Page 39 of Unexpectingly Happily Ever After

″She can talk to him for however long she wants, but he’s a stripper, Casey, and this is Las Vegas. What does she expect to get out of this?”

I cock my head and stare at Brit. “What do you think she wants out of this?”

Brit flips her hair. I suspect most of her annoyance comes from the utter lack of attention she received from the men. “Not in my room.”

″I wouldn’t mind a bed to myself tonight,” I muse.

Morgan only makes us wait about ten minutes. “Don’t wait for me,” she says, touching my shoulder with a starry-eyed smile. “Go on to the room. We’re going to get coffee.”

I haven’t seen that smile on her face in a long time. Nerves and excitement andwhatamIdoingandI thinkImightlikehimall rolled into one toothy grin.

″Coffee,huh?” I narrow my eyes at the brute standing behind her. Either this guy is a good enough player to fool Morgan, or he really is a nice guy. And it’s not easy to fool Morgan. The girl issmart, plus ever since she opened her own PR firm a few years ago, she’s developed the best built-in asshole detector. Because of this, I’m not as worried about leaving her as I would be about Brit.

Plus, not that Morgan would ever say anything, but I think she’s desperate to pick up. She hasn’t been in a relationship since she broke up with Derek–my step-uncle– long story–two years ago. I know one of the reasons she agreed to this weekend was the slim possibility of getting laid.

″I’ll have her back to your room in an hour.” His voice growls like a dump truck and I have to crane my neck to look up at him. The lights of the chandelier gleam off his bald head. Is that an accent I hear amid the noise of the bar?

″Well, that’s no fun,” Brit sayssotto voce.

″He’s Canadian too,” Morgan says proudly. “From Newfoundland. We’re neighbours.”

Morgan’s family is from Nova Scotia, soneighboursis a bit of a stretch.

″If you’re sure,” I pretend to relent, narrowing my eyes at the Newfie.

″I’m sure,” Morgan says with an even wider smile. “Really, Casey.”

″She’s fine, let’s get out of here.” Brit grabs my arm, frog-marching me out of the bar. I’m relieved to be heading back to the room, but Morgan…

A last look behind shows that Morgan will be just fine.

Chapter Fourteen

Friendships should be cherished with other women; know that other non-mothers might feel resentment and bitterness for the amount of time you spend on your children.

A Young Woman’s Guide to Raising Obedient Children

Dr. Francine Pascal Reid, (1943)

“His name isBron?”Brit screeches the next morning.

“His name’s actuallyRonbut because of his size, they always called him brawny Ronnie. So now he’s Bron.” Despite the late night, Morgan is the first one awake, showered, and ready.

″Just how big is he?” Brit asks, still in her satin pajamas. She’s not asking Morgan how tall Bron is.

″We had coffee last night. Only coffee,” Morgan assures us. I still had to share the bed with her last night; I had been both impressedand slightly disappointed that she returned to the hotel room moments before the promised one hour. “He’s taking me to breakfast this morning.”

″Are you sure he’s a stripper?” Brit asks despairingly. “I thought they were all drinking and drugs and sex after shows.”

″He’s nice,” Morgan protests. “He’s not like that.”

I glance at Morgan. I’ve known her for almost twenty-five years, and while Morgan tends to keep her feelings tucked close to her chest, unlike more emotional me, I’ve learned to read her long ago.

She likes this guy. She likes him a lot.

″You’ve been watching too muchMagic Mike,” I say to Brit. “I’m sure they’re not all like that.”

″He’s getting us tickets for the show tonight,” Morgan promises. “The Power of the Tower. It’s always sold out.”

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