Page 81 of Heal You
Jan shifted closer, though Morgan didn’t know how it was possible.She already felt as though she was wrapped around her.Jan brought a hand to Morgan’s cheek and gave her a knowing look.“And I’d never expect you to put up with it.What you and I do is nobody else’s business.”She stroked a thumb against Morgan’s skin, reminding her of what every last touch had once felt like.“I think you did the right thing in cutting Finn off.She has to understand that she can’t behave like that and get away with it.”
“Y-you agree with me?”
Jan smiled.“If nothing else, I think it may have reminded her of what she could potentially lose.”
“As it stands, shehaslost me.I’m not going to bend over backwards to make her feel more comfortable in my life, and if the time comes, I’ll tell her that.”Morgan was sick and tired of her love life forever going wrong.She wasn’t doing it anymore.If she had the chance to be happy—and she did here with Jan—then everyone else could fuck off.It was that simple.“I care about you, and I care about a relationship with you.If that means Finn and I are no longer friends, and I avoid situations that involve her and Gillian, then so be it.”
“They do understand that they’re in the wrong.They realise they should have kept their opinions to themselves, even if their worries for us both came from a good place,” Jan said as she drew her hand away.“I texted Gillian tonight when Amanda was here, and she didn’t seem overly enthused about coming.Because they’re not welcome here.”
“Maybe if they both changed their attitude towards me, I wouldn’t have to tell them they weren’t welcome here.”Morgan lifted a shoulder and got to her feet.She wasn’t sitting here talking about either of them any longer.“Glass of red?”
Jan smiled and offered a single nod as she said, “You’re a good person, Morgan.I’m grateful to have you in my life.”
Morgan rounded the bar and grabbed a beer for herself, then poured Jan a glass of red wine.“Then that’s all that matters.”As she gazed back at Jan across the room, the door opened, and a frantic Gillian stared back at Morgan.
“H-hi, um…I know you don’t want to see me, but I was wondering if you knew where Jan was?I can’t get a hold of her, and I’m worried.”
Morgan cocked her head towards the booth they’d been occupying for the last twenty minutes or so.“She’s sitting right there.”
Gillian frowned as she stepped further into the bar.“O-oh.”
Morgan watched their interaction, choosing to remain behind the bar until Gillian had said what she needed to say.Only as she started to wipe down the counter, the door opened again, and Finn walked in.Morgan turned her back and took her stock folder from the shelf beneath the bar, aware of the tension in the room as Finn’s eyes burned through her.“Your wife is at your usual table.”
“Morgan.”
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Morgan exhaled a deep breath and focused on the various bottles of whiskey along the back wall.“Yeah?”
“C-could we talk?”
Morgan turned around, anxiety written all over Finn’s face as she wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and cleared her throat.Morgan remained silent while she mulled over the idea of sitting down to talk with Finn.Since Gillian was also here, she would likely chime in when it was necessary.At least, that’s what Morgan hoped for, judging by what Jan had said a few minutes ago.While Morgan didn’t particularly care for or need either of their support in this, it would absolutely make life easier.She didn’t want Jan to have to split her time or be mindful of bringing her best friend up in conversation around Morgan.
“I can just leave if you want me to.Jan is fine, thankfully, so if you’d rather not do this…I get it.”
Morgan nodded towards the stool on the other side of the bar.“Have a seat.”
Finn’s eyes lit up as she smiled, but the atmosphere was…strained.Morgan had no idea what would come of this conversation, but she would allow Finn the space to say what she needed to say.“Thanks.I appreciate it.”
“If a customer comes in, I’ll have to deal with that.”Morgan remained behind the bar, stepping towards the beer pump holding Finn’s usual beer of choice.“You want a drink?”
“Please.I haven’t had a good pint since…well, you know when.”
Morgan nodded as she lifted a glass towards the pump.“Plenty of places serve your beer, Finn.”
“And none of those places are my local or a bar I’d prefer to be at.”Finn sighed as she looked over her shoulder at Gillian and Jan.“Could Gillian?—”
“Have a glass of white wine?”Morgan quirked a brow.
“Y-yeah.If that would be okay?”
Morgan groaned inwardly.Finn had never been lost for words before; she didn’t need to start that habit now.“Look, if you have something to say, just say it, Finn.”Morgan stared at her.“Jan is here, I haven’t seen her for two weeks, and I know where I’d rather be.It’snotstanding behind this bar waiting for you to figure out your feelings.”
“I’m sorry.For everything.”Finn shook her head and cast her gaze on the pint Morgan had just set down in front of her.“I feel like an absolute prick, and I’m so sorry.”
Morgan nodded slowly.“Okay.”
Finn’s brows drew together when her head shot up.“What?That’s it?You’re not going to make me suffer?”
“We’re not okay, not by a long shot, but Jan is back in my life, and that’s all I care about right now.”Morgan leaned over the bar and lowered her voice.“But I’m warning you, what’s happened over the last few weeks…it’ll be the last time youeverget involved in my personal life again.Got it?”
