect of another afternoon in close proximity to Elijah had me feeling very satisfied indeed. Whiskey memories entered my head.

  Though the BA rep was long gone, Jasmine, who had expressed no interest in joining in the ice-skating expedition, was nonetheless still loitering around the lobby after I finished my phone calls.

  ‘Jasmine? Are you coming ice-skating?’

  She sighed. ‘Ice-skating? Don’t you have to be, like, five?’

  ‘Fair enough. See you here again tomorrow then, when the BA rep comes back.’

  ‘I’ll come if you want.’ She shrugged.

  ‘I’m not about to beg you.’ I turned to everyone else. ‘Anyone coming ice-skating, let’s meet back down here in half an hour, after Jon and Carl’s Virgin rep has been. OK? OK.’

  Back up in my room I closed the door behind me and leant back against it, like they do on TV shows when they need to let out a good sigh. But I held it in. I wanted this. I promised myself to give Christmas a go, and I really did want to get out there and be with New York.

  ‘Listen,’ I said to myself in the mirror, pretending I was Kim, giving me a thorough talking-to. ‘Nobody is asking you to be in charge any more, so stop acting like you have to be. If you don’t want to hang out with these people then don’t, but if you agree to it then don’t you grumble, you goddamn … knobhead.’ Ouch, tough love.

  We arrived at Rockefeller Center – all of us, Jasmine included – to find a queue to the ice rink snaking all the way up from the bottom level, around several railings and down along one side of the angels.

  ‘Wow,’ I murmured.

  ‘This looks fun,’ commented Jasmine, and then shut up when I gave her a cold glare to rival the ice below.

  At that moment I saw Elijah striding towards me, an amused look on his face. ‘I just asked one of the attendants at the front how long the queue is and if we join it now we can expect to be on the rink in, oooh, about two to three hours’ time. Welcome to New York in the holidays, ladies and gentlemen. Hey, by the way,’ he said to me and swooped down, greeting me with a kiss on the lips which left everyone, me included, with raised eyebrows.

  ‘Um, so, um,’ I stuttered. ‘Let me explain, everybody. Elijah and I went out last night and we kissed and that’s OK, because even though I’m your boss, currently, I still have … urges.’ Oh for God’s sake, shut up, they weren’t my children. Also I was not complaining – I liked kissing Elijah. Everyone would just have to get over it. ‘I’m some of your bosses,’ I clarified, looking at Carl (who was sniggering and eating a hot dog) and then at Jon (who was looking away, back towards the ice rink, his hands in his pocket).

  ‘Elijah, you know Jasmine, Dee, Ian and Abigail. And this is Carl, and this is Jon. Jon? Jon, meet Elijah.’

  Jon turned and met Elijah’s eye and stuck out his hand. ‘Elijah. Of the complimentary Subways fame.’

  ‘That’s me.’

  ‘A nostrings-attached free Subway sandwich … Americans are so friendly.’

  ‘Oh, we can be super friendly.’

  They shook hands. I don’t know how watching two men shake hands could be awkward, but it was. My bits were curling inside themselves with the awkwardness of it all. I started to sweat.

  ‘Anyone else hot?’ I squeaked.

  Jasmine shook her head. ‘Menopause?’

  ‘Let’s go ice skatingggg!’ I whooped with too much excitement. We looked at the queue. Er, perhaps not.

  ‘I’ve got an idea,’ said Elijah.

  ‘Don’t say a bar,’ I warned.

  ‘Not a bar, but we don’t have to stay in this tourist trap.’

  ‘Hey, this is Liv’s favourite place in New York, buddy, and skating is what we’ve all got planned, OK?’ said Jon.

  I stared at him. I’d never seen him so … passive aggressive. ‘Hear him out, Jon,’ I said.

  ‘I was just going to suggest skating somewhere a little less … ’ Elijah began.

  ‘Touristy?’ I asked, rolling my eyes at him.

  He smiled at me. ‘ … crowded. Come on, Bryant Park is like, seven blocks away. It has an ice rink, a tree, Christmas markets, all that shit. And it’s all outside the New York Public Library, which may not be as tall as Rockefeller but is still pretty famous.’

  I gasped. ‘The New York Public Library? In the snow? Oh, it’s going to be just like The Day After Tomorrow. Without the dying and things. But with the ice. But without the book burning. But with the closed airports. Let’s do it!’

  We all walked away from Rockefeller and as we were rounding the corner onto Fifth Avenue I took one last look behind me at the tree – I might not see it again this trip – and caught Jon’s eye who was a few feet behind me.

  ‘The library,’ I mouthed and he smiled, his eyes having softened from the strange glares he’d been giving Elijah a few moments ago.

  Jon knew all about my love of libraries. During our first conference together I’d chewed his ear off so much about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books which I’d been really into at the time, telling him that he had to read them, that eventually I’d marched him to the nearest library and made him sit there with me while he read chapter one and could tell me what he thought.

  He had liked it. Smiley face.

  We’d got into a habit for a while of always making sure we both knew where the nearest library was for every conference, in case we needed to go again, but it hadn’t even crossed my mind that one of the world’s most famous libraries was right here in New York City.

  We strolled down Fifth Avenue. I was walking hand in hand with a man, snow falling lightly, giant window displays showing ten-foot-high pictures of models in red lipstick and tartan scarves. It all felt so surreal to me. To the average passer-by, Elijah and I probably looked like a couple on holiday. Probably like any one of those couples I’d been staring at two nights ago when Jon and I had been standing by the Rockefeller tree.

  But it was just a façade. I was killing time, really, if I was honest with myself. Elijah was funny, and easy on the eyes, and generous, and a little bit arrogant in a way that strangely appealed to me, but what I liked the most about the whole situation was that it was temporary. I didn’t have any expectations. This wasn’t the beginning of some great love affair, it wasn’t going to last, which meant he couldn’t let me down. So as long as those were the rules, I was on board. I wasn’t ready for anything more right now. Maybe not ever. But for now, this temporary situation where I got to kiss a handsome man whenever I liked was OK with me.

  Bryant Park was a square packed with wooden Christmas market huts, a blue-lit ice rink,
a big, plush, tree covered in electric blue fairy lights and the library overlooking it all. There was also much less of a queue.

  It didn’t take us long to get out on the ice. Once there, Jasmine whizzed off to be on her own, though Carl followed her, a surprisingly competent and graceful skater. Dee and Ian finally got to hold hands in public under the guise of helping each other, and the rest of us stayed in a group. At one point I caught Jon’s eye as I whizzed past him and he jokingly flailed about like we were in Central Park again. I laughed out loud, but Elijah skated in front of me and stole my attention away with an amuse bouche of a kiss.

  A while later our skating session was finished, and I politely but firmly bid farewell to the others and then turned to Elijah. ‘All right, mister, we made it through ice-skating, and nobody died, and you didn’t get caught by your friends and kicked out of the band for being utterly uncool, so now it’s over to you. What do you want to do tonight?’

  ‘Well … ’ He moved closer. ‘Shouldn’t we make the most of our precious time together?’ His eyes twinkled, a wicked grin on his stubbly face.

  I shrugged. ‘Mmm … I don’t know if I like you like that yet.’

  ‘Oh you don’t?’ he laughed.

  ‘Nope. I mean, you’re OK. You have a good sense of the type of food I like, and I can’t stress how important that is in a man. But I don’t know … I need a bit more convincing.’

  Elijah leant in so I could feel his breath on my lips. ‘How can I convince you?’ he drawled, and I swear my knickers leapt up my shelangalang. But it would take a little more than a foxy accent, mate.

  I pulled my head back. ‘Show me more New York, Elijah style.’

  He tossed his hair out of his eyes and scanned the street up and down, finally settling his gaze on something and shooting that grin across his face again. ‘Come with me.’ He took my hand.

  We bypassed the Christmas market stalls selling delicious-scented hot cider, and instead went into a nearby bar, where Elijah ordered us two Budweisers and opened the conversation with, ‘So what’s up with that Jon guy? Is he an ex?’

  ‘What? No. No, no, no. Absolutely not. We’re just friends, not exes, or anything. Nope, just friends.’

  ‘Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that – was that a “no”?’

  ‘It was a no.’

  ‘He seemed pissed with me.’

  ‘Noooo, he’s just antsy because he wants to get home as soon as possible, I’m sure. You know, we’re now, what, six nights to Christmas Day? And I think everyone’s just getting a bit worried, the closer it gets, that we might not get back.’ Speaking to Elijah about Jon, specifically, felt too … I wanted to keep the conversation neutral. About everyone. Everyone but Jon.

  ‘They all like their Christmases at home, huh?’

  ‘This is like a ticking bomb to them. I guess you aren’t really bothered either way?’ I speculated.

  ‘Exactly. Whatever, man, I’m travelling to get out of New York over the holidays.’ He laughed and gulped at his beer. ‘Don’t even get me started on New Year’s Eve in this city.’

  ‘I can’t believe you’d say that,’ I cried. ‘I might not be wrapping the tinsel around my neck for Christmas, but the more I see of New York the more I love it. There’s something about cities, the buildings, the rain on pavements, the endless food choices. You’re a lucky man. So there.’

  Elijah necked his Bud. ‘Consider me told. So, tell me about your city, London girl. If we were there, where would you be taking me? What’s great about it?’

  ‘Everything’s great about London, but in truth I don’t explore it as much as I should. I’ve been trying to save my money for a while.’

  ‘Being a feminist doesn’t pay well?’

  I laughed. ‘My job pays great, but, well, I’m trying to build up a house deposit. A few years ago I had a boyfriend and things went pretty wrong, and he was a collossal dick, and I guess I’m only just starting to realise how little I’ve enjoyed myself since.’

  ‘Is that when you joined Girls of the World?’

  ‘It was around then. I joined shortly before we split up.’

  ‘So your boyfriend was a douche and you became uber-feminist – classic.’

  ‘No, I didn’t become a feminist because I got dumped. I’m a feminist because it would feel completely unnatural not to be. My mum has always been a human rights activist – she’ll march in Pride festivals, she’ll show up outside abortion clinics and yell at the people who are yelling at the women going in, she’ll camp outside Westminster on behalf of refugees. She’s passed that on to me. Feminism is human rights, it’s nothing to do with hating men. Wait … don’t you listen to Beyoncé?’

  ‘Not generally … ’

  I think that was enough schooling for now. I took a drink. ‘I’ve always believed in equality, and I like to fight for it. So you better be a feminist.’

  ‘Oh, I love women.’

  ‘Good. I think I have a lot to teach you.’

  ‘You do, I’m all ears. But first, let’s drink.’

  I was taking off my earrings back in my hotel bedroom, my emotions – and hormones – heightened from another fun and kissing-filled evening with Elijah, when I heard a noise out in the corridor. A shuffling noise that sounded like someone walking back and forth past my door, and the rap-rap-rap-rap-rap of knuckles sliding across the walls. There was muttering, too.

  As I moved closer to the door I made out the words ‘Elijah Wood’ and ‘Twwwwwwwat.’

  I opened the door and came face to face with Jon. He was wearing PJ bottoms and a shirt that was loose and unbuttoned at the neck, with one sleeve rolled up. He looked like someone who’d sleepwalked their way to an Oscars after-party. He looked cute. He stopped pacing when he saw me and grinned, swaying on the spot. ‘Livia!’

  ‘Jon!’ I chuckled. ‘Can I help you?’

  ‘Nope.’ Sigh. ‘Nope, nope I don’t think you can.’ He sighed a second time. ‘Where’s Elijaaaah?’

  ‘At home, I guess. Did you have a good night?’

  Jon shrugged and looked up and down the corridor. ‘Elijah Wood is at his home. And you are here. And I went with Carl to a very nice bar at the top of 30 Rock with views over the city, and actually, actually, I should have gone up there with you.’

  I leant against my doorframe, amused, and a touch jealous – I would have liked to have gone there with him as well, at some point. ‘Looks like you had a pretty good time with Carl. Did you wear your pyjamas?’

  ‘Pfffffft, you’re drunk,’ he laughed.

  ‘I think you’re drunk.’

  ‘Carl’s drunk.’

  ‘Where is Carl?’

  ‘He’s in our room. The bar was called Bar SixtyFive, because it’s on floor … floor … ’

  ‘Sixty-five?’ I guessed.

  ‘Sixty-five! The views. The cocktails. You. Did you know Carl snores?’

  ‘So I’ve heard. Do you want to come in?’

  Jon moved over to me and leaned against the doorframe so we were close, our faces inches apart. He smiled at me, his eyelids dropping and his hair flopping over his forehead. He sighed deeply and reached for my one remaining earring. ‘The question is: do you want me to come in?’

  My breathing slowed and for a moment the corridor was silent except for the tiny tinkle of my earring as he played with it gently between his fingers. I remained completely still so that I didn’t inadvertently find myself rubbing my cheek against his hand.

  ‘Jon,’ I said softly. ‘You can have a coffee but that’s it.’

  ‘Come in for coffee?’ He raised his eyebrows at me. ‘I think the kids call it Netflix and chill these days.’

  ‘Not what I’m offering,’ I said gently. ‘I think you really could use a coffee.’

  ‘I want to take you on a date.’

  Oh God.

  Nope, shut-up, don’t say that, take it back, take it baaaaack.

  I stared at him and he stared at me for a moment, and I silently begged him not t
o say more, not to move us out of the Friend Zone. ‘No you don’t.’ I let out a titter to break the ice. ‘It’s bedtime. Alone.’

  He nodded and turned around, several times, unsure which room was his. Then he looked back at me, that goofy grin back in place. ‘Not tonight, bozo. But while we’re here, in New York. You deserve a muthaflippin AMAZING New York City Christmas date, like Rachel Green.’

  I sniggered at his reference. ‘I’m already having New York Christmas dates, if that’s what you want to call them, with Elijah. Maybe you could take Dani?’

  ‘Danny Dyer?’ He shook his head. ‘He is a top bloke, but nope. You.’

  ‘Dani from your work. She seemed nice.’

  ‘You’re nice.’

  ‘But I’m busy, with Elijah.’ I tried to be a bit firmer, a warning to Jon that he’d regret it in the morning if he crossed a line that I hadn’t opened up to be crossed.

  ‘What does Elijah know about anything? He doesn’t know anything about New York dates.’

  ‘He lives here … ’

  Jon stepped back, leaned over me and kissed the top of my head and for a moment I was engulfed by the warmth of his chest. ‘If I was taking you on a date it would be something you’d really want to do. Something to make you fall in love with New York, and Christmas, and everything about the exact time and place you’re in … not just fall in love with me.’ Then he pulled back, grinned, and strode off down the corridor with a parting ‘Elijah Got-No-Wood, amirite?’

  I went back into my room and closed the door. Then as I removed my second earring I looked at it and thought of Jon. Was he serious? No, he was drunk. Everyone wanted to snog everyone when they were drunk. In the morning he wouldn’t remember anything about it. I hoped.

  20 December

  5 days to Christmas

  I looked out of my window the following morning. The sun rose behind the Brooklyn clouds, creating a cold white light over the city. My phone was in my hand, the BBC News app open, and I already knew we wouldn’t be going home today – there was no way. If anything, the snow was getting worse in the UK, and it appeared that the country had almost entirely shut down.