Page 27 of Heal You
“No way!”Finn’s mouth hung open.
“Turns out she has a husband.Found out last week.”Morgan wasn’t sad that their fun had come to an end.How could she be when Jan had so unexpectedly turned up in her life?“I guess everyone is at it lately.Affairs.”
“Fucking hell.”Finn clenched her jaw.“I’m sorry she turned out to be another disappointment.”
Morgan waved off Finn’s apology.“It is what it is.”
“But look, youwillfind someone, you know.You’ll be standing there one night, and the love of your life will be sitting on a barstool.You just don’t know it yet.”
Morgan swallowed when she imagined Jan sitting on the very barstool Finn was standing beside.She knew it wouldn’t come to anything, Jan had just left a significantly long marriage, but the thought was nice in her head.“Yeah, sure.We don’t all have happy endings like you.”As Morgan peered over Finn’s shoulder, she caught Gillian staring her out.“As always, the wife is glaring at me.You’d better get back with your drinks.”
Finn lifted her brows and exhaled a breath.“You’re so dramatic.Gillian is looking atme, not you.”With a wink, Finn left Morgan standing next to a beer pump, grinning as she glanced back over her shoulder.
Morgan rolled her eyes playfully and inconspicuously took her phone from the shelf under the counter.Maybe she would see if Jan would be joining her friends tonight.Morgan could certainly spend the night watching a beautiful woman.And yes, Janwasthat beautiful woman.
Gillian and Finn are at the bar.Are you joining them?
She looked up briefly.Gillian and Finn were chatting amongst themselves.Morgan couldn’t recall a single time before Gillian when she’d seen Finn so happy, and right now, it was lovely to see.While it usually made Morgan grimace, she was in a slightly different headspace this week.And it meant there was hope for everyone else out there.Finn had always claimed she didn’t have the time for attachment, but the moment Gillian turned up in this bar, Morgan knew Finn was madly in love with her.She just carried herself differently.If Finn could find someone, Morgan knew she could too…someday.
Maybe if you give yourself the chance to meet someone, it may just happen!
Morgan’s phone vibrated in her hand.She looked down, her heart racing when Jan’s name sat waiting for her.
Not tonight.I don’t think I can stomach seeing them so in love right now.
Morgan understood that, but it didn’t make her any less disappointed.Did she want to see Jan?Of course she did.But Morgan suspected Jan was avoiding her.They hadn’t spoken to one another since she’d left Morgan’s place on Tuesday morning, more than satisfied.
I know Monday night was a bit of a shock to us both, but I can forget about it if that’s what you want me to do.I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable coming here.I’m sorry if that’s what this is.
Lowering her phone to the shelf again, Morgan straightened herself out and moved along the bar.She hadn’t considered that Jan would feel awkward before now, but it did make sense.That woman had just come out of a marriage that spanned far more than half of Morgan’s life.Of course she would be feeling weird about it all.Wanting to reassure Jan that everything could remain the same between them, she rushed back to the other end of the bar and lifted her phone.
If it makes any difference, I wish you were coming here tonight.Even just so I know that we’re okay.
Her message showed a read receipt no sooner than it had landed in Jan’s inbox, but she wasn’t replying.Just leave it alone.If Jan wanted to see Morgan, she would patiently wait for that moment.Until then, she would do what she did best and make sure her customers had everything they needed for their Friday night ahead.
* * *
Awarethat she felt incredibly nervous tonight, Jan stopped outside Morgan’s bar, clutch bag under her arm as she shook her hands at her sides.She didn’t want to come across as uncomfortable—that was absolutely not the case here—but she also didn’t want to feel as though Finn and Gillian could potentially know something about Jan and Morgan just from the way they behaved around one another.The last thing she needed was the looks and the questions.They’d slept with one another, and Jan didn’t know if it would ever happen again.If it did, she would cross that bridge when she came to it.If not, she would hold the memory of that night close to her heart.
Before she had left her hotel room around the corner, Jan had texted Gillian so it didn’t seem odd when she arrived.Thankfully, her best friend had insisted Jan join them when she’d questioned whether the couple were headed out tonight.It wasn’t uncommon for Jan to meet up with them, especially when Phil was working away, but she knew tonight would be different inside The Corner bar.Even if she hadn’t slept with Morgan, Jan had told Gillian about the affair, so it was naturally going to be a strange atmosphere.
Jan quickly checked her hair in the window of a parked car, ran her fingers through it, and braced herself as she walked into the bar.Morgan stared back at her, but before Jan could say hi to Morgan, Finn was on her feet and rushing towards Jan.“What can I get you?Whiskey?Something strong like that?”
Jan frowned.“Whiskey?When have youeverknown me to drink that, Finn?”Oh, you were quick enough drinking whiskey with Morgan.
“Just thought you would have wanted a stronger drink with everything that’s going on.Usual glass of red instead?”
Jan smiled and guided Finn back to the table.“You have a seat and calm down.I’llgo to the bar.Can I get either of you anything?”Finn looked as though she wanted to argue, but Jan held up a hand.She quickly eyed their glasses.“White wine and a beer, yes?”
Gillian nodded and regarded Jan with an understanding smile.“Yes.Thanks, love.”
Jan turned and made a beeline for the bar.Morgan was wiping down an area as she stopped at the counter, her eyes straying towards Jan the second she realised she was waiting.“Hi.”Jan beamed a smile at Morgan, very happy to see her this evening.“A red, a white, and Finn’s beer, please.”
“Coming right up.”Morgan offered a single nod, then got to work on Jan’s order.Once she’d set the two glasses of wine down, Morgan lifted a glass and poured Finn’s beer.“How are you?”
“Not uncomfortable if that’s what you’re still thinking.”Jan leaned in a little but not enough for it to look suspicious.“Do you want me to tell them about Monday night?”
“I’m sorry?”Morgan kept her head down but chanced a look in Gillian and Finn’s direction.“You mean…us?”
