Page 117 of Spindrift

“Shesaid a month.”

“Youknew this was going to happen.”

“Iknow.”

“Whenare you going to break it off?”

“What?”Morgan stared at Lillian.

“Ifyou’re determined it’s going to end badly, why not just rip off the Band-Aid?”

“Idon’t want to end it. That’s the whole point.”

“Thenput on your big girl pants, tell Stevie you’re sorry, and deal with youremotions.”

“Don’tfeel like you need to go easy on me or anything.”

“Iwould if you’d just act like an adult.”

“Idon’t process. You know this about me. I leave that to you and Ange, and Stevieapparently.”

Lillianstopped her forward momentum by grabbing both of Morgan’s hands and holdingthem in hers. “Here’s what you need to do. Find out when she’s leaving and talkto her about how that makes you feel.”

“OrI could not.”

“Suityourself.” Lillian dropped her hands and tilted her face up to the sunlight,closing her eyes. Morgan saw the dark circles of exhaustion beneath them.

“How’sBrian?” she asked.

“Idon’t know,” Lillian said in a quiet voice. “We’re not speaking at the moment.”

“I’msorry.”

“Thanks.”

Morganreally did feel like an ass, now. She’d been so wrapped up in her own problemsshe hadn’t noticed her friend was suffering. “Do you . . . want to talk aboutit?”

Lillianlet out a harsh laugh. “God that sounded like it was actually painful for youto say.” Her eyes opened, and she seemed more like her usual self as she teasedMorgan.

“Howmuch of a dick was I to Stevie?”

“Superdick. The kind of dick that’s too big to do anything with.”

“Gross,Lil.”

“Steviewill forgive you. She always does. Just, try not to explode at the people whocare about you, okay?”

Morganswung an arm around Lillian and pulled her close, both chastised and grateful.

“Ilove you,” she said to the top of Lillian’s head. “You know that, right?”

Lillianwrapped her arms around Morgan and squeezed. “I know. I love you too.”

“Thankyou.”

“Talkto her, Morgan. You’re stronger than you think you are.”

Shewas glad Lillian couldn’t see her face.

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