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What’s there to say? We’re friends, that’s it.
I don’t understand Morgan’s abrupt change of attitude.
Beside me, Mom has struck up a conversation with Max, leaving the three of us alone as they walk toward where Lex is cooking.
Kate looks at me, raising her eyebrows. “It’s really nice to meet you. I’m going to grab a drink. The good stuff is inside. Aunty Kate needs some grownup drink to get through the game of hide and seek that’s just about to start.”
She offers for Morgan to join her, but she refuses. She’s coming off rude and snobbish. With her dad walking back toward us, it allows me to excuse myself for a moment to head to the house. Both Mom and Charlie are in the kitchen preparing some snacks for the kids. Kate is nowhere to be seen.
“Mom,” I call. “I need your help.”
“What have you done now?” she’s quick to question.
“Nothing… at least, I don’t know. Morgan’s acting weird all of a sudden, and I want to ask her why but she’s with her dad. Can you distract him again, so I can pull her aside?”
“I noticed she seems introverted.”
“She’s normally not like that,” I say in her defense. “She just met Kate and then got all weird.”
Charlie and Mom look at each other, both of them with smiles on their faces like I’m missing out on their private joke.
“Noah,” Charlie says. “She’s probably jealous. I know you and Kate are really close, as in friends, but for those who don’t know that, you guys look like a couple.”
“But we’re not.”
“I know that. Kate knows that. Women can be finicky. I can try to talk to her if you want?” Charlie suggests.
“No, I should probably try to fix this.” I sigh.
This, here, is why I don’t do relationships. Factoring in someone else’s emotions is draining. I walk outside and find them again. This time, Mom comes to my rescue, following with a plate of snacks, offering them to Morgan and her dad. Max continues to make more small talk with Mom, some joke about cheese which gives me a moment to pull Morgan aside.
“Thank you for coming today and meeting my family and friends.” I wrap my hand around her waist, pulling her close to me. I want her now.
“Your family is really nice, Noah.”
“And my friends?” I laugh.
“I’ve only met Kate. She seems nice.” And there’s that odd tone again.
“She is nice. But she’s only a friend, Morgan, nothing more.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.” She sighs, leaning into me.
I kiss the top of her hair. “You’re cute when you’re jealous.”
“Argh. Is that what this is?”
I laugh again. “Apparently so. Anyway, I’d like you to spend some time with Kate. She’s really awesome.”
“Okay,” is all she manages to say.
The party continues, and much to our surprise, Mom and Max get into a heated conversation about politics, which strikes me as odd since Mom never talks about anything political.
With Morgan chatting to Lex’s sister, I chase the girls around, making growling sounds as their screams echo around us. Between the running around and multiple times in the bouncy castle, I’m beat.
