Page 79 of Love, Morgan

My heart raced. It wasn’t as though I’d have watched this and thought she meant someone else, but theMmade it so real, so undeniable mine, and ours.

Ripley was practically bouncing out of her shoes beside me.

Iona smiled. “Now, I’m not telling you all this for sympathy or to get likes. I’m sharing this because I’ve kept myself closed off for a really long time, and, a few weeks ago, I met someone who opened me up to so much more than I ever thought I deserved. And I thought, if this was stuff I went through, there are so many of us here, in our little community, I can’t be the only one. So, for everyone who has ever struggled to make friends, to fall in love, to be loved, and to everyone feeling heartbroken, I see you. I’m right there with you. And you always belong here.”

She wasn’t talking directly to me anymore, but she also was. I was heartbroken without her. I didn’t know how to love without her. I’d never felt about anyone the way I felt about her. And, somehow, she felt the same way.

I suddenly understood how Ripley had known neither of us had been cut out for a quick fling, especially not with each other.

Iona held up another finished gift, adding it to her pile. “And I’m excited to meet so many of you, a little more as myself. Life has been, and is, changing a lot, and I’m trying to do things that scare me a little but make things a lot better. So, with that in mind, Domino—link to her channel down below—has invited me to participate in her first Creators for Change Convention, and I’m really excited to accept. For those of you interested in going, there’s a link down below to register and find out more information. And I hope to see some of you there. I’ll be doing a thing where you can bring me any gift you want wrapping, no matter how awkwardly sized or shaped, and I’ll wrap it up for you.”

As she kept talking, telling everyone what Creators for Change was, my heart felt like it might explode out of my chest. I was crying with how proud of her I was, crying with how much missing her hurt, and how much it ached inside of me that she was just the best person that had ever existed. She was doing so much for herself and others, and I was certain she had no real idea.

“I think we should go,” Ripley whispered in my ear. “To Creators for Change.”

I ripped my gaze away from Iona’s face to look at Ripley.

We’d promised it was over. We’d promised not to see each other again. We’d promised it was just for those few days. I wasn’t supposed to show up at her workplace, wanting her desperately to take me back, to love me too.

But we also hadn’t expected her to be out here in her videos, being herself and speaking directly to me. Surely Ripley was right and neither of us was handling this well? Surely that meant something?

I’d spent my adult life doing the things I wanted because I wanted to do them. And Iona really did deserve a choice. I had to at least ask, right?

I nodded slowly, looking back down at Iona. I couldn’t spend my life never seeing her again.

“Great,” Ripley said with a laugh, “because I already ordered us tickets.”

Chapter 24

Iona

“Oh my god. I’m so glad you’re here,” Domino said, finding me in my booth. The last couple of days—hell, the last couple of weeks—had been wild for all of us preparing for Creators for Change. I could only imagine how much stress it had been for her, given it was her baby.

I smiled in a way I hoped was reassuring. Two hours to go and I was almost sweating with nerves, but the response had been incredible, and everyone seemed super excited to be involved, so I hoped it would go well.

“I’m really glad I’m here too,” I said, my voice a little shaky, but I hoped she wouldn’t notice. “Thank you again for inviting me.”

She laughed, just a little too loudly to be relaxed. “Are you kidding? Do you know how many people signed up for tickets when your video went live? We should be thanking you!”

I cringed, a little embarrassed and a little worried that the only reason she’d asked me was to sell tickets. But, what did it matter if it was that? We’d chatted a few times now and I’d say we were becoming friends. Plus, it was a good cause, and the whole reason was to sign up people who’d pull in crowds. As embarrassing as it was to think I was one of the big hitters, it was a really sweet reflection of the community I’d somehow built up online.

She laughed. “It’s cute that you still seem to think you’re some random, unknown creator, hanging out in a basement with, like, five followers.”

“Shouldn’t I be, though? I wrap gifts. It’s hardly revolutionary. I don’t really do anything that’s worthy of anyone noteworthy.”

“Nah. You do more than that. Especially lately. I’ve seen the reactions to your latest videos. You were already this incredible escape for people, and now, well, you’re even more.”

“Thank you,” I said, shuffling awkwardly. Domino had enough going on today. She didn’t need to be complimenting me.

The reaction to my latest videos really had been incredible, though. It turned out, whether romantic, platonic, or familial, everyone had a story of heartbreak or loneliness. It could have been sad, but instead, it had become this beautiful, bonding thing. People made friends in the comments more than they ever had before. They found people who understood the things they’d been through. I interacted with them more honestly than I ever had. And, while it wasn’t a magical panacea, being more open with everyone had changed things for the better.

Domino stepped back to look at my booth, grinning. “Of course you have the most aesthetic booth in the whole place. I’d be jealous if I wasn’t so in love with you.”

I laughed, waving a hand at the booth. “I won’t tell Aiden’s Aesthetics you said that.”

“Oh, shoot. Yeah. Please don’t.” She laughed. “His booth is great too. Yours just happens to look like a beautiful, pastel gift I want to live in for the rest of my life. I’m a sucker for pastels.”

I smiled. I was proud of the way it had come out. When I’d first heard I could paint and set up the booth however I wanted, the choices had seemed overwhelming, but, over a call with Thalia, I’d talked through some options, some things I’d always wanted to do, and we’d come up with the perfect space. I really was delighted with it.

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