I sigh and flop back against the wall. “I don’t know.”
Shaking her head at me sadly, Laura reaches out and squeezes my hand.
“You don’t know? Explain,” Morgan demands. There’s a tinge of anger in her voice which I’m surprised about and truly confused as to where it’s coming from.
Scrubbing my free hand down my face, I try to order my thoughts, so they make sense. “I guess… well, I’m scared, Morgan.” I shrug. “We’ve been back and forth so much, he’s denied so much.” I look into Morgan’s eyes, and for the first time, I see there’s real pain there. “He’s my absolute, which means he could destroy me.”
Laura gasps, she knows exactly what that means for me because it’s the same thing as Tarrant.
“He is?” Laura breathes out quietly.
I don’t take my eyes away from Morgan as tears fill her eyes. “He is,” I answer. “Morgan, what is it?” I whisper.
“He wants you to wait for him. Can’t you see he’s invested? He just needs to get himself straight. At least you’re what he wants,” she tells me. She’s obviously aggravated, but her voice breaks as tears finally find freedom and descend down her face.
“Morgan,” I say again. Not breaking eye contact, not letting her feel alone, which somehow I know is how she feels.
Casting her eyes downward, she wraps her arms around her stomach and heaves out a sob. “I-I’m p-pregnant.”
“How is she?” I ask, taking a seat at the breakfast bar.
“Not great,” Laura answers as Tarrant tugs her onto his lap.
After the game on Saturday, I was all geared up for movie night with Laura and Morgan. I needed time with my friends, and to unload everything that’s been going on in my life, to get a little guidance. We couldn’t have it at my house as unusually, my mom was supposed to be home—the fact that she ended up staying out wasn’t surprising. So, I headed over to their dorm. When Morgan revealed the secret she’d been keeping it shocked me to the core. Never would I have expected those words from her. Straight after blurting her truth, she clammed up again. She wouldn’t answer our questions, and I was worried we were probing her too much.
I pulled Laura to one side and told her I was heading home, giving her some time to find out what’s going on, but I warned her not to push too hard. Morgan needs to know she can come to us when she wants to, not because she’s been forced to. I don’t want her to feel like she has no one because we’ve asked too much, too soon.
This morning I called Laura, asking her to come over. I need to know that Morgan’s okay. She’s just arrived with Tarrant in tow.
“Shit.” It’s the only word that comes to mind.
“You have any idea who the father is?” Tarrant questions.
Laura shakes her head. “She’s not talking about it. She said she needs time and I have to accept that.”
“You do, you’re right,” I tell her. Laura smiles at me. “But, you have to know when to rein in the time you give her.” She frowns. “If she’s left alone for too long it could equate to too much. Especially, if she’s living in her own head.” I glance at Tarrant. “Which she seemed to be last night.” I turn back to Laura. “She could make a choice she doesn’t really want, or she could feel so alone that it’s too much for her to handle.”
Laura leans forward. “What are you saying?” I can hear the worry in her voice.
Leaning toward her, I meet her stare. Placing my hand on her shoulder, I give it a squeeze. “You know what kind of life she’s had. You know the only person she trusts apart from us is Max.” Laura nods at my words. “You also know she’ll be shitting herself right now. She’ll be so scared of telling Max. Of his reaction. If she feels that way and if she’s that scared, you tell me… where does she turn if she thinks she has no one?”
Laura jolts backward, and Tarrant wraps his arms around her tighter, whispering something in her ear.
“I can’t tell Max,” she replies.
Shaking my head, I agree. “No, you can’t.”
“Then what?”
“We need to be around her as much as possible. Not overwhelmingly so, but she needs to know we’re there for her. For when she’s ready.” I look between Tarrant and Laura. “That means more nights at the dorm, even when she isn’t there, so when she comes home someone’s waiting for her.” Laura looks downward, and Tarrant’s fingers find her chin and pull her to face him.
“What is it baby?” he asks softly.
“If I stay at the dorm more, that’s less time for us,” she whispers, her gaze dropping to the floor.
“Hey...” Tarrant replies and she looks at him again, “… Morgan needs you. I’ll be here when you have time.”
“But—”
“Lemon, don’t worry about me… about us. Nothing’s going to knock our relationship off course. I’m here, whenever you need me, no matter what.” Tarrant moves closer, his lips brushing her ear. “Forever,” he whispers, and I look away, overcome at their intimate moment, desperately wishing I had that with Casper.
Glancing back in time to see Laura place a gentle kiss on Tarrant’s lips, I watch his eyes close with a mixture of pleasure and pain crossing his face before they both seem to remember I’m still here. They look back at me, and I shake my head smirking.
“Yep. Still here.” I chuckle.
“What the fuck is going on with you and Casper then?” Tarrant asks, he sits rubbing the back of
