Page 102 of Grulen

Morgan dropped her arm and her eyes flew open.Ouch.

“The other women are here, too?Are you crazy?”

“You’ll like them, Morgan.Trust us.”Abby sat on the bed next to her and squeezed her knee.“We all just want to help you feel better.”

Eyes darting between the women, Morgan gave up her protests.They’re right.I can’t stay here forever.

“Fine.I’ll get up.But I want it on record that I’m complying under protest.”

“So noted.”Rain smirked.

“No need to dress up.Just pick something comfy.You have ten minutes,” Kara ordered.

Morgan forced herself upright.Ugh.

“If your head still hurts after you shower, I’ll give you something for that headache,” Abby said.

“How did you know I have a headache?”

“It’s obvious you had a crying jag, and your face winced in pain.I know how I usually feel after a good cry.”

Her bag sat on the end of the bed, and she looked at it curiously.

“We brought it in with us from the living area.Figured you’d need it.”Kara opened the bag and rummaged carelessly.She tossed some yoga pants and a T-shirt at Morgan.“I’m not touching your underwear.Either find it yourself or go commando.”She turned to leave, and the other women followed.“Nine minutes.”

Morgan shook her head cautiously.I can’t decide if I love or hate her at this moment.

Eight minutes later, she gazed upon her reflection in the viewer.Her eyes looked clearer.The hot water took care of most of the redness and swelling.She brushed her teeth and hair.Might as well leave it down.

Forgoing socks and shoes, her bare feet sunk into the plush carpet of the bedroom.Straightening her spine, she reluctantly left the peacefulness of the room.She halted at the living area and stared at the nine women talking quietly.Food and drinks littered the flat surfaces.

“We brought comfort food,” Ava said from where she sat on the floor.

“And chocolate.”Lin smiled from her perch on a couch arm.

“Hi, I’m Natasha.”Next to Lin, sitting on the couch, a slightly older woman with long blonde hair and brown eyes held up a bottle.“We have wine, liquor, and some fruit concoction Talia whipped up.Unfortunately, we finished off my cases of vodka a month ago.”

“I’ve been experimenting.”Talia shoulder-bumped Rachel.They shared the opposite couch.“Until we can find acceptable substitutes or bring more familiar alcohol back from Earth, we need a reliable supply here.”

“Hey, don’t spill my wine.I’m on my last bottle of Chardonnay.It’ll be months before I can get another.”

“You lushes drank all my Pinot Noir two months ago.I still haven’t forgiven you for that.”Emmy sat cross-legged on a chair and pursed her lips as she looked into her glass.“This Estalan stuff is good, but I get drunk too fast.”

“Ooh, hit me with that,” cooed Kara from the floor near Emmy.“I prefer the hard stuff.”

Rain munched on a cookie.Her long legs stretched underneath the coffee table.

“Like you need another excuse to be socially unacceptable.”

Kara stuck out her tongue.

From another oversized chair, Abby sighed as she sipped from a water pouch.

“And this is your support group, Morgan.What would you like to drink?”

“Uh, hi, everyone.Thanks for coming?”Morgan looked at Abby.“If Rachel doesn’t mind, I think a glass of wine.”

“I’m happy to share.”Rachel’s blue eyes perused her.“Did the shower help?”

---