Page 56 of The Christmas Catch
“She still has a certain allure.”
“Hang on.” Tobias paused. “Has something happened? As I recall, she’s on the lady-loving bus. You haven’t climbed aboard, have you?”
That single question took Ali right back to the kiss.
She paused long enough for Tobias to know the answer.
“You fucking hussy! I love it! Something’s happened, hasn’t it? Have you stumbled upon a one-way ticket to love-town rather than just going home for Christmas like normal people?” He could barely contain himself. “Just so you know, I’m covering Snowy’s ears, because this is strictly on a need-to-know basis.” He paused. “Of course, I need to know, so you have to tell me.”
Now that Tobias was interested, Ali found she was desperate to tell someone. She’d been pondering who, but her family was out. She couldn’t tell Nicole. Not yet. Not that she thought her sister would mind, but it would just be… awkward at first. But that was supposing there was anything to back up that blistering kiss.
Fuck, she hoped there was.
“Hello, are you still alive?”
Ali sat up. “Yes. Sorry, I’m a bit thrown by it all.” Especially now it was in sharp focus. She’d spent the past two days trying to contain herself, but she wasn’t capable after that kiss. “Nothing happened, but then, everything did. We kissed on a Ferris wheel in a snowstorm, then we rode a tandem bike to my cousin’s, and now we have to share a bed for the second night running. The first one was bad enough. I don’t know what the fuck I’m meant to do when my first crush—my first fucking love, let’s not beat around the bush—”
“Although you’d like to—”
Ali let out an enormous laugh. “I would. Especially when she’s currently in the shower. Naked.” Her entire system revved at the thought.
“Why aren’t you in there with her?”
“Because it would be a bit much to turn up at my cousin’s, then disappear to fuck my travel companion.”
Now it was Tobias’s turn to roar. “Travel companion?Could you sound more Radio 4 if you tried? I’ve heard it called a lot of things.”
“You know what I mean. But now I’m thinking about it, I’m panicking. I’ve been wearing the same clothes for two days, my hair’s a mess, and yet I’m contemplating sleeping with someone for the first time in forever.”
“Over a year, but who’s counting?” he replied.
“You, apparently.” Ali leaned her head back on the couch. “Fuck, I’m out of practice. I can’t be out of practice for Morgan Scott! I have to be ready. Hit the ground running. What if I’ve forgotten how to do it? What if I’m a really terrible lover and all my past conquests have been lying through their teeth?”
Tobias didn’t snigger. “Don’t be so ridiculous. You’re a love goddess, I’m sure of it. Plus, I reckon the sight of her naked might sort you out.”
“Don’t say that! I’ve been pushing it all down, and now I’m thinking about it, I’m freaking out.” Fear pulsed through her body, pursued by a frenzy of excitement. All her fantasies might be about to come true, and she really wasn’t ready.
What was it they said? Never meet your heroes? Perhaps never fuck your first crush was on the same ticket.
“Ali, you’re overthinking it. Go back to not doing that. You’ve let this sizzle, which is good. She’s someone you’re still attracted to. She’s clearly attracted to you if you already kissed. I’m assuming you didn’t trip up, fall onto a Ferris wheel and accidentally land on her lips?”
The kiss lit up in her mind. “There might have been swooning, but definitely no falling.”
“Okay then. My advice is to go with the flow. See where tonight takes you. But if you’re sharing a bed, you’re bound to kiss again. Then it depends if you’re feeling like Maria von Trapp before that dance with the captain, or after.”
Ali laughed. “Does everything come down toThe Sound Of Music?” It was Tobias’s favourite film.
“I just watched it, and I still say it was that dance that clinched it. When he holds her and they look into one another’s eyes, Maria wants to jump him. Before that, she’s happy to dream. You’ve had your lightning bolt moment. I assume the kiss was good?”
This time, Ali didn’t have to work hard to summon the image or the feeling. It had never left.
“It was fucking incredible.”
Tobias whistled down the phone. “You don’t use words like that very often. You’re normally the master of understatement. I’m going to give you some sage advice now, and you will listen. You ready?”
Ali waited. “I’m ready.”
“Do not push this off. This is your chance to go after what you want. Your first love. Even if it is terrible fucking timing with you leaving the country next month. But don’t think about that. You deserve this. You’re fabulous. Have some fun. Live a little.”
