Chapter 5 – Morgan
MORGAN
“What the fuck just happened?” I asked myself as I heard the front door slam.
Through my window, I watched as Andie ran to her sleek, black sports car and shot off as if a horde of the undead were chasing her.
I thought the talk about the future was a little weird and heavy when we hadn’t even started dating, but I also thought I had answered well.
I was honest about what I wanted. I wasn’t one of those men who fled from commitment or the serious talks.
I had seen the pain in her eyes and her body stiffen as I talked about what I wanted from life.
I stalked into my room, closing the door behind me and lay on the bed feeling lost, looking up at the ceiling, going over and over the conversation, to try to process what had gone wrong.
There was another knock at my door.
“Come in,” I called out.
“You okay, love?” my mother asked from the doorway, now dressed in pyjamas and her hair wrapped in a towel.
“Yeah.” I sighed, blowing out a breath slowly through puffed up cheeks. “That was a quick bath,” I noted; she was normally in there for at least an hour.
“Yeah, just jumped in whilst Dad finished with the football. It’s too cold for a shower.” She shivered just thinking about it. “Did Andie give you the plans?”
“Yeah, I’ll get to work on them first thing in the morning. I don’t feel like it now.”
“Things didn’t go well then?” My mother came into my room, closing the door behind her and sitting on the edge of my bed.
I looked at her for a moment deciding on what to say. After all, this was one of her friends and it was… well, it was weird. But she was still my mother, and we had always had a close relationship.
“I think I said something that upset her, but I don’t know what it was. I was honest about how I felt and what I wanted for the future, but she said she doesn’t think we’re a good idea. I’m just feeling a bit low, I think. I’ll bounce back.” I exhaled heavily, my shoulders felt heavy.
“I know you will, love. Maybe give her a bit of time? Perhaps it’s all a bit overwhelming for her, talking about the future this early on.”
“Yeah, maybe, but she was the one who asked what I wanted in life.”
My phone buzzed. I picked it up hoping to see a text from Andie, but instead it was a text from Baz.
B: Hey mate, fancy a drink or two in town?
I didn’t want to go to town, but maybe that was exactly why I should. Otherwise, I would wallow in my misery and keep overthinking my conversation with Andie. I fired off a quick text to him.
M: Yeah, sounds good. What time?
B: About 5, going over early. Grab some food then a drink after.
“I’m going to make myself a cuppa and get the popcorn on. You coming down for movie night?” my mother asked, getting up from my bed and walking to the door.
“Nah, Baz just texted. I’m going out with him for a few hours. Haven’t seen him much since he moved in with Alice.”
“Ah yeah, that will be nice. Don’t drink too much and be safe,” she said before leaving.
I grabbed whatever came first out of the wardrobe, which turned out to be a dark pair of jeans and a black t-shirt, before heading into the shower.
As I finished getting ready my phone lit up and vibrated on the night table. It was Baz letting me know he was outside.
The quiet hours I had planned with Baz turned out to be not so quiet after all. I was greeted with a minibus full of boys, ready to go to the next town over to a pub or two, before maybe a nightclub or two there.
“Alright boys?” I shouted as I got into the back and sat next to Baz.
“Sorry about them, they texted me, and I said you and I were going out for a quiet few, then there was this.” He gestured to the rest of the minibus.
“That’s okay. Maybe it’ll be more fun.” I patted him on the shoulder.
We entered the first pub we saw and ordered a couple of drinks and food. For me and Baz, it was steak with the full works, most of the others got burgers. I looked around as we waited for our order. It was quiet in the pub, but it was still early and would fill up soon enough.
I thought of Andie, and if she was at work yet. Her nightclub wasn’t far from where we were. Should I go over there, queue for hours to maybe get a glimpse of her? I decided against it. She had said no, and now I needed to leave her alone, for a while anyway.
A few of the boys eyed up a table full of ladies next to us and walked over to chat to them, but I wasn’t interested. We lost a couple of them to that table, taking their food with them.
After we’d eaten, some of us moved on to the next pub, where music played loudly.
A few people were already on the dancefloor.
It was one of those bars where your feet stuck to the floor as you walked.
There was a constant smell of stale alcohol and damp, but the drinks were cheap, and the music was good.
The perfect place to start of the evening.
We mostly talked about work and sports. We were men, we didn’t talk about the deep stuff. About an hour later it was just me and Baz at the table, the other boys were either at the bar, the toilet or up dancing.
“So, I did it, I asked Andie out.” I took a long pull of my pint, not looking at him.
“What did she say?” Baz put his pint down and looked at me, he was the only other person besides my parents who knew how I felt about Andie.
“She said no, of course. Why the hell would someone like her want to be with someone like me?” I looked up at him and rolled my eyes.
“Mate, I’ve known you for a long time. You’re a good man. She’s the one missing out.” He clapped me on the back.
“I can’t stop thinking about her. I wish I’d asked to go home with her on New Year’s Eve.” I took another long pull of my drink.
“I can’t believe you didn’t fuck her there in the booth. Especially with how you feel about her.” He shook his head with his eyebrows raised.
“It’s not who I am. I want more than just a quick fuck.” I still hadn’t told him I’d come onto her and she stopped me before it could go any further. If she had let me, I would’ve fucked her in the booth.
“I know mate, you’re one of the good guys.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Come on, drink up. We have some forgetting to do.”
Baz got up and headed to the dancefloor, pointing at me, then at himself before doing the worst dance moves ever. His arms and legs were all over the place. People were dodging out of his way.
I checked my phone again in case she had messaged, but I had nothing from her. I didn’t want to force it and push her further away, so I shoved my phone back into my jeans pocket. I laughed, shaking my head as I downed what was left of my pint and went to join Baz on the dancefloor.
“Hey, I’m Zoe, want to dance?”
I turned to my right, away from Baz to see a petite brunette dancing by my side.
She smiled up at me and licked her lips suggestively.
Her big brown eyes were glassy with alcohol.
The black dress she had on was so tight it looked as though it had been sprayed on, but it suited her figure. She was beautiful, but not my type.
“I can’t, sorry. I’m in a relationship.” I didn’t know what else to say, I always felt awkward in these situations.
“That’s okay, it’s only a dance.” She put her arms up around my shoulders and pressed her hips to mine before starting to sway.
“Hey,” I said, gently pulling her arms from around my shoulders. “I can’t, I’m sorry.” I offered her a small smile.
“I get it.” She smiled and danced away to a group of girls not far from us.
“Fuck me, man, she was hot. Did you get her number?” Lawson asked, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.
“Not this time.” I grinned at him.
He didn’t know about me and Andie, and I didn’t want to tell him. He was one of those who never took anything seriously and would probably take the piss out of me for weeks.
“Never mind, mate. More ladies out there.” He staggered off.
Just one for me, though.
“Hey, you’re supposed to be dancing with me.” Baz fake pouted, grabbed my hands and pulled me back to him.
I laughed. “There’s something wrong with you.”
“Me? I’m just trying to get the attention of my best friend who is lovesick and would rather spend all his time with his new gaming buddy.” He faked a pout again and did his best dad dance.
“I’m sorry, mate. When she’s up the house, I just can’t get enough of her,” I admitted.
“Just joking. Alice has kept me busy, don’t you worry.” He wiggled his eyebrows and stuck out his tongue.
“So, that girl you were just dancing with is still eyeing you up. Did you get her number?” Baz called in my ear.
I looked to the side and, sure enough, her and her friends were all watching me, smiling and looking me up and down. I felt uncomfortable.
“Nah, what’s the point. My head is with Andie.” I danced to the side so I wouldn’t be able to see them.
“Got to get over her, mate. If she said no, maybe you should give that one”—he pointed at Zoe—’“a go.”
“Maybe in time, but for now, there’s only one dark haired woman on my mind. I have to get her, Baz.”
“Then we will make a plan, but for now, we dance!” he yelled back, dragging me further onto the dancefloor.