Page 46 of Love, Morgan

I couldn’t decide whether Morgan would enjoy being likened to a pineapple or not, but I was certain her reaction to it would surprise me. Just like everything else about her.

“She didn’t think it was from me, you know?” I pointed out, shooting Thalia a look.

“She didn’t? But she immediately climbed onto your balcony.” She leaned forwards on her elbows, obviously riveted by the story.

I shook my head. “She did not. I, um… Well, I guess we haven’t gotten into it, but I’m a little bit… present online. Morgan… watches my videos, she’s seen my handwriting. And how I wrap gifts.”

Thalia’s face lit up. “Okay, interpreting your currently awkward energy, and your propensity to play down how awesome you are, I’m guessing you’re more than just alittle bit presentonline.” She pursed her lips, considering. “You’re an influencer.”

I cringed. “I wouldn’t necessarily call it—”

“Oh my god. You’re a real, honest to god influencer.”

I held my hands up frantically. “No. I’m really not. I’m a YouTuber. I wrap gifts. I’m not that big of a deal. I promise.”

She eyed me. “You’re a big enough deal that Ms. Franklin knew you. I bet she’s delighted she’s getting to hang out with you.”

Every bone in my body wanted to deny it, but, really, what would be the point? Morgan was a fan and was more than happy to admit that. If I lied, Thalia probably wouldn’t believe me, and, at some point, she’d find out the truth from Morgan anyway.

“Ha,” Thalia barked, watching the fight go out of me. “I really am a genius.”

I groaned. “You’re not because now we’re on this ridiculous investigation to figure out who sent the mango and isimpersonatingme.”

“Impersonatingis a pretty strong word…”

“Yes, well, Morgan’s a pretty strong woman.”

A small smile crept onto her face. “You like her.”

“What? No. Who?”

“Who, indeed.” She rolled her eyes. “You can try that on your millions of fans, but we’re friends, Iona. You can’t fool me. You like her and you can’t quite believe it.”

Of course I couldn’t believe it. When my dad had been all over me about making friends or having a fling on this trip, I hadn’t been expecting to actually make friends and develop a crush on someone. Especially not someone who was a fan, and whom I’d have to say goodbye to soon. I wasn’t sure how people did vacation flings. How did you get so involved with someone you knew you’d have to leave and never see again at the end of your vacation? Wasn’t it torture?

Thalia leaned closer to me. “You like her. She clearly likes you. Just have some fun. Don’t think too hard about it.”

“I don’t think my brain comes in that setting.”

She laughed. “I’m guessing Ms. Franklin’s does, so maybe let her do the thinking for you for the next few days.”

Would that it were so easy.

Thalia was right that Morgan just did things and thought them through later, but I didn’t want to be one of those things. I couldn’t handle getting deeper into something I didn’t understand. I had no idea how to be anything other than what we already were if we were just going to say goodbye forever in a few days. Knowing she’d still be out there, watching my videos, maybe at the shows, but never staying for the meet and greets… Maybe that was better than not having her there at all, but I couldn’t handle that either.

“You’re overthinking again,” Thalia pointed out gently.

I blushed, but it was nice having someone know, having someone see how my brain spiraled, but not having them judge or refuse to be friends because of it.

Morgan was like that too. She hadn’t once gotten angry with me getting lost in my own head. And she’d actually been expecting something else. She’d been expecting The Pretty Gift. She’d commented a couple of times, and I’d seen the expression a couple more, that I was different in real life. For… however long, she’d been watching that version of me, that polished, perfect, unflappable version that looked great on screen but wasn’t really real.

I wasn’t sure how to be enough when I wasn’t being that.

“Iona,” Thalia said, placing her warm hand on top of my cold one.

I hadn’t been cold since I arrived here, so I knew it was just my body going into panic mode, shutting down my extremities. It was embarrassing that this was all over a girl and a mango.

“Sorry,” I said, working to focus my gaze on her, and attempting to stop the uncomfortable spinning in my head.

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