Page 58 of Living for Truth
Mustering more courage than I actually feel, I shrug a shoulder and casually say, “New… clothes.”
Morgan’s eyebrows raise skeptically as I take the package from him. “Oh,” his voice sounds a little strained. “Cool.”
“Yeah!” My voice sounds unnaturally high, and I can’t seem to stop the words from spewing out of me. “Now that I’m not at home, I don’t have to keep the pretenses up and wear garments anymore. With summer right around the corner I’m not trying to get heat stroke, either. Can’t wear sleeveless sundresses with garments! Actually, I might not even wear a bra with them.”Why the fuck did I say that?
Morgan blinks, then runs a hand over his beard, his face turning red. “Right. Sure. Well… I hope they fit?”
Dear God, why isthis so awkward?
I let out a strained laugh. “Thanks. Uh, I better get back upstairs. Emma and Elli are picking me up soon.”
Right as I say it, the bell above the door rings and in walks a familiar head of blonde curls followed by an equally familiar head of dark hair.
“Speak of the devils.” I smile, rounding the counter to greet them. “Hey, you two!”
Emma and Elli simultaneously turn to me and grin.
Emma looks so different than when we were kids, though the one constant has been her curly blonde hair and piercing, ice blue eyes. She’s barely over five feet tall, but she’s the feistiest out of the three of us. She has a gold piercing in her right nostril, her right arm covered in a full tattoo sleeve, and the rest of her body is littered with random artwork as well. She’s wearing ripped denim shorts, a hot pink, cropped, balloon-sleeve corset top and matching hot pink, sparkly ankle boots.
She reminds me of a shorter, curly-haired, plus size Barbie.
Elli is dressed in a floral pattern jumpsuit with wide straps and black sandals. Her long hair is pulled back by a black headband, and she looks both the same and different. She looks happier than I’ve ever seen her.
“Damn, Elli, your hair’s gotten so long since the last time I saw you.” I give her a hug, marveling at the chocolate waves with caramel highlights. When I saw her last August, she had cut it to just below her shoulders, now it’s a good six inches longer.
“Well your hair is so much shorter! I love it!” Elli fluffs the ends of my hair.
“Emma, your hair looks gorgeous as ever,” I tease, hugging her next.
“Yeah, yeah. I like what I like. What can I say? I love the post-divorce bob, Hannah. It suits you.” Emma glances around the shop. “We wanted to check this cute shop out before we came up. Do you know the owner?”
I may have omitted that Morgan is the owner, and that he offered me the place to live. It never came up in conversation so I just didn’t say anything.
Morgan steps up next to me, “I’m Morgan, the owner. And Hannah’s… friend.” He extends his hand to Emma, who tilts her head and gives him an assessing look while she shakes it.
“Emma,” she says. “Morgan… Fowler? Like the Mustangs’ wide receiver?”
Morgan just gives her a nod, and she gives me a wicked grin.
Elli gives me a smirk and shakes his hand as well. “Nice to meet you, Morgan. I’m Elli.”
“A pleasure, ladies. I’ll let you all catch up, and I’ll see you at five to pick you up?” Morgan looks to me for confirmation, and I nod. “Perfect. Have fun, Butterfly.” He gives me a squeeze on the arm as he walks back to the counter.
Butterfly?Emma mouths with a quirked eyebrow.
I huff a laugh. “Come on, let me grab my purse, so we can get lunch and you can ask me your questions.”
They follow me out the back and up to my apartment where they “ooo” and “ahh” about all the little details. I tell them how Morgan and his family cleaned the place and set up the shelves and entertainment center, and they swoon. Once I grab my purse, we head down to my car and pile in to head to Sweet River for lunch.
Emma explains she has a work event when Wes’s tour stops in San Diego, so she decided to come to the Utah show since she’s here for a family event anyway. Though her smile remains bright, it falters slightly at the mention of her family. Elli and I don’t press for more information.
Elli tells us about what life on a tour bus is like, and how she and Wes have become really great friends with the members of the band. She sounds like she’s having a blast traveling with the love of her life, and I couldn’t be happier for her.
Once we sit and order our food, Emma folds her hands in front of her and says, “Now, Hannah. Tell us what’s going on with Hot-Football-Player-Flower-Shop-Man.”
Elli nods her head in agreement, so I spill and tell them everything.
“I don’t want it to be fake anymore,” I admit at the end of my spiel and both of them are staring at me slack-jawed.
