Page 30 of The Christmas Catch
“Sorry?”
Morgan stopped pacing. She’d almost forgotten she was on the phone to her mum.
“Sorry, Mum,” she said. “I was just talking to Ali.”
“Ali?”
Shit. Her mum didn’t know she was here with Ali. “You remember Ali. Nicole’s little sister?”Used to be annoying, now not so much?“She was trying to get home too, so we’re travelling together. At least, we’re trying to.”
Her mum paused. “Ali Bradford?”
“Yes, of course Ali Bradford.” Why did her mum always irritate her?
“Okay, I was just asking. Only, she’s a lesbian, too, isn’t she? You keep saying you’d like to meet someone, so…” Her mum left the sentence dangling.
“Just because I’m a lesbian and so is she doesn’t mean we’re going to end up together. I thought I told you that when you tried to set me up with Jane Goddard’s daughter?”
Her mum tutted. “She turned out to be an idiot in the end. Going out with a boy now. But Ali has always seemed nice.”
“She is, but we’re just travelling together.” Morgan searched her brain for a change of topic. “How’s the gingerbread house going?”
“Great! Josh and Annabel decorated one side, me and your dad did the other. We’ve left the roof for you, as instructed.” She shouted to someone in the house, making sure she leaned away from the phone. “Listen, I have to go. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow!”
Morgan threw the phone on the bed, then stared at the bathroom door. Ali was behind it. But something had shifted today. With everything they’d gone through together. It wasn’t just because she’d seen Ali semi-naked. Today had opened her eyes to Ali altogether. Made her see her in a whole new light.
Morgan wasn’t sure what she was going to do about it.
CHAPTER10
They spent the evening wandering around the town, visiting its chocolate shop, its Christmas store and the last stop, the Snow Globe cafe-bar. There, they ordered hot buttered pretzels and homemade sausage rolls, and drank mulled cider. Ali contemplated buying Christmas gifts from the shops just in case their luggage didn’t turn up in time or at all. However, she was worried they’d get stranded again and have to lug it with them wherever they went. Yes, they’d cancelled their first car, and secured another for the morning thanks to Shelley, the kind woman at the bed-and-breakfast, who’d even offered to drive them to their pick-up point. But Ali didn’t want to tempt fate. She was already sharing a bed and a room with Morgan Scott. That was more than enough fate for one day.
Now, she lay in bed under a thick Scottish-flavoured tartan duvet, in just her knickers and a T-shirt, waiting for Morgan Scott to get in with her. It was all a bit too much for her brain to take. Also, had there been a moment earlier? Ali couldn’t be sure, but when she’d locked eyes with Morgan, something had happened. A fizz. A swell. A stutter of her heart. At least on her part.
Morgan’s face had changed, and she’d sat up abruptly. Had something changed for her, too? Ali would love to know.
Why had she come out of the bathroom in just jeans and a bra, though? When she knew Morgan was going to be there? Psychologists would have a field day working out her motives, Ali was sure. Whatever the reason, now was the moment she’d been psyching herself up to all evening.
It would be slightly more palatable if she had shorts or pyjama bottoms to wear. However, the only clothes they had were the ones they stood in. That was the same for both of them. Hence, unless Ali wanted to sleep in her jeans—which would seem a little awkward—she had to go with knickers and T-shirt. Far too few clothes for her liking. What if she leaned over in the night and threw a casual arm around Morgan? Her cheeks flamed at the mere thought. How the hell had she put herself into this situation? One that she was quaking about, but also one that fulfilled a fantasy that had flitted in and out of her mind for the past 20 years?
That thought made her stall. Had it really been 20 years?
The answer was yes.
She grabbed her phone to take her mind off the situation, and tapped out a quick text to Tobias asking how he and Snowy were doing. She got one back right away, with a photo of Snowy draped across her friend’s neck. She was such a tart for visitors.
Are you home yet?
No, still in the Lake District.
You could have been having cocktails and dinner in the Big Apple in the same time, Tobias responded with a laughing emoji.
I’m well aware.
And how’s it going with Morgan? Your long-lost first love. Are you married yet?
Ali rolled her eyes. She knew she shouldn’t have confided in him.
It’s going fine. We’re stuck in a town in the Lakes and we’re sharing a hotel room.
