Page 46 of The Christmas Catch
Morgan smiled. “That could work. It’s still a Ferris wheel.”
Ali’s heart pulsed. “I’ve always thought Ferris wheels were kinda scary. It’s the height thing.”
“I’m not a carriage rocker.” Morgan held up her free palm. “Did you get rocked in a carriage as a child at the fair?”
“Who didn’t? I think Nicole was the worst culprit for that.”
Morgan laughed. “I agree. Your sister has a lot to answer for. I nearly fell out one year, she was so intense. The guy controlling the ride shouted at her.” Morgan laughed at the memory. “But it was still better than getting kissed on one by Chris Heaton.”
“Has nobody rectified that mistake since? No woman swooped in and kissed you off your seat?” If Ali had known, she’d have booked a Ferris wheel for just such an occasion. A vision of kissing Morgan as the wheel went round flashed into her mind, and her insides clenched. She took a deep breath.
She wasn’t the one Morgan wanted to kiss.
Ali needed to remember that.
“Do you want to go on this one?” Ali really did not. She hated heights, and she detested Ferris wheels. But somehow, she was prepared to go on one for Morgan. She wasn’t going to process what that meant too much. “I mean, it’s practically gay with its rainbow lights. I feel like we’d do the queer community a disservice if we didn’t.”
Morgan fixed her eyes on Ali, her cheeks pink with cold. “We don’t have to if you’re scared.”
Something fluttered in Ali’s chest. She still didn’t want to. But Morgan did, and that trumped what she wanted all ends up. “This trip is all about accidentally getting out of our comfort zones. I’ll do it if you promise no rocking and no falling.”
Morgan sipped her wine. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
CHAPTER15
Morgan passed a stall selling thick woolly socks and another selling Christmas decorations.
Ali spent a few moments browsing, then bought her mum a tree ornament that was a stack of books.
“That means she’ll have to get a real tree next year. Plus, she loves reading. I think it saved her after this summer.”
“What happened this summer?”
“It was just…” Ali paused. “A lot.”
It was also something Ali clearly didn’t want to talk about. Morgan wasn’t going to pressure her. She’d tell her when she was ready.
Ali shook her head, as if shaking off whatever was irking her. “Anyway, you wanted to go on the gay Ferris wheel.” She looked up, then at Morgan. “Ready? You better say yes, because this is a once-in-a-lifetime offer.”
Morgan’s gaze dropped to Ali’s lips.
If Nicole could see her now, eyeing up her little sister. Would she hate it, or would she be chilled? She and Nicole had been like sisters once.
Before she could second-guess herself, Morgan held out her hand.
The startled look Ali gave her almost made her drop it, but she didn’t.
She didn’t want to.
Ali took her hand tentatively, then in seconds, she wrapped her fingers around Morgan’s in a surer embrace. Her gaze held a question, but she didn’t air it.
Morgan stepped onto the metal platform as a carriage stopped in front of them. The man in charge had grease in his hair and all over his jeans. She stowed their backpacks with him, gave him a tenner, then got into the carriage, pressing her feet into the metal footwell. Ali slotted in beside her as the bloke secured the metal bar over their laps until it clicked into place.
“No rocking the carriage.” The smell of stale cigarette smoke hit her as he spoke.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Morgan was acutely aware of Ali’s presence and proximity. She was finally on a Ferris wheel with an attractive woman beside her.
Only, this was not the attractive woman she’d expected.
