“We’re not just hooking up—” I stop myself.What are we doing?We haven’t defined it.We haven’t talked about the future.We just...keep finding excuses to see each other.
Morgan runs his hands through his hair.“Does Hunter know?”
“Absolutely not.And he can’t.Not yet.We’re still figuring things out.”
“Figuring things out,” Morgan repeats.“Silas.Come on.You can’t keep this from him forever.”
“I know.I just need more time.”I take the package from him, keeping it close to my chest like I’m protecting evidence.“We both do.”
Morgan studies me for a long moment.Then he sighs.“You really like her.”
“Yeah.”There’s no point in denying it.Not to Morgan, who’s known me since we were kids.“I really do.”
“Of course you do, ’cause she’s fucking awesome.Does she know?About how you’ve felt about her since forever?”
“Was it that obvious?”
“Only to everyone except Hunter, apparently.”Morgan shakes his head, but he’s smiling now.Small, but it’s there.“Man.Bailey Price.I did not see that coming.”
“Neither did I.”
“So what happens now?”He gestures at the package.“What’s this even for?”
“I don’t know.It just showed up today.”
“You’re not going to open it?”
I look down at the box.“I should probably wait.Talk to Bailey first.It’s addressed to both of us.”
Morgan nods slowly.“Okay.But Silas?You need to figure this out.The whole thing.Not just what’s in the box.What you two are doing.Where it’s going.Because keeping this secret from Hunter?That’s only going to get harder.”
“I know.”
“And for what it’s worth?”He claps me on the shoulder.“I’m happy for you.Even if you are an idiot for thinking you could keep this quiet in a town this small.”
I laugh despite everything.“Fair point.”
Inside, Echo howls at us in excitement, happy to have Morgan to talk to.I show him the dresser and he appropriately oohs and aahs over it while Echo is curled up in his arms.
“You did good,” he says, scratching my cat’s head.“I might have to recruit you to fix my back steps.”
I straighten up.“Why?What happened?”
“Eighty pounds of golden retriever barrels into it every other day and one of the posts has split.The whole thing is sitting crooked now.”
“Princess is too enthusiastic.”
“She is.And with the ice we had this winter—” Morgan cuts himself off and fishes his phone out of his pocket.Echo’s ear flicks and her eye squints open.Morgan looks at the screen and rolls his eyes.
Only two people elicit that kind of reaction from him: his very punchable brother or his enabling mother.
I’m not close to my mom, but she’s always been more checked out than toxic.I don’t know why Morgan tolerates having the two of them in his life.Eventually, Graham will do something so stupid Morgan will finally cut ties, but hopefully it’ll be something that’s not too dangerous or expensive for my friend.
“Your brother?”I guess.
Morgan shakes his head.“Mom.”He puts his phone back in his pocket.“Probably needing money or something.”He huffs a laugh.“How am I ever going to get to buy my own bar if my family keeps draining my pockets?”
Before I can answer, Morgan gives Echo a kiss on her head.“I better get home to Princess.”