Page 45 of Living for Truth
“Time’s up, Butterfly.” He grins, and I have the sudden urge to kiss him.
Woah. Where did that come from?
I follow him to the checkout counter where Jethro scans allelevenof my books and throws in a gift card for $25. Morgan thanks him and tells him he’ll have his weekly bouquet ready for him on Wednesday, and we exit the store.
Morgan opens my door for me, but before I get in, I wrap my arms around him and squeeze him as hard as I can—which isn’t very hard because I’m not very strong, and he ismassive.“Thank you so much, Morgan. I don’t know how to repay you.”
He sets the bag on the seat and wraps his muscled arms around my waist and whispers into my hair, “I don’t want you to repay me, Hannah. Seeing your face light up was enough. Happy birthday, Butterfly.”
He pulls back and looks at me, bringing a hand up to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. The air sizzles around us, tension building.
This is it. He’s going to kiss me, and it won’t be fake anymore. I already know it’s going to be an earth-shattering kiss, and I don’t think I’ll ever want him to stop.
His phone ringing breaks the moment, and he jumps a little and steps back, looking at who’s calling.
“I’m so sorry, it’s my sister who’s watching Aly.”
“It’s okay. I’ll just be waiting in the car.” I give his arm a squeeze.
I try not to deflate, to put on a happy face. It’s not his fault we were interrupted. He answers while I climb into the passenger seat.
His face pinches as he talks to his sister, and when he gets in the car, his jaw is clenched so hard he looks like he’s going to break it.
“I’m sorry to have to cut our date short, but Aly and my sister saw Whitney while they were shopping, and Whitney pretended not to notice them. Aly’s distraught, thinking her mom forgot her. I don’t want to—”
I place a hand on his arm. “It’s okay, Morgan. I understand Aly comes first. I have to do some apartment hunting anyway, so it’s okay. I’m not upset. I’m just sorry Aly’s hurting.”
He blows out a long breath. “Thank you, I really appreciate that.” He backs out of the parking spot and pulls onto the main road to get on the freeway when he asks, “Wait, why do you need to go apartment hunting?”
Shit.I shouldn’t have said anything. We were having such a fun day, and Aly needs his full attention. He can’t be worrying about me, too.
“It’s nothing.” I fiddle with the hem of my dress, which is suddenlyveryinteresting.
“It’s not nothing, Han. If you need a place to stay, I can help.” He sounds so earnest.
“My mom said I have two weeks to find somewhere else to live because she ‘doesn’t recognize me,’ and I’m not ‘living theright way.’”
“What the hell does that mean? Why would she say she doesn't recognize you?” he asks.
“Well, she was upset about the alcohol. Then she found a receipt for coffee in my car, and Sage—my best friend—gave me a lingerie gift card for my birthday so she assumes you and I are… um…fornicating.”
Morgan stiffens in the driver's seat, and his eyebrows almost meet his hairline. He shifts in his seat. “I—that’s—well, that’s shitty of her. You’re an adult who can make her own choices. What’s it matter to her what you drink or wear, or if you… ya know?”
I almost laugh at his avoiding the topic of sex. I would if this conversation weren’t awkward enough. “I’m not following the rules of the church, and she’s upset. She’ll get over it eventually, maybe. But I’m honestly a little relieved. Other than trying to find an affordable place, this situation is actually taking a load off of my shoulders. I’ll no longer have to pretend to be someone I’m not.”
“I get that. It’s easier to be who you are away from your parents.” He clears his throat. “I can help with the housing situation.”
“I’m not moving into your house, Morgan,” I state, even if the idea is enticing.
Morgan barks out a startled laugh. “No, I wouldn’t ask you to do that. There’s a studio apartment above the flower shop that isn’t being used. It’s big enough for one person but wouldn't have worked for Aly and me.”
“I won’t live there rent free.”
“I figured as much. But I own the flower shop outright, so I’m flexible with rent. You’d be in charge of your utilities, too, obviously, but it’s yours if you want it.”
I mull it over. The flower shop is closer to work than my parents’ house. It’s in a decent, safe area, and the shop is well-maintained, so I imagine the apartment would be as well.
“I’d like to see it before I make a decision. If that’s okay?”
