“Oh, he’s feeling much better, that’s great. You could havebraindamage.”
“I don’t have brain damage,” Morgan scoffed. “It’s mostly my shoulder, honestly, and yes, I’ll go and get it checked out once I can pilot the boat again.”
“Just get Ty to take you! You said you’ve been getting along with him, right?”
Yes, he had, but … “He likes his space.”
“If he’s a real friend, he’ll give a little in order to make sure you’re whole and healthy.”
“He’s already given up his privacy for me, not to mention his bed,” Morgan said. “I don’t feel like pushing it right now.”
Katie’s tone changed a bit. “His bed, huh?”
“Stop it.”
“No, no, please go on. You say he’s given up his bed? Does that mean you’re in it together, or is it you all by your lonesome?”
Not that it was any of her business, but … “Me alone.”
“Huh. You sound kind of bummed about that.”
I feel kind of bummed about that.“I wish I wasn’t putting him out,” Morgan said. “That’s all. How’s Nicki?”
The change in subject was blatant, but she let it go. “Kicking ass and taking names in tennis. Her coach is amazing, thank you for getting her lessons. That was so nice of you.” She paused. “Let me know if you want to stop paying for them at any time, okay? I don’t expect you to subsidize our lives.”
“I know,” Morgan said with a little smile. That was why he felt comfortable doing it—because he was sure his sister would never try to take advantage of him. It was getting to the point where he could barely say “hello” to his mother before she started asking him to renovate her two-year-old kitchen or pay to get her latest boyfriend hair implants. Considering the speed at which they came and went, that was a losing proposition for his mother—she’d never stick with one of them long enough to see his newhairline grow out. “I appreciate you letting me do it. Speaking of, you need to pick the car you want for Christmas.”
Katie snorted. “Shut up, you’re not really going to buy me a car for Christmas.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No, you’re not. Save your money for a first-class flight home for Thanksgiving instead.”
He could buy an entire plane and not make a huge dent in his payout, but he knew Katie wouldn’t care. She might care about this, though. “I don’t think I’ll be home for Thanksgiving. Not with my—you know. The shoulder. It’s easier if I stay here.”
“Oh.” She was quiet for a moment. “I mean, that’s fine. Of course, you don’t want to travel when you’re hurt, that would suck.” Her voice gained a little strength. “No, rest up and come home for Christmas instead. I’ll handle Mom.”
Oh God, Mom.Her last five messages had all been about Thanksgiving and the huge party she wanted to throw. “I can call her.”
“The hell you can, don’t put yourself through that. I’ll tell her. She’ll be less tempted to fly out and take care of her ‘baby boy’ that way.”
Morgan laughed. “Mom would never come all the way to Parrish Island, you know that. She hates this place.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t push you to join her in a five-star hotel somewhere. And you seem happy where you are, so let’s not tempt fate, huh?”
His sister was the best. “I’d be happy buying you a Porsche too.”
She made a squawking sound. “Don’t buy me a Porsche, are you crazy?”
“It would be better than your twenty-year-old Ford Focus.”
“Hey, I drove you to school in that thing.”
“I know.” Oh, he remembered. Even new, it hadn’t been much of a car. “And now it’s time for me to drive you around, in absentia. Pick a car. If you go too cheap, I’ll just upgrade you,” he added.
“Are youtryingto make Mom jealous?”
“I bought her a Mercedes Benz just last year!”
