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At the end of the carpet was a huge wall of advertiser’s names. They came to a halt in front of it, and Morgan stepped in closer to Alex, still holding hands as the press continued to snap away, calling out at them to turn this way, face that way. It was all Morgan could manage to just keep smiling and not pull a face that would end up haunting her forever in gossip magazines.

“Sasha, it’s so good to see you. Are you looking forward to tonight’s concert?” one of the TV reporters asked.

It was only then that Alex let go of Morgan’s hand as she took a step towards the reporter to speak to them. “I am. I really can’t wait. The acoustics in a building like this are…you can imagine.” She grinned.

Along the line they moved, each reporter asking one question, Sasha answering and Morgan in the background, smiling and doing her best not to look like a deer in the headlights.

They were almost at the end of the line and about to enter the building when someone threw out the question they’d both hoped to avoid.

“Who’s your new girlfriend then, Sasha?”

Taking Morgan’s hand again, Alex turned slightly, smiled at the crowd again and then led them inside. The question went unanswered.

“That was a bit terrifying,” Morgan admitted once they were away from prying eyes and ears. “But exhilarating.” She giggled. “It’s starting to feel like a whirlwind. I can barely keepup with where we are and what you’re doing, and now this.” She laughed. “It’s crazy.”

“You did great, and hopefully that will be the end of it,” Alex reassured her, holding her gaze and wanting to move closer.

“That was great.” Francine’s loud voice barged into the conversation as she appeared in the doorway. “They’re all talking about you.” She flashed a grin at Morgan. “So, no more heart attack or bus panic headlines. Great job.”

“I guess we will have to wait and see what they have to say about it?” Morgan said before opening her clutch to check her phone was on silent. “God.” There were already three texts waiting. Her mum, Zoe, and another from her mum.

“Everything okay?”

“It’s my mum.” She opened the text and read it.

Mum: Is that you on the TV with that pianist?

Morgan: It’s on the news, already?

Mum: It's live on the news Morgan, did you not think to tell me you had a new girlfriend?

She went to run her hand over her face and then remembered her make-up.

Morgan: Yes, mum, it is me. I’m just her date for the night, that’s all. x

She didn’t read Zoe’s text, but she could imagine the squeal of excitement it had all caused. Replying could wait till later when she’d had time to think about it. Because the cat was well and truly out of the bag with her now, wasn’t it?

“Okay, let’s get this show on the road,” Francine interrupted. “Morgan, you come with me while Alex gets readyto go on.” Francine was already walking away, and Morgan hesitated just long enough.

Alex stepped forward. “I want to kiss you right now, but—”

Morgan’s tongue licked slowly along her bottom lip as she inched closer. “I think this is the one time you could do it. It might even be expected.”

“Don’t tempt me. I need to be focused and if I kiss you now—” She shook her head and laughed. “I won’t stop with just a kiss.”

Biting her lip, Morgan swallowed, the thought of that doing nothing to quell her own arousal right now. She was wired after the red carpet and the massage earlier. Maybe she did understand the euphoria after all.

“Alright, I guess I’ll just have to keep waiting till later.” Morgan glanced over her shoulder quickly, expecting Francine to sternly shout at her, but she was already out of sight. “All the best, and I’ll see you afterwards.”

Turning on her heel, she hurried to catch up with Francine, but just before she turned the corner, she looked back. Alex was still watching as she blew a kiss, and then disappeared from view. Her footsteps tapped a beat with every step on the worn flagstones.

Walking into the nave, it was easy enough to spot Francine. Lines of chairs filled the space, and people were slowly filing into the building and finding their seats. A hushed chit-chat sound echoed around the huge space, and her eyes landed on the piano up on the makeshift stage.

“Morgan.” Francine waved. “Over here.”

All eyes seemed to land on her as she waved hesitantly back and began to move towards the loud American. Some people smiled, others whispered, but they all looked in her direction as she eased by them.This must be how Alex feels, she thought.

It was only when she got much closer that she realised who else she was sitting with. She gulped, felt her eyes widen, and her mouth dry as she took in the familiar faces.