Page 45 of Snowed In with You

Lucy took another sip of wine, trying not to feel too disappointed. It wasn’t like they were suffering, and today had actually been a lot of fun so far. She looked around at the others, who were clearly suppressing the same urge to complain.

‘Let’s play a game,’ said Alex with a resigned shrug as Gunther headed back to Monica and Felix. ‘I ask somebody a question, and you have to tell the truth. But then you get to ask another question to someone else.’

Lucy looked around the group, assessing how drunk everyone was. Monica had been continually topping up their glasses for some time, and nobody was abstaining, so it was reasonable to assume everyone felt as plastered as she did.

‘I would rather not be on your TikTok,’ said Chantal.

‘I promise not to video,’ said Alex. ‘This is just for us. Lucy, I’ll ask you a question first.’

Lucy looked at Alex doubtfully. ‘This feels like the kind of game you play at a sleepover when you’re thirteen.’

‘It is,’ said Alex with a grin. ‘That’s why it’s fun.’ He looked around the group, clearly picking up on everyone’s reluctance. ‘Fine, you can refuse to answer if you like.’

‘Whatever,’ said Lucy, still not remotely sure about this.

‘Good,’ said Alex, rubbing his hands together. ‘Which of your two boyfriends is better in bed?’

Lucy shot a look at Chantal, who had the decency to look mortified. ‘I’m obviously not answering that,’ said Lucy. ‘Ask me something else.’

‘Ugh, fine,’ said Alex, rolling his eyes. ‘How old were you when you lost your virginity?’

‘Jesus,’ laughed Lucy. ‘What is your obsession with my sex life?’

‘It’s a fascinating question, it tells you a lot about someone.’

‘I was sixteen,’ said Lucy with a sigh. ‘A friend of my brother’s. It was messy and unpleasant.’

‘The first time is always messy and unpleasant,’ muttered Willem.

‘You have a brother?’ asked Chantal, visibly perking up.

‘Yes,’ said Lucy, glancing at Nate. ‘But he’s unavailable. Do I get to ask the next question?’

Alex nodded.

‘Chantal,’ said Lucy, making her jump. ‘If you could swap this mountain for living anywhere else on the planet, where would it be?’

‘London,’ said Chantal, without hesitation. ‘It looks very beautiful and historic, and I think in London people know how to have fun.’

‘I’ve lived in London,’ said Willem. ‘It’s a very dirty city. Amsterdam is nicer.’

‘Hmm . . .’ Chantal didn’t look entirely convinced. ‘OK, my question is for Andrea.’ She paused for dramatic effect, then leaned in to whisper, ‘What do you actually think of the Bee Gees?’

Andrea snorted with laughter, glancing round to check Felix wasn’t listening. ‘I do not love the Bee Gees,’ she said. ‘But I love Felix, and that is all that matters.’

‘What a lovely answer,’ said Lucy, feeling suddenly a little tearful. She had no idea what that kind of love felt like, where you would compromise on your own passions to make someone else happy.

‘My question is for Nate,’ said Andrea, after thinking about it for a minute. ‘If you had all the confidence in the world to stand on stage and sing the songs of any artist, who would it be?’

‘That’s easy,’ said Nate. ‘I’d sing Elton John. No, George Michael.’

‘Ooh,’ said Chantal. ‘I would like to hear both.’

‘So would I,’ Lucy agreed. ‘Maybe later?’

‘Absolutely not,’ said Nate. ‘I’m not nearly drunk enough.’

‘Well, that’s easily fixed.’ Lucy grabbed Nate’s glass and tipped half the glühwein from her glass into it. The pan was still steaming on the gas stove, so there was plenty more where that came from.