Page 107 of Spindrift

Withdrawingreluctantly, Morgan looked up at Emilia’s closed eyes and blissful smile.

Ilove you, she thought,and the knowledge hit her with so much force she thought they’d run aground.

• • •

She pickedEmilia up at 4:45 after showering salt water and sex off her body. The shower,however, had done nothing to erase her revelation, and the thought of sittingin front of her parents and Emilia with it burning a hole in her chest made herfeel sick.

“What’sup with you?” Stevie had asked from the couch where she’d sprawled with Marvinand a dog-eared paperback ofThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

“Nothing.”

Steviesat up and put the book down. “You’re dressed up.”

“Dinnerwith my parents.”

“Sincewhen do you look nice for that?”

Morgansmoothed her dark blue button down and inwardly cursed herself. Should shechange into something more casual? But thiswascasual by most people’sstandards. Just a dress shirt, jeans, and her nice boots . . .Shit.

“Sincemy mother cornered Emilia and invited her, too.”

“Oh.”Stevie’s face softened with sympathy. “That could be . . . awkward.”

“Yeah.”

“Doyou want me to gate-crash?”

Morganconsidered the offer. Stevie would balance things out, but what would Emiliathink if Morgan invited Stevie along?

“CanI leave you on standby?”

“Sure.I’ll dig out my phone in case you text.” Stevie eyed the couch cushionsdubiously.

“Thanks.”

“Morgan,”Stevie called out as Morgan turned to leave. “It will be okay.”

Now,as Emilia emerged from Ray’s house wearing a simple, dark green sheath dressthat emphasized her figure, Morgan wondered if she should have brought Steviealong after all. How was she supposed to carry a conversation when Emilialooked like that?”

“Hi,”she said as Emilia got into the car. Her throat felt unnaturally tight. Emiliashot her a quizzical look, and Morgan tried to smile. It felt like a grimace.

“Youokay?”

FirstStevie, now Emilia. If she couldn’t fool them, then there was no way she wasgoing to fool her mother.

Shenodded.

“Youdon’t look okay.”

Morganput the truck in drive, but Emilia’s hand arrested hers on the shift. “Look atme.”

Sheobeyed and tried to crack a joke. “Just wondering how I am supposed to act likea gentleman when you look like that.”

“Isit too nice?” Emilia’s face fell, and Morgan tried to banish her own doubts.

“Godno. You’d look good in anything anyway. But . . .” she swallowed. “You do lookgorgeous.”

Emiliablushed. “So, your mom is Shannon and your dad is Aaron?”

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