“Relax. It’s just Stella, Luke, Fletcher, and Lillie.”
“There’s, um.” Morgan swallowed past the sudden dryness in her mouth. “There’s nobody in my life except for you. And I guess Owen, but he only puts up with me because of you.” Morgan looked down at her feet, her face flaming. “I don’t know how to talk to these people.”
“I would like to change the fact that I’m the only person you can count on, and not only because I would like to have my guest bedroom back.” Hannah flicked her arm playfully. “I didn’t invite everyone, so just take it a little at a time.”
Morgan looked into Hannah’s face as she spoke, seeing her sincerity. “I’d like that,” she mumbled. “I’d like more friends, and of course I met Stella and Lillie at work, it’s just . . . There is, a, uh . . . a guy that I really like. But I’ve fucked it up.”
“In what way?” Hannah asked.
Morgan looked around the kitchen at all the faces. Mostly, the guys were giving them space, but Lillie and Stella were near enough to hear them. “I don’t think everyone wants to hear this.”
“Like they think you’re the Virgin Mary. Just spit it the fuck out, Shorty.”
She laughed, a small huffing sound. “Okay. It’s Ryder.” She fiddled with her hands. “He sort of stopped this guy trying to force me to go home with him. Him and Milo. Then he took me home because I passed out on him.” She rubbed her hands over her face. “He didn’t even do anything but tuck me into bed.”
“Why do you feel like you messed up, Morgan?” Lillie asked gently.
“Let’s just say we couldn’t be more different. And I’m clearly not good for him.” Morgan stood abruptly. “I can't stay here.” She rolled her shoulders, feeling their gazes like ants crawling down her back. “Uh, sorry, Hannah. Thanks. But I suck at people.”
She wasn't sure which part sucked more. Leaving her own birthday party when her cousin tried so hard, or having nowhere to go when she left because she’d pushed them all away.
Morgan had been born into immense wealth. Her father ran a textiles company and met her mother, the fashion designer, as she picked fabric for a new fall line. As far as Morgan could tell, it had been love at first sight, but that love was all-consuming, and centered around the two of them. Morgan never doubted she had been unwanted. Still, she was well taken care of by the most coveted au pairs, tutored privately, and finally sent to finishing school as a teen.As though finishing school taught you anything useful, Morgan snorted to herself as she walked down the sidewalk. Which spoon to use and how to greet one another properly wasn't getting her anywhere as an adult. She wasn’t a spoiled rich kid rebelling against her familial unit. No, Morgan had lived through real life nightmares while her parents condemned her for beingso dramatic. Now they didn't care what she did as long as she stopped in occasionally to show off their clothing line. If she didn’t, they withheld her monthly allowance. That was the biggest reason she needed a job. She had to get out from under her abusive parents’ control any way she could and couldn't mooch off Hannah forever.
The first few days of work had been okay. It was tough for her to make small talk with the clients, but she was mostly just drawing and watching the others work before she was allowed to touch a needle to anyone’s skin. What she wanted was to prove to Hannah that she was worth the risk, that she could do the job and not be a giant disappointment.
Morgan wasn't sure that was going to happen if she couldn't even be in the same room with more than two other people at one time.
