Page 90 of Spindrift

“Well,I hope you got it all out.”

Morganflushed. “Did I mention I was smooth?”

“No,but I have heard you referred to as the Monster of Muenster.”

Morganleaned against the wall by the window. Emilia suspected she would have sat withher on the window seat had Nell not occupied all available space, but Emiliadidn’t nudge her dog out of the way. The air between her and Morgan had a new tightness.Last time had been unplanned, excusable as accident or momentary lapse in judgment.This felt different. Intentional. Awkward, almost, although she still pulsedwith unreleased tension, and flavored with consequence. The image of Morganwith the beautiful stranger besieged her every time she blinked.

“CanI get you a drink?” Morgan asked.

“Yesplease.”

“Whiskeyokay?” Morgan still leaned against the wall. Freckles scattered across herchest like constellations Emilia longed to connect with fingers and tongue.

“Perfect.”

Morganopened the top drawer of her dresser and pulled out a bottle.

“Secretstash?” said Emilia.

“It’san old habit.”

“Whodid you hide it from?”

Morgantook a drink straight from the bottle and passed it to Emilia. “A cat I used tolive with. And before that, my parents. I grew up in Maine, remember? Drinkingis what we do to stay warm in the winter.”

“Thisis good.” The whiskey had a smoky finish, and she rolled it around her mouth.

“Iknow.” Morgan watched her. “What are you thinking right now?”

Emiliamotioned for Nell to scoot over, and Morgan sat, one knee up to accommodate thedog, the other leg stretched out.

“I’mthinking I don’t know anything about you.”

“Whatdo you want to know?”

Emiliatouched the arch of Morgan’s bare foot lightly. “You seem so stable. Are you?”

“That’sa question.” Morgan drank. “I’m employed, but drowning in student loans. I havea place to live, but I’m a thirty-one-year-old with three housemates. I lovewhat I do so much that I’m single, and you’re the first person I’ve slept within half a year.”

“Whowas it before me?”

Morganheld the bottle up to the window. Amber light flowed over her face. “My fiancée.Ex-fiancée.”

She’dsuspected as much, but that didn’t make the words sting any less. She ignoredthe pain in Morgan’s eyes and pressed on, the sick, coiling jealousy in herstomach refusing to let her stop. “What was her name?”

“Kate.”

“Whathappened?”

“Thisis really what you want to know?”

“Youknow about Hannah. You know I was committed to a psych ward. You know my fatheris dead.”

“Fairenough.” Morgan patted Nell. “Kate wanted a partner who was available. Iwasn’t.”

“Availablehow?”

“Noton call all the time. Reasonable hours. That sort of thing.”

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