Page 48 of Living for Truth
My eyes meet Aly’s in the rearview mirror, and she smiles wide as she says, “Dad has all of the old DVDs, and I was thinking maybe we could watch them while we eat?”
Hannah turns just enough to look at Aly. “I think that’s the perfect Saturday afternoon activity. I’ve never been to Joy Luck, though. What do you recommend?”
Some people don’t know how to talk to Aly, they either treat her like she’s still four, or they treat hertooadult. Hannah doesn’t sound condescending or like she’s trying to get her to like her. She speaks to her like she’s an actual human who has opinions and like she actually wants to get to know my daughter.
“I really like the shrimp lo mein and their sesame chicken. But Dad likes their orange chicken and Mongolian beef. We always get potstickers, cream cheese wontons, and egg rolls to share, too.”
“I’m not picky, and those all sound delicious.” Hannah turns back to the front, and my phone pings.
“It looks like Alice just texted me. Can you see what she said?” I hand Hannah my phone, and she hesitantly takes it.
Her cheeks flush as she reads the message, and then she hands my phone back. “I don’t think I was supposed to see that.” She doesn’t sound upset, just a little embarrassed.
When we park behind the flower shop, I quickly read the message from Alice.
Alice:She’s so lovely, Morgy. I think she might be my favorite person you’ve dated. Don’t fuck this up.
I’m relieved it’s not something bad, but I can see why Hannah would be a little embarrassed. We’re notactuallydating.
Yet.
But I hope that changes very, very soon.
Chapter 22
Hannah
Morgan explains that if I move in here, this is where I’ll park. There are four employee parking spots behind the store and one unmarked that he’d designate to me.
Aly wants to wait in the car, so Morgan and I make our way up the metal steps to an unmarked brown door. Morgan unlocks it and lets me walk in first.
I was expecting a small, dusty space that looks unkempt and possibly haunted, but that’s not what I see.
It’s a studio with enough space for a queen-size bed in one corner. There’s a full bathroom, and the kitchen is big enough to accommodate one person. The floors are some type of lightly stained wood that pairs nicely with the pale blue walls and the gray backsplash in the kitchen. I walk over to the bathroom which is painted the same color blue, and the tiles on the floor match the backsplash in the kitchen. There’s a decent size tub and shower combo and a vanity sink with ample storage.
Some dust lingers, like it’s been empty for a while, but otherwise, this place is pretty clean and well maintained. Nothing looks one wrong move away from breaking, and cheap rent is cheap rent.
“So?” Morgan rocks on his heels, anxiously looking around.
“I think it’s perfect. Are you sure you’re okay with me living here?”
“I’m positive, Butterfly. I want you to have the space you need from your parents to spread your wings, and this place isn’t being used.” He looks like he wants to say more, but he stops.
The air around us is charged again, and if his daughter weren’t waiting in the car, I would kiss him. I would say “fuck it” to my whole flower and concert plan, and we’d have the feelings conversation right now.
As it stands, his daughterisin the car, and I’m excited to watchScooby-Doo, eat Chinese food, and get to know her better.
“We can hash out details later, let’s get your girl home and watch some cartoon villains run amok.”
I head out the door, and Morgan follows. I wait until he’s locked the door before starting down the stairs. When we reach the car, he opens my door for me and then rounds the car.
“Alright. Let me call the restaurant, and we can go home and get my girls fed.” He looks pointedly at me, and my stomach does a flip.
His girls.
Aly cheers, and Morgan places our order while I try to stop myself from smiling like an idiot.
The drive to Morgan’s house is quick. He pulls into a suburb similar to the one Alice lives in, but this one looks older, more established than Alice’s. That surprises me a bit. I know he’s pretty well off, so I thought for sure he’d have a newer house in a newer neighborhood.
