Page 71 of Pierced Pages
“My mother happened,” she said. “But it doesn’t matter. She won’t be bothering either of us the rest of the evening.”
“Sorry,” Danielle said, her green eyes soft and sad.
“Don’t be. I’m not.”
Danielle looked around the reception hall. “Well, let’s have some fun then. Got any drunk but progressive cousins you can introduce me to?”
Morgan laughed. “I’m sure I can find another black sheep or two around here.”
Danielle slipped her arm around Morgan’s and squeezed. “Lead the way.”
Chapter 32
Danielle
The car felt too close, even though it was on the far side of the parking lot. Danielle wanted the walk to last longer. To have a few more minutes with the woman beside her.
Melanie had offered to let Lila spend the night, but Lila wasn’t having it. She wanted to stay up late and see her mom right after the big night to hear all about how it was. Danielle wasn’t so sure about recounting everything, especially not so late in the evening, but she figured it was easier to pick her up on the way home than to go out again the next morning.
“Well, here it is,” she said when they reached her car. “I’d better take off before it turns into a pumpkin.”
Morgan smiled. “I don’t see the problem. A pumpkin car would be cute.” Her dark eyes softened with understanding. “But I know you want to get back to Lila.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay if I leave a little early?”
“Yeah, sure,” Morgan said. “Lana’s gonna drop me off at my car back at the church after the whole sparkler send-off thing.”
“So this was fun.”
She hadn’t realized how long it had been since she’d had actual grown-up fun. Hanging out with Gerri and Melanie and Kim was fun, but in a relaxed book club kind of way. AndLila-fun was great, but movie nights with her thirteen-year-old weren’t quite the same as a wedding with a date.
Was she really calling it that now?
Before she could broach the subject, Morgan spoke first.
“It was fun,” Morgan said. “And if you’re up for it, I’d really like to see you again.”
Danielle’s heart fluttered inside her chest as a wave of emotions crashed over her.
This was what she wanted. She knew that much now for certain. She just wasn’t sure what that might look like.
“I’d like that, too.” She took a deep breath and said the most vulnerable truth she’d said to anyone in a long time. “I really like you.”
Morgan gave a smile that nearly cracked Danielle open. “I really like you, too.”
“I’m not sure what my life looks like with a relationship, though. This was great, but I can’t do this all the time. Not with Lila.”
“No, and that’s fine.” Morgan thought for a second. “How about brunch tomorrow? You can bring Lila. She’s already met me, so is that okay?”
Was it okay?
Morgan was right. She’d already met Lila, and Lila adored her. But it felt awkward to have a meetup with her daughter and a date. Like that would be too much too soon.
Or maybe that was her fear talking.
“You wouldn’t believe how hard Lila has been pushing to see you again. To seeustogether, really.”
Morgan laughed, her dark eyes shining with amusement. “Then let’s give the kid what she wants. What we want.”
