Page 26 of The Bad Mother's Diary

While I was running to catch her up, I saw this shadow that looked like a dog poo.

I went ‘arg!’ and somehow ended up falling right into an icy puddle.

The next thing I knew, an iPhone torch shone in my face.

A curt voice said, ‘What are you doing out here? On your own?’

It was Alex Dalton.

Out running too – in his ninja-black t-shirt.

**Alex almost always wears a suit, so it’s weird seeing him in more casual clothes – especially clothes that show his bare skin. He has massive burn all the way up his arm that still looks red, angry and sore, even though the fire was fifteen years ago.

I told Alex I wasn’t alone. I was out with Laura.

Alex helped me up and said, ‘Where is she?’

I said she was up ahead somewhere.

He said, ‘I’ll take you to her. This is a dark path and you’re alone. Take my arm.’

**I held on to Alex’s scarred skin, which was hard under my hand.

‘This doesn’t hurt, does it?’ I asked.

Alex shook his head.

I said, ‘No vintage sports car today?’

Alex gave his quirky half-smile and said, ‘No, not today.’

I asked him if he liked running, and he said yes, adding, ‘It’s one of the few times I can be anonymous. I’m totally inconsequential when I run.’

I said, ‘If you like being anonymous, why do you drive that silver MG?’

He said, ‘To show I’m my own man.’

I said, ‘I don’t think anyone would confuse you with anyone else.’

Alex said, ‘Some people do. They confuse me with my father.’

Then he said he’d never seen me running before, and I told him I was training for the London Christmas Marathon.

He said, ‘I’m running that this year.’

Like it was a perfectly normal thing to do, rather than a gruelling physical challenge.

I told him I didn’t think I’d finish.

Alex said, ‘That’s a terrific attitude, Juliette. Forecasting failure before you even start.’

I said I was being realistic, and that Nick had bet I wouldn’t finish.

Alex said, ‘I’ll train you.’

I said there was no point wasting his time on an amateur like me.

Then we saw Laura up ahead, and Alex said, ‘I’ll see you later.’

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