Read One Perfect Christmas for Free Online Page B

Stalker, the person who fills me in on all the gossip relating to Joe, whether I want her to or not.
    I drop the snowball and dust off my hands. I don’t feel like playing anymore.
    ‘What did she say?’ he asks warily.
    My heart sinks. I have a horrible feeling that Roxy might be onto something with this one. ‘It was about Michelle Bleech.’
    Joe keeps steady eye contact.
    ‘Is it true that you’re going to be starring with her in another film?’
    I can’t keep the hurt from my voice.
    He sighs again. This is not good. ‘Nicky wants me to, yes.’
    ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ My voice sounds small.
    He gives me a pointed stare. ‘I didn’t want to ruin our conversations.’
    It’s the same argument I used on him.
    I turn and walk away from him, my head down.
    ‘Alice!’ he calls out. He runs after me and tries to pull me back, but I shake him off. The truth is, I hate Michelle Bleech. Okay, so I know there’s no truth in the rumours .
She and Joe have a very tactile relationship, and there’s definitely sexual chemistry between them onscreen, but off it there’s nothing going on between them. I saw that first-hand when
I went to visit him on set in Australia at Easter.
    ‘Please don’t be upset. You know I don’t feel anything for her. ’
    ‘I thought she was your best mate,’ I spit bitterly, jealousy coursing through my veins as I go inside the house.
    Joe follows me, his shoulders slumping.
    I still remember that argument with Joe very clearly. It was one of our worst. The tabloids had been riddled with rumours about Joe and Michelle’s steamy sex scenes. Even my best friend
Lizzy had been in touch, asking how I felt. The truth was, I had been feeling sick and humiliated.
    Ten months ago
    ‘I just don’t understand why they’d keep printing this stuff if there’s no truth in it.’
    It’s the middle of February and I’m on the phone to Joe. His filming schedule is so tight that we barely have any time to talk, and I hate myself for ruining our first conversation
in a week by bringing up my insecurities.
    ‘There is no truth in it,’ he reiterates firmly, the satellite phone sounding less crackly for a change. ‘She’s good fun, we have a laugh, but that’s it.’
    Every word hits me like a bullet. ‘She’s good fun, is she? You have a laugh?’ I despise how jealous I sound. I was never like this with Lukas. But then Lukas didn’t have
to have sex with other women. Okay, so I know film sex isn’t real sex, and supposedly it’s really uncomfortable and anything but titillating for the actors, but
still
…
    Joe sighs loudly. ‘See,
this
is why actors date actresses.’
    My mouth gapes open in shock. ‘Did you really just say that to me? Go off and bloody well date her, then!’
    ‘I didn’t mean,’ he splutters. ‘Alice! For fuck’s sake, what’s got into you?’
    Hot tears prick my eyes.
    ‘Alice?’ His voice is quieter, more concerned.
    ‘It’s hard, Joe.’
    ‘I know. It’s hard for me, too, thinking about you still living so close to Lukas,’ he says bitterly. ‘How’s that divorce coming along?’
    ‘He still won’t agree to it,’ I reply miserably. ‘But he will eventually. And at least you don’t have to listen to everyone going on about what you’re getting
up to all the time.’
    ‘Just ignore them!’ He raises his voice. ‘None of it is true! We think one of the make-up artists is leaking stories to the press. It won’t go on for much
longer.’
    ‘Leaking stories implies that there actually
is
a story that needs to be leaked!’
    ‘Alice!’ he raises his voice. ‘There is
nothing
going on between Michelle and me. We’re just friends.’
    ‘Friends!’ I erupt bitterly.
    ‘Yes, friends,’ he replies calmly. ‘You surely can’t have a problem with that?’
    I surely can. Stupid, beautiful
cow
.
     
    ***
     
    I storm into the kitchen and flick on the kettle. Joe follows me. ‘You and Jessie are friends,’ he says calmly. ‘I