Free The One That Got Away by Lucy Dawson

bashing from side to side. Oh, he didn’t
     just do that. The ONE THING he knows is guaranteed to send me into a fury in under three seconds. He has obviously thought
     better of it because the phone begins to ring again almost immediately.
    I answer straight away. ‘Don’t you ever hang up on me again!’
    ‘Um, okkkaaaay. I know it’s been a while, and although that
does
sound like us’ – there’s a laugh – ‘tell me you haven’t really been holding on to that all this time?’
    I nearly swerve off the road as I realise who the voice belongs to.
    ‘Molls? Are you still there? It’s me, Leo.’

Chapter Eight
    I can’t think what to say. His voice sounds exactly the same. Slightly clipped and amused.
    ‘I thought I’d give you a ring instead of us messaging back and forth,’ he speaks easily, as if it hasn’t been years since
     we last spoke. ‘It occurred to me that you probably hadn’t changed your number.’
    ‘I’m surprised you still remember it,’ I say truthfully, although it sounds like I’m fishing.
    He laughs. ‘Oh I know it off by heart.’ He repeats it fluidly. ‘See?’
    There’s a pause. I’m not sure what to say to that either.
    ‘So, who hung up on you?’ he says. ‘Or shouldn’t I ask?’
    ‘Probably best not.’
    ‘Want to talk about it?’ he says simply.
    It’s then that I give myself a mental shake and realise what a bizarre conversation we are already having. Only Leo … the
     normal social rules don’t tend to bother him.
    ‘Not really, thank you,’ I say lightly.
    ‘Fair enough,’ he says, still cheerful. ‘I was only asking to be polite, I don’t actually care. Is now a good time, by the
     way? You sound like you’re on your way to somewhere?’
    ‘I’m driving to a sales conference in Windsor.’
    ‘That sounds fun …’
    ‘No it doesn’t,’ I can’t help but allow a smile.
    ‘Oh I don’t know,’ he says easily. ‘It’s hard to think what more
anyone
could possibly want from life than a conference in Windsor. So are you still working for – um –’
    ‘MediComma,’ I finish for him. ‘’Fraid so.’
    ‘Nothing wrong with that,’ he says. ‘A good job these days is something to be proud of. But why Windsor, may I ask?’
    ‘No idea, I expect they just got a good deal on the hotel.’ I speed up to overtake the car in front, distractedly looking
     in my mirrors. ‘Is that still your area of expertise?’
    ‘What, lounging around in hotels?’ he replies archly. ‘Thanks very much.’
    ‘No!’ I correct him quickly. ‘Corporate events.’
    ‘Oh right. Yeah, it is. Which luxury travel lodge have they dumped you in then?’
    I tell him and he gives a sharp intake of breath. ‘That’s bad luck.’
    ‘Really?’ I say in dismay as I pull back into the middle lane. ‘Is it a hole?’
    ‘No, I’m kidding – it’s fine. It’s got a—’
    ‘Can you hang on a moment, Leo?’ I cut across him, noticing that the traffic is slowing down very fast in front of me and
     I need to concentrate for a moment.
    ‘OK, sorry about that,’ I say as we come to a complete stop and I drop down into first. But there’s silence. ‘Leo? Hello?
     Are you still there? Leo?’
    ‘Just waiting until you’re ready,’ he says smoothly.
    I wrinkle my nose at the phone. I’d completely forgotten about that, his hating people interrupting him.
    But then maybe he’s actually being polite, because he cheerily starts up again: ‘So tell me. What’s your news? How about the
     lovely Bec and Joss, they OK?’
    The car in front pulls away sharply, creating a large gap, even though the traffic is still moving slowly – someone is clearly
     in a hurry. I begin to drift after them as the phone reception goes a bit dodgy. When I glance over at the handset I notice
     the hands-free wire is wiggling loose.
    ‘Although Joss’d hate to be called that, especially by me,’ Leo says dryly. ‘Which is completely fair, of course.’
    I push the wire back