Chapter 28
JAMIE
The next few stops on the tour all run together. I see precious little of Morgan—on the jet she’s in the back taking calls, at the hotel she splits her time between the gym and the conference room taking more calls, and the only time I really see her is while we do our fireside chats.
During those, she’s engaged and bright as always, and gives me no indication that I’ve done anything wrong. But I think she’s putting distance between us. Because of Tobias.
I’m seeing more of the cities we visit now that I’m spending time with Eileen, and that’s nice.
We continue to get along really well, so I can’t complain.
I shouldn’t complain. It’s only when I’m on the jet, alone in the main room, staring out over the shifting landscape, wondering what that river’s called or which mountain range that is that I really pine for Morgan.
About two weeks into the trip, four-ish days after the Tobias incident, Eileen and I sit at another Starbucks in another city, and she types away at her phone while she sips a venti Frappuccino. “Long night last night,” she said by way of explanation when she ordered the massive drink.
We’ve been quiet a while as I sip my latte, and I hope it sounds casual as I say, “You know Morgan pretty well, right?”
“I like to think so.”
“I can’t tell if… she’s avoiding me. I’m pretty sure it’s all in my head, but I just can’t… quite shake the feeling. She’s busy, right?”
“I wouldn’t read too much into it.” Eileen looks up, expression softening. “Morgan never stops moving. She’s still letting you on her jet, and that’s a huge compliment.”
Do I dare tell Eileen about the ‘cost-saving measures’? The golfing and the massage and…
But Eileen said it before. Morgan doesn’t have time for a love life. Maybe I’m not completely crazy, and she was flirting with me, but… it probably didn’t mean anything.
Especially not if she spent the night with that other alpha. She had ample opportunity to do anything she wanted with me.
“Y’know…” Eileen says, swirling her Frappuccino. “Morgan would kill me for telling you this, but… she’s not always as calculated as she thinks she is. As she wants other people to believe. She’s a human too, underneath all the barking and power-lifting.”
I force a smile. “Thanks… it’s funny, she actually got hangry the other night.”
Eileen’s eyes twinkle. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry you had to see that. She can be such a mega-bitch.”
“The suite was unavailable due to a plumbing emergency or something? I thought Morgan was going to bite the poor woman’s head off when she told her.”
“The suite wasn’t available?” Eileen asks with surprise. “She didn’t tell me about that. Usually she’s biting my head off too.”
“We figured it out. There’d been a last-minute cancellation, apparently. So we still had a room.”
Eileen tilts her head. “A room or a suite?”
“A room,” I say a little sheepishly, wondering if I’ve gotten something wrong.
Eileen shakes her head with a smile. “Wow, Morgan must really like you if she didn’t implode. I’ve never seen that woman accept a room, ever.”
Eileen shared a secret with me, and I think I need to share one back. If only because I’m dying without a second opinion.
“Would you believe me if I said there was only one bed?” I murmur into my latte.
Eileen whips to face me as she processes the words, and her voice drops to a whisper. “What?! Wait, did you two…”
“N-no!” I stammer, instantly regretting my decision to say anything.
“Oh my god,” Eileen breathes, pressing her hands to her cheeks. “I knew you were crushing on her!”
“What do I do?” I choke out.
Eileen reaches over and takes my hand, giving it a squeeze. “Stay strong. Because honestly? I have no idea. Morgan is like… a dead language. You need a Rosetta Stone.”
“But she doesn’t have time for—I mean—she has better prospects than—”
Eileen cuts me off with a wag of her finger. “I will not allow you to say such things. Like I said, Morgan can be hard to read. But if you put a gun to my head? I think she likes you too.”
“But…”
“No buts!”
“But what do I do!”
“Okay, I’ll allow that ‘but.’” Eileen takes a long drink of her Frappuccino, then winces at the brain freeze. “Well, for starters, you’re going to keep me posted on every development, okay? I am officially your wing-woman now.”
“Really?”
“Well, yeah. Oh my god, you two would be so cute together.”
Usually, I enjoy how hanging out with Eileen is like the high school experience I never had. Now, I think I might faint.
“I… I really don’t think she feels that way. But thanks. For believing in me, I guess.”
I want to tell Eileen how Morgan looked at Tobias, how sure I am that she wants nothing to do with me. But I can’t bring myself to form the words.
Eileen squeezes my hand again and looks me dead in the eyes. “If you need anything. Any. Thing. I don’t care if it’s condoms or lube or—”
“Oh my god, Eileen!”
“Anything,” she repeats. “You tell me. Okay? Promise me. And then I swear I won’t bring this up again until you do.”
I tap my fingers against the table as I consider. One thing that will never happen (Morgan wanting to do the deed with me) versus something that I very, very much want (never speaking of this again)? It’s an easy deal.
I hold up my little finger. “Pinky promise.”
Eileen’s grin is a mile wide. “Pinky promise.”