by Paul, JL
“Morgan,” he groaned into my mouth, his hand working its way under my sweater, his fingers caressing my stomach. Things were moving fast – faster than I could have imagined – but I didn’t want it to stop. Never before had I experienced something so pleasant and so…exhilarating.
“Morgan,” he said as he withdrew his hand and, leaning back, placed it on my cheek. “We need to slow down a little.”
Blinking, I stared at him, the spinning top in my head slowing, slowing, slowing. When it stopped, the fog in my brain began to lift.
“Oh, yeah,” I said, my breath still a little harsh. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Not that I want to,” he said, leaning into me to kiss my cheek. “But, you’re the type of girl that guys don’t rush. I don’t want to screw this up. I’m notorious for that sort of thing.”
I smiled, not entirely sure what he was saying. My mind was replaying our short make out session for my viewing pleasure.
“Why don’t I take you home?” he said as he stood and helped me to my feet. “You have class tomorrow, remember?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I do.”
He pulled me into his arms, kissing the top of my head. “Call me when you’re done. We can grab some dinner or something.”
“Okay,” I said as put on my coat. He laced his fingers through mine and led me to the door.
***
Life became more colorful for me. Everywhere I looked, I found beauty and vibrancy, no matter the subject. A smile became fixed upon my face and a spring bounced my every step. I was happy – really happy.
Dante was the first to notice the change. He didn’t comment on it but the grins, smirks, and knowing glances gave him away. I’d always liked my job well enough but after my revealing evening with Evan, I began to love it.
Classes were better, too. My concentration wasn’t what it should have been as I often found myself thinking about Evan, but I participated more and even chatted with classmates.
Each night, after classes or shifts at Beans, found Evan and I curled together on my sofa, watching movies or mindless TV, as we shared kisses and conversation.
“You know all about my family,” he said one night, a few days after the evening at his apartment. “Tell me about yours.”
“Not much to tell,” I said. “My dad works nonstop and my mom stays home, playing the good housewife, attending charity functions and serving on Boards for different clubs.”
“That’s not telling me much,” he said as he held me close to his side. “What are they like?”
I scoffed at the question. “My dad believes that I should focus on my future – he wants me to be an academic at a prestigious university. He thinks any career in art or photography is a waste. He believes that photography should be a hobby.”
“Seriously?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I said with a sigh. “My mother, on the other hand, thinks I waste too much time worrying about a career. She believes that I should be learning how to cook and entertain while searching for a suitable man to marry.”
“You’re joking,” he laughed. “I mean, who thinks that way anymore?”
“I kid you not,” I said. “My grandmother is the same way. My mother came from money and married into money just like my grandmother and her grandmother.”
“Wow,” he said. “Just…wow. I mean, I’ve heard of that before, but I thought that sort of thinking died out in the sixties.”
“For most people,” I said.
“Are you an only child?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. “That’s what makes it so hard. They argue all the time about what my role in life should be. When I moved out of the dorms, my father was thrilled. He pays my rent and utilities, but he insisted that I get a job for other things. He wants me to learn about life, but not worry about it yet.”
“Ah, I get it,” he said. “He wants you to focus on school but still manage your household. But, he doesn’t want you working too much so he sends a little cash your way.”
“Something like that, yeah,” I said. “I do have a Trust Fund, but I can’t access it for a few months yet – not until I’m twenty-one.”
“Cool,” he said, squeezing my shoulders. “I got a sugar mama. A Trust Fund baby!”
“Please,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I’m not loaded or anything.”
He shrugged. “Not like it matters to me, but I sort of figured your family was doing well. Most people who attend Dunne-Browling come from that sort of family.”
“There are scholarships,” I said. “Some students are here on scholarships or grants.”
“I know,” he said. “My uncle wanted me to apply for a scholarship but I wasn’t interested. I chose the technical route. I wasn’t meant for academia.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” I said. “A good mechanic is hard to find – that’s what my father says, anyway.”
Laughing, he tugged me to his chest, his lips on mine. I melted into him, twining my fingers in his lush hair. Moments like these made me forget my name and where I was. I loved it.
Sliding down, I tugged him with me until he was lying on top. I felt his grin on my lips as he continued to kiss me senseless.
I’d always prided myself on being a virgin – I’d never wanted to have sex just to have sex – but in moments such as these, I longed to be a bit more experienced.
“Morgan,” he whispered, his lips still on mine. “One of these days we’re going to take this too far.”
“I know,” I said, sighing.
His lips moved to my check, trailing down to the spot behind my ear. I shuddered as I clung to him, wishing to stay the way we were forever.
“I’m not sure if you’re ready for that,” he mumbled against my skin as his lips continued their trek down my neck.
Shivering, I arched into him. “I’ll be ready.”
He chuckled as he pulled slightly away from me. “I’m in no hurry.”
“Maybe I am,” I said as I yanked him back down.
His laughter brushed against my cheek. He kissed me once more – a quick peck to the lips, and sat up, leaving me cold and wanting.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
Running his hands through his hair, he gave me a pained smile. “We keep getting all caught up in the moment.”
“So?”
“So,” he said. “I don’t want to get going and not be able to stop.”
As the fugue left my brain, his words began to make sense. “You’re absolutely right. I really like you, Evan, but I think you’re right about not rushing it.”
“See?” he said, running the back of his hand across my cheek. “We’re on the same page. That’s good.”
My heart swelled as I looked at his beautiful face. How had I gotten so lucky?
***
Friday night, I agreed to meet Irelyn and Bailey at Rusty’s. It was Out Back’s last performance at the bar and the girls wanted to make it special. Even Rusty was in on it as he’d arranged party-style finger foods, decorations, and drink specials for the occasion. Bailey told me at lunch earlier that week that the guys had ordered a poster size copy of the preliminary CD cover and had it framed. They all signed it, thanking Rusty for helping them to get their big break. They intended to give it to him that night.
It was such a big deal that I arranged to have the next day off. I didn’t want to cut the night short just because I had to work the early shift on Saturday morning.
The best part was that Evan would be able to join me at the table. He was scheduled to work early and finish up around nine. Finally I could sit with my friends and be one of them, not the odd man out.
I dressed carefully before heading to Rusty’s, in black, skinny jeans, a white cardigan, and mid-thigh boots. Artfully draping a soft, pink scarf around my neck, I applied my usual, minimal makeup. Once I was satisfied, I drove to Rusty’s, excitement shimmering up and down my spine.
I located Evan immediately behind the bar, a crowd of coed girls vying fo
r his attention. Grinning, I waltzed to the end and waited for him to notice me. When he did, a large smile cracked his careful, professional façade. He finished filling a drink order before hurrying down to greet me, diet soda in his hand.
“I’ll be glad to get out from behind this bar tonight,” he said. “Save me a seat, huh?”
“Of course,” I said as he leaned as far as he could over the bar. I leaned in to meet him with a quick kiss before turning to find Irelyn and Bailey at their usual table.
“How are things with Evan?” Irelyn asked, her eyes shining. She was such a romantic.
“They’re great,” I said, not able to contain my own smile. “He’s great.”
“That’s just great,” Bailey said, nudging me with her elbow. “I’m going to miss coming down here on Fridays.”
“Bailey,” I said. “Are you becoming nostalgic?”
“It must be the baby hormones,” Irelyn said, leaning into me to giggle.
“Shut up, bitches,” Bailey said, ruining her faux anger with a laugh. “I was just thinking about our first year and how we used to come down here all the time.”
“Yeah,” I said, looking at Irelyn. “Remember our first time here when Irelyn left with Lucas?”
“How could I forget,” Bailey said. “She called me in the middle of the night to come get her.”
“It all worked out in the end,” Irelyn said, flashing her engagement ring in our faces.
I laughed, my heart so full of love and affection. For the first time in months, everything felt right – and natural. Maybe the pieces of life were finally falling into place.
But, of course, Jessica had to show up and throw a wrench into my plans.
Chapter Thirteen
Jessica slipped into a chair at the table, unwrapping the colorful scarf from around her neck before removing her coat. She barely glanced in my direction, just focused on the other two at the table.
“I didn’t think I was ever going to get out of the diner,” she complained. “My last table was a bunch of rowdy old married guys out to eat before hitting the bars.”
“Did they hit on you?” Irelyn asked.
“Ew, no,” Jessica said, crinkling her nose. “They were, like, forty. Gross. And they took forever to eat and clear out.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes, wondering how old Jessica would think forty really was once she was that age. I smiled at the thought.
“I didn’t think you’d be here tonight,” Jessica said, her hard words barely covered by her saccharine sweet tone.
“Why wouldn’t she be?” Irelyn asked.
Jessica shrugged. “I don’t know. I just didn’t think she liked coming down here. She always leaves early.”
“She’s not leaving early tonight,” Bailey said, waving at the waitress. “She’s staying for the party.”
Jessica looked less than thrilled but kept her comments to herself. Once Out Back took the stage, no one could really converse, anyway.
Shortly after nine, Evan slid into the chair beside me, taking my hand under the table. I smiled at him, happy to have him at my side, and turned back to the band, enjoying myself more than I had in months.
After the first set, Irelyn and Bailey began to pelt Evan with questions, asking him how long we’d been dating, what were his intentions, and on and on. It was cute and light-hearted, but I didn’t like the distrustful gleam in Irelyn’s eyes. Maybe she’d taken his jokes too seriously.
“I like Morgan,” he finally said as the waitress set a round of fresh drinks on our table. “She’s a good girl, not like some of the chicks out there.”
“Chicks,” Bailey snorted. “What is it with guys and that word?”
“It’s cool,” Evan said, flashing a brilliant smile at Bailey. “You know, a cool word.”
“It’s stupid,” Bailey said with a cool lift to her brow. “You want to call us chicks, like chickens, then how about if we call you cocks?”
Evan threw his head back and laughed, startling me. I glanced at Bailey, a little afraid that he’d angered her, but she wore a look of approval as she fought a smile.
“All right, Bailey,” Evan conceded. “I won’t call you or your friends chicks. How’s that?”
“Whatever floats your boat,” she said, lifting her glass of water in his direction. He picked up his beer bottle and clinked her glass.
The laughter and chiding continued as Out Back prepared to start their second set. Jessica had pretty much kept quiet and, even better in my eyes; I’d managed to not pay much attention to Spencer.
It wasn’t until after the band finished that things started to unravel. The band presented a rather touched Rusty with the poster just as the kitchen staff rolled out the food. Someone chucked a ton of money into the jukebox and music began to filter into the bar, at a level low enough to allow some conversation.
Spencer, Collin, and Lucas joined our table with heaping plates. People constantly approached the table, congratulating them on their record deal and wishing them luck. Evan and I hit the buffet and returned to the table, eating and drinking and floating on the ambiance. Conversation centered on the band’s future, including the upcoming nuptials and birth. Everyone was mellow and jolly, smiling and having fun. Evan was immediately welcomed into the group, even though he’d already known everyone.
It was too good to be true. Naturally.
I excused myself to use the restroom, pushing my way through the thinning crowd. It was growing later and only the hardcore partiers had remained.
Once inside a stall, I heard the door open again. When I finished, I moved to the sink to wash my hands, surprised to see Jessica leaning against it.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“What do you think I’m doing in the bathroom?” I asked as I squirted soap onto my hands and scrubbed them under the warm running water.
“I mean here, at Rusty’s.”
“I came to hear the band, the same as you,” I said, turning off the taps and shaking the excess water from my hands. I snatched some paper towel out of the holder, wiping my hands as I faced Jessica. “I’m not allowed or something?”
“You need to stay away from Spencer,” she said. “Geez, you’re like a stalker.”
“I’m not here to see Spencer,” I said. “I’m here to see my friends and to watch the band.”
“No, you’re not,” she said, pushing away from the counter and planting her fists on her hips. “I know you have a thing for Spencer. I know you’re using Evan to make Spencer jealous. It’s not working. Spencer could care less.”
“What?” a voice called from behind Jessica. It had opened a crack during the conversation but now swung fully open revealing a shocked Irelyn. “What is going on in here?”
“You’re ‘friend’, Morgan, isn’t as sweet and innocent as you think,” Jessica said, smug.
“What are you talking about?” Irelyn asked as she moved further into the room. She looked at me. “What is she talking about?”
“She thinks that I’m only dating Evan to make Spencer jealous. She thinks I’m stalking him,” I explained.
“That’s ridiculous,” Irelyn said as she slowly turned to face Jessica. “You seriously believe this?”
“It’s true!” Jessica said. “After all she did last summer, she shows up here all the time, without a boyfriend, gawking at Spencer. Then I said something to her about always being a third wheel and she suddenly has a boyfriend.”
“No,” Irelyn said, shaking her head. “Morgan’s not like that.”
“Sure, she is,” Jessica said. “Didn’t you hear the stuff that Evan said before Thanksgiving? She’s using him – giving him sex to make him come here with her. She just wants to make Spencer jealous.”
“Oh, my goodness!” Irelyn exclaimed, a touch of red on her cheeks. “Evan was joking – we all knew that. And, really? You honestly think Morgan is after Spencer? That’s stupid. She had a thing for hi
m once, but she’s way over that. They’re just friends.”
“He can’t stand her,” Jessica said. “He thinks she’s a little shadow.”
Her words cut at my heart. I knew that Spencer didn’t think of me in a romantic way, but I was certain that we were still friends. Maybe not as close as we once were, but we were still friends.
“You’re so full of it,” Irelyn said. “I know that’s not true. Spencer likes Morgan – sees her as a friend. He would never say that.”
“Ask him,” Jessica said, shooting another of her smug looks my way.
“I will,” Irelyn said, pushing past Jessica. “Right now.”
“Irelyn,” I said, following her out. She stopped to look at me. “Don’t bring this up now. Please. The guys are having a good time – don’t ruin their party.”
“Didn’t you hear her in there?” she demanded, pointing at the bathroom door.
“Yes, I did,” I said. “She’s constantly saying stuff like that to me. I don’t care. She doesn’t like me and I don’t like her. She doesn’t matter to me. But you and the others matter. I don’t want any drama to ruin this night, okay?”
A slow smile spread across Irelyn’s lips as she drew me into a hug. “Okay. I’ll wait until tomorrow to tell Spencer. I hate to do it, but he needs to know.”
“I agree.”
“And,” she said as she drew back. “I’m sorry that she treated you that way.”
“I’m a big girl,” I said with a smile. “I can take it.”
“Okay. Let’s go join the party.”
Linking her arm through mine, we returned to the table, both of us pasting looks of innocence on our faces. Jessica returned a few moments later, stiff and defensive, but when no one verbally attacked her or confronted her about the bathroom encounter, she relaxed, keeping quiet.
Evan and I stayed for an hour more before deciding it was time to leave. As he drove me home, he asked me what had happened.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
He shrugged. “When you left for the bathroom, Jessica waited about one second and then followed. I was tempted to hang out outside the door to listen but Irelyn got up to go. I figured Irelyn would have your back.”
