Page 32 of Living for Truth
Hannah:That he’s “worried” about me because he thinks I’m an alcoholic.
Morgan:… you had ONE drink. How does that make you an alcoholic?
Hannah:That’s Mormons for ya. One sip of alcohol makes you an alcoholic, and apparently, you were trying to drug my drink to take advantage of me.
The three dots appear, disappear, reappear, and disappear again before Morgan’s name is lighting up my phone with a phone call.
“Um, hello?” I answer.
“You know I’dnever, everdrug you, right?” his voice sounds almost panicked.
“Of course I know that. My mom is just dramatic and judgmental.”
He sighs in relief. “Good. I want you to feel safe with me, Hannah. I would remove my own pinkie if I ever made you feel uncomfortable.”
“That feels a little dramatic.” I giggle.
“I’m dead serious, Butterfly.” Fuck, my heart stutters at the use of the nickname. I love it.
“I feel safe with you, Morgan. I promise.”
“What else happened with your mom?” he asks, and I hear the creak of what must be a chair or something on his end of the phone.
I sigh, settling into my own bed. “Same old things. She looked you up, apparently, and thinks that because you’re rich, ten years older than me, and have a kid you couldn’t possibly have any interest in me.”
“What exactly is she implying?” Morgan sounds annoyed, which makes me feel better because I always feel like I'm being dramatic in regards to my mom.
“That I’m a gold digger? Or you’re a human trafficking mastermind? I don’t know because I didn’t stick around for that conversation.”
“Well I’m not a human trafficking mastermind. Are you a gold digger?” Though his voice conveys he’s teasing, I feel the need to make sure he knows I'm not.
“I know nothing about football, so it never occurred to me that you’d be wealthy because that stuff isn’t important to me. Obviously, you and Aly have a stable income to live off of, and that’s all that really matters in my opinion.”
“I know you’re not a gold digger, Han. I was just teasing. I’m sorry your mom is being that way.” He pauses. “Is the age thing starting to bug you? Or the fact I have a kid?”
I pause to truly think about it because I want to answer him honestly. This feels like a pivotal moment in our non-relationship.
“Honestly? No, it doesn’t bother me. It’s like you said at brunch: we aren’t sixteen and twenty-six. You haven’t known me as a child. It’s not weird for me. It also doesn’t bother me that you have a kid. I haven’t seen you interact with Aly, but I've heard you talk about her. It’s obvious she’s your world, and you’re an amazing father.”
Morgan lets out a long breath, like he was holding it the whole time I was talking. “I’m relieved to hear that, Butterfly, because I don’t think I could walk away now.”
My heart starts beating rapidly. “Walk away from what?”
“From us. Our… friendship.” It sounds like he forces the word “friendship” out like it physically pains him.
I can relate.
“Right. Me either. It feels like I’ve known you forever but not long enough at the same time,” I say. It’s easier to admit these things when he’s not staring at me with his gorgeous green eyes.
“I feel the same way, Butterfly. I should probably get some sleep, gotta work at the shop tomorrow.”
I glance at the clock and see it’s almost midnight.
“Right. Have a good sleep, Morgan.”
“Goodnight, Han. I look forward to seeing you again.”
“Goodnight.”
