Page 86 of Love, Morgan

The two of them froze, finally realizing the rest of us were there.

“Alicia,” he said, wide-eyed. “I didn’t know you were going to be here.”

She smirked, barely hiding it behind her mug. “You decided to accompany Ekundayo to work, so he could cover for Ripley while she gets a farewell breakfast with us all for Iona, and you didn’t think I’d be here?”

He stared at her like she was betraying him.

I moved myself and Iona so I could clap him on the shoulder. “I know the feeling well, kid. Don’t worry, it gets better when you just admit it and go for it.”

“Morgan,” he gasped, suddenly bright red.

Ekundayo stood awkwardly by his side, neither of them looking at each other or the rest of us.

It was a dangerous group to be so obviously pining around. Harlow wasn’t here yet, but she and I had conspired to get Ripley and Alicia back together, the three of them had conspired to get me and Iona properly together, and the entire town was overly invested in seeing the two of themfinallyget together. Did they really think we wouldn’t try guiding them in the right direction?

The door opened again, offering Ekundayo and Joel a momentary respite from the awkward situation.

Harlow stepped in, halfway through her greeting as she picked up on the atmosphere. A wide, knowing grin took over her face. “Well, well, well, isn’t it interesting in here? Anyone need to get anything off their chest?”

Iona squeezed me tighter, letting out the tiniest of squeaks at the tension in the room. I loved those moments. The ones that were just for us, even surrounded by a crowd of people. Those little movements and noises that nobody else picked up on. The tiny little gestures that you built a whole life on. I was the luckiest person alive to get to be the one receiving all of hers.

“Nope,” Joel said eventually. “But shouldn’t you lot be going? Only a couple of hours until Iona’s flight. And what was the point in calling Ekundayo in if you’re not going to leave?”

We all laughed as he practically herded us out the door, desperate to be rid of us.

“I hope they figure it out soon,” Iona whispered to me as we walked down Main Street towards Didi’s Diner. Pancakes and milkshakes were the only option on days Iona was flying away from me.

I laughed. “They’re both shit at admitting anything, so I doubt they will.”

“Yeah,” Harlow agreed readily. “Haven’t they kissed like six times by now?”

“Is it six?” Alicia asked. “Last I heard from Joel, it was five, but that was about a week ago.”

“Ah, yeah, no. I saw them kissing at your parents’ front door a couple of nights ago.”

Alicia laughed. “How is it that I’m related to someone so helpless?”

“What, because you were so much better with Ripley?” I pointed out, watching her, puzzled.

She shot me a look. “And you definitely have a leg to stand on after telling Iona you couldn’t be together, and spending weeks moping around after her?”

“Hey, at least it didn’t take me eight years to go after her.”

“Only because—” Ripley began.

“Anyway,” I said, loudly and pointedly, and ignoring the way Iona chuckled beside me, “I think we can all agree Ekundayo and Joel are being ridiculous, and they need to get together as soon as possible so all can be right in the world.”

“You’re starting to sound like my mom,” Harlow laughed. “Must be a bridge club thing.”

“Mm, yes,” Ripley said seriously, leading us into Didi’s. “All the over-sixties getting on the same page.”

I swatted at her. “Hey. I’m not over sixty.”

“You play bridge.”

“So what? I’m practically a bridge prodigy, you think I’m not going to play?”

And I was. As soon as Iona was back in my life, my winning streak had returned. My soul settled down, my scores picked up, and all was right in the world.

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