I look over to where Morgan is sitting with Tinsley. Instead of looking with the anger from before, I look with renewed eyes. Her posture’s rigid, like she doesn’t want to be here. Her smile? It’s fake. She’s pretending.
She glances over at me, almost like she can feel me staring. Instead of hate, I see sadness in her eyes. She’s being haunted by something.
“You see it now, don’t you? Now that you’ve taken your head out of your own ass and stopped being selfish, you can see what I see.”
Guilt consumes me as I finally hear what Sage is saying. I’ve been so busy being angry about what she did to me, that I didn’t stop to even consider what might have happened to her. I once said that no excuse she could give would make me forgive her, but looking into the sadness inside her eyes now, I know I was lying to myself.
Now, I’m driven by the need to find out every single reason that caused the internal wounds I see inside her.
“Thanks, Momma Sage. I needed that.” I use the playful nickname Tinsley and I call her when she switches to mom mode.
“Anytime. I’m always here to give you guidance and support, but most of all, love. No matter what idiotic thing you do, I will always love you. That’s how unconditional love works. You once told me you loved Morgan unconditionally. Is that still true?”
I think over her words. “I don’t know anymore. I don’t know if it’s love, but I still care for her. I don’t want to see her hurt.”
“That’s a good start, Keat. Work from there and figure it out. Get to know who she is now and stop expecting her to be who she was.” She stands before bending to give me a quick hug. “My work here is done. Go be Keaton Yates, the caring guy I know you are. I’m going to find your asshole brother.”
I laugh, knowing he’s probably lurking somewhere, spying on us. Always the father figure, while Sage is the mother.
✽✽✽
“Is this seat taken?” Tinsley smiles at me as Morgan glares.
It’s taken me an hour to work up the courage to go talk to her.
“Sit, big brother. I was about to get us something to drink but didn’t want to leave her alone. Wayland’s been circling, and I didn’t want him to come back and hit on her while I’m gone. Keep her company?”
I get what Tinsley’s doing, and I’m grateful. Wayland’s advances aren’t wanted, and she’s giving me a moment alone with Morgan. I don’t miss the “don’t fuck this up” look she shoots me either.
“Got it, Tin Tin. Bring me a water?”
She nods, then walks away.
“What do you want, Yates?” Morgan’s exasperated tone tells me she’s done with my shit.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt out, surprising us both.
“What? Did Keaton Yates just apologize? I must be dreaming.” I don’t miss the sarcasm in her voice as she gets up to leave.
“Please give me a minute? Just one.”
She sighs but sits back in her chair.
“I was wrong. What I said earlier was wrong. That’s not why I brought you here. I had fun at the movies tonight. I enjoyed talking to you on the way here. Wayland, well, he knows how to piss me off. I shouldn’t have said what I said though. I should have never insinuated that we would do more than hang out. As friends.”
“Isn’t the first time you’ve done it,” she mumbles.
“Isn’t the first time I’ve done what?” I ask, confused.
“Nothing.” She takes a deep breath then lets it out. “I don’t want the drama, Keaton. If that’s what being your friend is, then I don’t want it.”
I can’t deny the slight pang of disappointment at the word friend. Do I want to be her friend? My dick says no.
I hold my hands out. “Drama free from now on. No more drama. I’m tired of pretending to hate you. Aren’t you tired?”
She gives me a small smile. “You don’t hate me?”
I push her shoulder gently. “You know I could never hate you. Even if I was hurt when you left, I still loved you. I still care about you even now.”
She looks down at her hands for a moment before she turns to me and sighs. “Let’s agree to leave the past in the past. We move on from here on out. As friends.”
“Great. As your friend, can I tell you something?”
She narrows her eyes, but nods. “Wayland has a small prick. Might want to consider that before you bone him.”
“Keaton Wellington.” She leans over to hit me as I laugh. Moments later she laughs too. “Thanks for the heads-up, but I think Wayland’s personality was enough to ensure I would never in a million years want to see his ‘prick,’ as you call it.”
“Good. You know I’m just looking out for you, girl.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “You’re exhausting.”
I don’t answer because Tinsley answers for me. “He’s the most exhausting. It’s like he never knows when to quit. It’s always joke after joke with him.”
“Hey.” I hold my hand over my heart as if I’m offended. “I’m the comedic relief.”
“You do such a brilliant job at it too, honey.” Tinsley mockingly pats my knee, eliciting a laugh from Morgan.
I didn’t care if I’m the butt of every goddamn joke from here until the end of time. As long as I get to see that smile light up Morgan’s
