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My retreat forces her to release me. The hurt spears down to my marrow as she starts to cry, but makes no move to seek comfort from her parents. I don’t trust my voice while shuffling toward Jake. His grip snags my elbow before I can cross the threshold.
“Pitch—”
I gulp at the sharp lump in my throat. “No, it’s okay. I should go to avoid more complications.”
“Damn that word to hell.” He clenches his eyes shut.
“You need to be alone with your family right now. I’m sure there’s stuff you need to discuss.”
His hand clasps mine, threading our fingers together. “That involves you.”
“Later,” I murmur.
“This isn’t right,” he grinds out.
I squeeze his palm that’s pressed to mine, then drop the connection. “Maybe we’re better off as wrong after all.”
“Fuck that,” he spits under his breath.
But Jake relents and gives me the space to leave that I’m practically begging for. I don’t spare Morgan a glance while brushing past her. The battle against my tears fails, sending hot streaks pouring down my face. A hiccupped sob escapes. I slap a palm over my mouth to muffle the noise. The fact that I don’t have a car to drive off in a blaze of misery somehow makes this scene more pitiful.
Footsteps approach as I kick gravel across the shop’s lot. My stride doesn’t falter at the unknown interloper. If they want to speak, maybe I’ll listen. The voice that carries along the breeze calls me a liar when I slam to an abrupt halt.
“Harper, can we talk?”
Istare at Morgan from across the table at Bean Me Up. The usual comfort that surrounds me in my favorite coffee shop is noticeably absent.As my focus bounces between her and my neglected latte, I wonder who will speak first.
She clears her throat, satisfying my curiosity. “I’m relieved to see the rumors are true.”
A sour gurgle turns in my stomach. My experience with this woman and reliable gossip has a terrible track record. I can only imagine what the town blabbers will spread just from seeing the two of us together. “And why is that?”
“Several reasons.” Morgan drums her nails on the wooden ledge. “First, I’m tired of playing the villain in this story.”
I bristle at the accusation. “Who said you were?”
“Me,” she states simply.
“Okay…?”
Her exhale is thick. “Each day I fail my daughter makes me feel like a horrible person. Considering that’s been the vast majority of the past six years, I’ve been pretty low most of the time.”
It would seem there are several solutions to that problem, but I’m sure she’s aware of that. The responses rattling in my brain fall short. Rather than offer hollow platitudes, I settle lower into my chair as a sign that I’m listening.
Morgan smiles, but the expression is brittle. “I’m riddled with guilt, but maybe I don’t have to be anymore.”
My mind whirls as I try to calculate the equation she’s scribbling. Her meaning could veer off in several different directions. Whatever challenges lie ahead, we can find a solution.
At my extended silence, she rolls our stilted exchange onward. “I was young when Sydney was born.”
“So was Jake,” I counter.
“It’s not a surprise that you’d come to his rescue. I’ve caught the way you stare at him.” Her smile is too coy for my preference.
I flatten my lips into a hard line as defenses rise with a clatter. “What does that have to do with Sydney?”
“How you care about both of them is important to me, for the sake of my sanity.”
A dull throb pulses at my temples. “Please don’t tell me you used my history with Jake as an excuse to leave Syd.”
