Page 74 of Shelter for Morgan

Rhett took in his friend’s words and felt something move inside of him, emotionally.

“I think I’m just nervous that I’ll open that door and she’ll either shut it or maybe she’ll agree because she used to have a crush on me long before I even really knew who she was.”

“I don’t know Morgan nearly as well as you do, Rhett. But from everything I’ve seen and heard, I don’t think she’d say anything she doesn’t mean. She moved all the way from Center City here to San Antonio to teach. It strikes me that she’s a person who would go to great extremes to do things that she believes in.”

Rhett nodded. “It sounds like you know her.”

“It’s the same way we know you, Rhett. We know you by your actions.” Fish’s smile lit up his whole face when he looked back down at his phone. “Actions really prove who you are as a person.”

Sage went through hell to keep Milo safe from his father after her sister passed. I think I loved her for that alone, but getting to know her as a person, seeing the daily moments between them, being a part of that?

“That made me a better person because I wanted to be a part of their world. Their family. I’ll never forget what they bring to my life and I’ll never stop trying to be a better person because that’s what they deserve.”

Listening to Fish’s words, Rhett felt a whole rollercoaster of emotions twisting through him. He knew how he felt for Morgan, but now he was wondering what he could do to be more deserving of her.

He wanted her to love him and thank god he had that, but he also wanted to be her friend, her protector, her lover, and hopefully, someday, her husband and the father of their kids.

“You look like you’ve got some thinking to do, man. Maybe I should-”

The alarm sounded and Rhett was up on his feet.

“Station Seven. House Fire. Three Two Two…”

Rhett dropped his phone into his pocket, his heart swelling with love for Morgan as they rushed toward the apparatus floor.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

MORGAN

She was in a bit of trouble.

Maribel had come in for some help after her last class and the two of them had gotten to work on Maribel’s project. The young woman had been inspired by some of her own research and wanted to start a program at the school. When she opened up her book bag and set down an accordion folder on the table, Morgan’s eyes had widened.

When the younger woman began talking about the program, Morgan was mesmerized.

“My cousin Eduardo is stationed in Hawaii and his wife is a teacher there at a local school. That’s why he told me about this.”

Morgan looked down at the short information sheet that Maribel had put together.

“So this program is like a teen counseling program?”

Maribel bit into the inside of her cheek and her gaze was a little troubled. “I’m… I’m not sure.”

She turned her head slightly away and her eyes focused on the table.

“Maribel?”

When the younger woman didn’t look up, Morgan reached out her hand and tapped her fingertip against the back of Maribel’s hand.

When her gaze lifted up, Morgan smiled.

“There… I don’t know what your experiences have been with other teachers, but as long as I’m here, you should know that there is no right or wrong answer when we’re talking about ideas, okay?”

Maribel nodded, slowly. “I guess I’m just not used to talking about things like this.”

“But you’re interested.” Morgan gestured at the folder and the neatly printed information form on the table. “I can tell you’ve put a lot of thought into this. And while I’m interested, I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying. So I’m not arguing with you or trying to turn your ideas into something else. I’m trying to understand and discovering I’m not all that great about getting my meaning across to you.”

Maribel’s smile lifted. “I’m stumbling a bit myself. It’s all clear in my head, but trying to say what I’ve thought about… I guess I need a little practice.”

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