Page 50 of Decoding Morse

Thia gasped. “You called himTed’sold friend? After he made out with you? Damn, girl, that’s harsh.”

“I…. Yeah. At the time, I was so flustered I didn’t realize, but yeah. That’s exactly what I said.” Wincing, I added, “His behavior afterward makes more sense now.”

“What behavior?”

“After the appointment, I was being my normal awkward, babbling self, but he was… different. He shut down and wouldn’t look at me.” Manic laughter bubbled out of my chest. “Of course, he wouldn’t. He made all these earth-shattering claims about his attraction to me and curled my toes with the world’s most passionate kiss, and then I called him Ted’s old friend. No wonder he fled after we got back.”

Thia studied me with an expression I could only describe as fondly amused disgust. “You poor, sweet, socially inept love birds.”

“One kiss does not love birds make,” I argued. “Shouldn’t he have at least fought for me?”

She cocked her head to the side. “After what you called him?”

“If he was really interested, he would, right?” Only I’d seen the attraction in his eyes. He was interested, all right. “What if the age difference is a deal breaker?”

“You should ask rather than assume it is. I barely know the man, but he’s a workaholic. I doubt he dates much.”

Now, she was just talking nonsense. “He’s gorgeous.”

“And a bit of a geek who doesn’t seem to like people.”

She had a point.

“But he’s funny and has the body of a god.”

She nodded. “Regardless, I’m pretty sure he’s just as fucked up as you are, Angel.”

I sat up, narrowing my eyes at her as I reached for my laptop. “I did not share that nickname with you so you could start using it.”

“That’swhat you’re taking offense to?”

I shrugged. “Everything else you said is true.”

Still unsure what to do about Morse and over this conversation, I popped open my laptop and clicked on my email icon only to be bombarded by ads for every product I’d ever thought about, despite my constant attempts to unsubscribe or label them as spam. Halfway down the page, I spotted an email from my mother withYour Upcoming Tripas the subject line. My relationship with the woman who’d birthed me was complicated, to say the least. Like always, the sight of her name triggered physical responses I couldn’t control. There was no race, but my brain fired a starting pistol anyway, sending my heart into a sprint that tightened my chest. With trembling hands, I opened the message.

Amelia,

I have attempted to call you, but all my calls go straight to voicemail. Are you short on funds? I would have sent you the money for your phone bill had you asked. Let me know what you need.

Coach Rice reached out to your father to let him know you have not yet confirmed Morgan’s visit to the University of Idaho. Coach Passaro said the same is true of your College of Idaho visit. Your father made a great deal of effort and had to cash in several favors. The professors and swim coaches are quite busy and have gone above and beyond to adjust their schedules to accommodate Morgan’s last-minute request. It would be terribly rude to ignore them. What is happening? I know we have had our differences in the past, but we have all agreed to put Theodore and Morgan first. It would be a shame if our sweet girl missed out on this opportunity.

We look forward to seeing you after your Caldwell visit. We will plan dinner, and you and Morgan may stay the night before you head back to Seattle.

The email was signedfrom the desk of Vera Hutchensen.

“Oh, hell no,” Thia said. While I’d been going over the email, forcing myself to focus and read it when every instinct in my body wanted me to slam the laptop closed, she’d positioned herself to read over my shoulder. “That is the most passive-aggressive bullshit I’ve ever seen in my life. You need to let that woman know you’re a grown-ass adult, and she can’t talk to you like that.”

“Yeah, no. That’s not happening. If I don’t politely agree to her demands, the next message I get will be from my father. Trust me, nobody wants that.”

“Can’t you tell them about the hit on your life preventing you from going to Idaho right now?”

I eyed her. “I think you’re mistaking my parents for reasonable adults who give a shit about anyone’s plans but their own. If Dad knew I was in danger, he’d only insist that Morgan and I move in with them because nobody would dare harm anyone living under William Hutchensen’s roof.”

“Pompous asshat.”

“Now you’re catching on. I’d love to tell him to get bent, but he’s paying for Theo’s school. And will be paying for Morgan’s, as long as I can make it to these college visits so she can make her decision.”

“Do you think it’s safe to leave the bikers?”

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