Page 63 of Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope
Greyson was Trey’s mini-me in so many ways.
Emotions bubbled inside her, threatening to spill forth, probably as embarrassing tears that no one in the room would understand. How could they, when she wasn’t even sure she understood them, either? She was happy for the couple, and yet their happiness had thrown her into the past. How could a person be so happy and so sad at the same time?
Perhaps sensing her inner turmoil, Andrew took her hand, but Morgan just couldn’t.
Pulling free from his hold, she excused herself and went to the bathroom.
Just as she got the door lock latched, the tears began to fall.
Chapter Eleven
Much later, after most of the older crowd had left, Andrew and several of the guys starting picked up any party mess in the living area.
Morgan helped Sarah and Sophie in the kitchen. He suspected she’d have already left if she hadn’t ridden to the party with Sophie. He’d wanted to follow her when she’d left during the hullabaloo around Bodie and Sarah’s announcement, but sensed she wouldn’t welcome his intrusion.
She’d shown genuine happiness for the couple at their announcement, but he supposed memories had overtaken her and she’d needed a moment to herself. When she’d returned, she’d smiled and interacted with everyone as if everything was wonderful.
But it wasn’t. He sensed the difference in her, in the way she looked at him and interacted with him. Whether it was a temporary glitch or permanent, the walls were back up. Maybe he hadn’t helped her nearly as much as he’d thought.
Finding a saucer and spoon someone had left sitting on a hallway table, Andrew picked it up to carry it to the kitchen. Hearing his name, he paused outside the doorway.
“I, for one, couldn’t be happier about you and Andrew,” Sophie said.
“Me and Andrew?” he heard Morgan say. “You make it sound as if we’re a couple.”
“You look and act like a couple,” Sarah said.
“Just because we got thrown together while playing games doesn’t mean we’re a couple. He’s a great person, but we’re just friends.”
Sarah and Sophie both laughed.
“I remember you saying something similar,” Sarah said, apparently talking to Sophie.
“To be fair, we weren’t anything more than friends at the time,” Sophie said.
“But it wasn’t long before that changed,” Sarah reminded her.
“It won’t be for Morgan and Andrew, either. You’re perfect for each other.”
“No, actually, we’re not,” Morgan said. “We’ve become friends, but he’s about as wrong for me romantically as any man could possibly be.”
“What?” Sophie sounded shocked. “I don’t believe it.”
“I know you mean well, but I lost my husband because he took unnecessary risks. The absolute last thing Greyson and I need is to become involved with a man who runs into burning buildings.”
“Cole is a firefighter, too, Morgan,” Sophie pointed out. “He wants to save others and is willing to give his life to do so if necessary. That makes him and Andrew heroes.”
“It makes them too high risk for me, Sophie. I’m happy for you and Cole, but my heart was ripped in two when Trey died. I couldn’t live with the constant worrying that I might lose someone I cared about again. How can I risk getting attached to someone who constantly puts his life on the line? Especially since it’s not just me. Greyson would get his heart broken too, all over again.”
Her voice broke, gutting Andrew. What was he doing with Morgan? He didn’t plan to settle down for the very reasons she cited. Yet, he had been trying to warm her up to him for weeks. To what end? Because he wanted to help her transition into life in Pine Hill? Because he’d believed he could help make her and Greyson’s life better? His current job was dangerous but when he applied to Hot Shot training, then on to qualify as a smokejumper, it would be even riskier. How could he do that to her, even as just friends, knowing what she’d already been through? What Greyson had been through?
He couldn’t. And it was time he stopped being so selfish, monopolizing their time just because he’d been so drawn to her and Greyson. He needed to stay away from them. They’d been through enough without his exposing them to possibly going through it again.
Glancing down at the saucer and spoon, he decided now wasn’t a good time to take them to the kitchen. When he turned to walk away, he locked eyes with Cole.
His friend had apparently heard everything, too.
“Want me to take that to the kitchen?”
