Page 28 of Heal You
“Mm.I’d prefer to keep it to myself while I figure everything else out, but I also don’t want you to think I’m hiding you, Morgan.”
“Oh, um…that’s not what I was thinking.And no, I don’t want you to tell them.Not unless it’s something you plan on telling them anyway.”
Jan appreciated that greatly.While Gillian would have a lot to say about something so huge, Jan didn’t care.If she wanted to sleep with a woman, then she would do that.And she had.Oh, what a night it had been.Jan was glad she hadn’t been drunk on Monday night.At least by beingmostlysober, it couldn’t be used against her as a reason or an excuse.“I will, when I’m ready to.”What if Morgan didn’t want anyone to know?“Unless you’d rather I didn’t.”Jan frowned, not knowing what the right thing to do was.All she knew in this moment was that she would prefer it if Gillian and Finn weren’t here.At least then, she could sit around chatting with Morgan all night.“Sorry.Maybe that’s something we should have a conversation about.
Morgan set Finn’s pint down next to the wine glasses.“A conversation is a good idea.Just give me a call when you’re free, and we’ll get together, yeah?”
Jan took the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth.Morgan was giving her that look.The one that made her legs feel like jelly.“I will.I’ll call you.”
Morgan rested her forearm over the top of the beer pump and smiled.“Have a lovely evening, Jan.I’ll be waiting for that call.”
Feeling a little hot under the collar, Jan took the tray of drinks to the table and joined Gillian and Finn.They both looked back at her as though someone had just been laid to rest, and this had been precisely why she’d considerednotcoming here tonight.She didn’t want the sympathy.She didn’t want people to try to work out what was going on in her mind.She just wanted to enjoy a glass of red wine and forget the rest existed.
Except for Morgan.Oh, she wanted her to exist.
“Can we not do that?”Jan sat in the booth beside Gillian, giving her the perfect view of Morgan.“I’m fine.Nobody died.Let’s move on.”
Finn sat forward, frowning.“I’m sorry, but you can’t expect us to not be worried, Jan.”
“I’d prefer it if you weren’t.Or if you insist on it, at least keep it to yourself.Tonight, I want to forget about everything going on around me.”
Finn nodded slowly as she sat back.“Fair enough.”
“So, how is everyone?”Jan knew it was weird to sit here and dismiss her issues with Phil, but he was the last thing on her mind right now.Maybe one day she would need Gillian’s advice when it came to Morgan, but for now, she wanted to keep it a secret.While it was exactly that, nobody could ruin it or tell Jan she was out of her mind.“Finn?How’s the degree going?”
“Fine, yeah.Another assignment down.Another…God knows how many to go.”
“Good.That’s good.”
Silence fell over the three of them, and then Jan felt her phone vibrate in her clutch bag to the side of her.She took it out quickly.
You look gorgeous tonight, by the way.
Oh, Morgan.Jan held back a smile, but inside, she was beaming.
Thank you.I wasn’t sure if you’d want to see me in your bar again.
With the knowledge that Morgan had only recently stopped seeing Amanda, her biggest fear was that they were just using one another to numb the pain.That wasn’t true for Jan, but they hadn’t really had much of a conversation about what came next.Did they spend time together?Did they put it down as a one-night stand?Jan didn’t know, so Morgan would have to tell her what was happening here.
I’ll always want to see you in my bar.I quite enjoyed seeing you in my bed, too.
Jan’s heart thumped a little harder at that.She looked up when Gillian cleared her throat, praying she hadn’t said something she shouldn’t out loud.
“Everything okay?”Gillian asked as she nudged Jan’s shoulder.
“Yes, why?”
“It’s not like you to sit on your phone during a night out.”
Jan lowered it, screen down on the table.“Sorry.It’s just one of the girls I used to work with.She’s keeping me updated on what’s happening around the business.”
“You’ve really quit your job?”Finn cut in.
“I have, yes.At least, I think I have.Going back isn’t something I can think about right now, but never say never and all that.”Jan scanned the bar, her eyes locking on Morgan’s a second or two later.She continued to watch Morgan as she said to Gillian and Finn, “Do you mind if I just reply to this text message?Then I’m all yours for the rest of the night.”
“Knock yourself out, love.Do what you need to do.”Gillian turned her attention back to Finn, giving Jan the opportunity to finish whatever was starting on the last message.
I enjoyed being in your bed.
