Page 103 of Chasing the Dream

“Ohmigod! It was awesome. He was awesome.”

“I’m so glad.”

“Me too! What about you and Gabe?”

Morgan’s eyes bugged out, and Maria laughed. “I meant, what did you two do after we left?”

Morgan’s skin prickled, and she clasped her clammy hands in her lap. “Not much.”

“Did you stay at the pub?”

“No. We went back to his place.”

“Did you watch a movie or anything?”

It would have been wise to have come up with a story before she’d gotten home, but now she had to wing it. “No. We mostly just talked.”

“Ah. About work, I bet.”

“Yeah, mostly.”

“Sorry for making you stay out with him so long.”

“Oh. It was no problem.” At least that was the truth.

A few minutes later, they said goodnight, and once Morgan was in her bedroom, she breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at her reflection in the dresser mirror and wondered if Maria had sensed anything. Then she looked closer and felt a surge of panic. There, above her left collarbone, was a distinct red mark that she hadn’t noticed when she’d gotten dressed at Gabe’s house. Her hair must have covered it before, and in her state of bliss, she hadn’t paid attention to the calling card he’d left.

“Shit!” she said and then clamped her hands over her mouth. Had Maria noticed and not said anything? Of course, Maria had been in a euphoric state too, so maybe she hadn’t seen it. If she had, she might have mistaken it for a bug bite or pimple.

Morgan went into the bathroom, where the light was brighter, and inspected the mark up close. There was no way it could have passed for anything other than what it was—a big red hickey!

She stomped back into the bedroom, picked up her phone, and dialed.

“Miss me already?” he answered with a smile in his voice.

“You gave me a hickey,” she whisper-hissed.

“What? Where?”

“Above my collarbone. A giant red hickey!”

“I didn’t notice it.”

“Neither did I until after I talked to Maria and was getting ready for bed.”

“Did she say anything?”

“No.”

“Well, then what are you worried about?”

“I have to face her again in the morning, and what about tomorrow at the office?”

He laughed. “It’s a hickey, Morgan, not an engagement ring. Can’t you cover it up with makeup or something?”

“You’re impossible!”

“Sorry, but I don’t see any reason to panic.”