Page 17 of The Christmas Catch

Although, obviously, ifshegot that text, that was the first thing she’d do.

Within seconds, Tobias responded. She knew he would. His phone was surgically attached.

OMG, I thought you’d be home by now! Are you okay? And who the fuck is Morgan Scott? Wait, was she in that Netflix thing you liked?

She sounded like a film star! It wasn’t just Ali.

Remember when we sat up drinking wine at mine recently and we discussed our first crushes? Morgan Scott was mine.

She waited for it to land, then his response.

First off, he sent a row of shocked-face emojis. Quickly followed by some aubergines.

Wait. You’re hitching a lift with your first love?More shocked emojis.

Looks like it. She’s going home too, and we met at the airport. Our parents still live in the same village.

Parent.

It was still new enough to shock her.

I better go. She’s just paying for the coffee.

Where are you now?

A service station somewhere south of Glasgow.

No shagging in the loos.

Ali rolled her eyes.No shagging in my bed.

Tobias sent more aubergines, followed by a raised eyebrow.

She walked into that, didn’t she?

* * *

Twenty minutes later,Ali sat up straight. Elbows on the table, head turned left. Her gingerbread was gone, her coffee half-drunk.

Opposite, Morgan mirrored her pose.

Outside, Imogen walked up and down, phone stuck to her ear. Every now and again, she stopped, frowned, then started walking again. She was still dressed as Mrs Claus, so onlookers were probably worried Christmas plans weren’t going well in the North Pole.

“You think it’s her dad wanting the car back?”

Ali turned, and their faces were so close, she could almost reach out and touch Morgan. That face that was so familiar, and yet, so much a stranger. She sat back, putting some distance between them. “I hope not, otherwise we’re screwed.”

“I have a bad feeling,” Morgan replied. “Although if it is her dad demanding she comes home, at least we won’t die with Imogen at the wheel.”

Ali snorted. “She is by far the worst driver with the nicest car I’ve ever had the misfortune to hitch a ride with.” She paused. “If it cheers you up, I just booked us a car in Manchester for the morning. If we can get there, we just need to find a hotel, and we can drive home tomorrow.”

Morgan’s smile almost cracked her face. “Fucking hell, I could kiss you.”

Ali went rigid, and her heart danced in her chest. Goddammit, she just wanted to get home and get away from Morgan. It was all too confusing. This was bringing back too much of her past, and Ali was all about existing in the future and beyond. She didn’t want to be dragged backwards.

Imogen pulled the phone from her face, waved, then said something through the glass Ali couldn’t understand.

Moments later, she sat next to Ali with a thump.