Page 83 of Love, Morgan

The crowd around us erupted into cheers, the sound startling us apart right as Ripley and the two women who’d parted to let Morgan through descended on us. I wasn’t so far gone that I couldn’t figure out they were Alicia and Harlow.

As I looked up at them, Shira caught my attention, holding up a piece of paper with a speed drawing of me and Morgan staring at each other and looking so completely in love I could barely comprehend it.

Morgan laughed, ignoring the crowd around us, and pulled me tight against her. “Does this mean you’re choosing me too?”

“Always, always, always,” I said through laughter as I peppered her face with kisses.

Her enormous grin became a look of faux consternation. “Thalia’s going to send us a million gift-wrapped mangoes, isn’t she?”

I giggled, leaning into her. “Hey, you’re the one who showed up here looking to get one wrapped.”

“That was their idea,” she said, scowling in the direction of Ripley, Alicia, and Harlow. The look only completely ruined by the happiness rolling off her in waves.

“Which reminds me,” I said, pausing to smile at the three of them before looking back at Morgan. “Do you really want gift-wrapping?”

“Yes,” Ripley and Alicia called at the same time.

Morgan rolled her eyes, looking happier than I’d ever seen her. “Maybe later.”

“Maybe later,” I agreed, feeling like I might burst at the joy of having alaterwith her.

“I’m sure she’ll be the veryprettiest gift,” Ripley said, laughing.

Before Morgan could say anything, I leaned in, pressed a kiss to her lips, and said, “She already is.”

Epilogue

Morgan

“Ilike waking up to you,” I said as Iona shifted, her eyes fluttering open. I’d been watching her sleeping for half an hour now, not questioning why I was awake so early, just desperately drinking in every second of her that I could. “It’s unfair that you won’t be here tomorrow morning.”

She grumbled, wriggling her way into my embrace in that adorable way she did when she was sleepy. “I know. But I’ll be back soon.”

“You better, or I’ll burn the whole place down and there won’t be anywhere to come back to.”

She giggled. I loved it when she did that.

Ripley had said something once about loving the way Alicia laughed. I’d never really gotten it. Alicia’s laugh wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t anything to write home about.

Now, though, I got it.

I would walk through fire just to hear Iona laugh. I’d do anything, give anything just to know she was happy and content. Being the one to make her laugh was undoubtedly the best thing ever.

“You wouldn’t do that,” she said, pressing a kiss to my jaw. “You love this place, and where would I move to if this place didn’t exist?”

Nerves twisted in my stomach. “You really are… going to move in, right?”

She propped herself up on her elbows and I caught the moment her anxiety flared up, insecurity taking hold. “Of course. Unless you don’t want me to?”

“No,” I said quickly. “No, I really do want you to. It’s just…”

She let out a slow breath. “The last few months have been hard.”

“Exactly.” I played with her hair, still in awe that I got to. The morning sunlight caught in it in a way that reminded me of her on my balcony back on Anora Island. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad we took the time to figure out where we wanted to be, and what works for us, but… I’m amazing. You should be here with me.”

She hugged me tight, like she was seeing through my act without even trying. She probably was. We knew each other inside out at this point. It was amazing and incredible, and sometimes a little inconvenient. Like now, when she was seeing through my insecurities.

“We should go get breakfast,” I said, jumping out of the bed.

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