I shake my head, a bit embarrassed. “I’m not big on drugs, so I mostly just sit in my agony.”
“That sounds tough,” she sympathizes. “Midol is usually very well tolerated, though. Do you have any allergies besides peanuts?”
Her question catches me off guard.
How does she know about my peanut allergy?
I dart a glance at the guys, catching them in the act of quickly diverting their eyes.
Great, now everyone probably knows I’m menstruating.
Internally groaning, I wish I knew how to make small talk that didn’t broadcast my personal medical history. “No, no other allergies. Just the choking-on-peanuts thing.”
She grins and reaches out to squeeze my knee before she gets up. “Be right back.”
As Morgan leaves, Oliver sits on the other side of the couch, his expression sheepish. He gives me a lopsided, apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, she’s…” he starts, his voice trailing off as he rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.
“… amazing. I like her,” I reassure him and notice the tension visibly drain from his shoulders.
He exhales a sigh of relief. “I was worried she might come off a little too strong. She’s… extroverted, not like us,” he admits,glancing down at his hands, then back up at me with a tentative smile.
A comforting warmth spreads through my chest, buoyed by his inclusion of me in hisus. “She seems lovely,” I affirm just as a glass of water appears suddenly before me, hovering in the air.
Startled, I turn to find Grey standing just behind the couch, a gentle concern etched across his features. He hands me the glass. “Thank you?” I query, confused.
“For the Midol,” he clarifies, then pivots back toward the kitchen. I watch him retrieve the bowl of popcorn and gather a selection of snacks before returning to place them carefully on the coffee table in front of us. “Need anything else, Princess? Strawberry ice cream?”
I shake my head, “Maybe later, thank you.”
I’m too nervous to eat right now.Morgan, being in their home, having Grey so close while feeling shitty.
It’s a little much.
Grey nods and settles beside me, his body sinking into the cushions.
Morgan bounds back into the room carrying a heating pad. She places it in my lap, plugs it into one of the outlets on the coffee table, and hands me a pill. “Here.”
I blink, surprised by her thoughtfulness. “Oh, that wasn’t necessary, but thank you,” I murmur, accepting the Midol and chasing it down with the water.
“A heating pad is the only thing that really helps me, and it’s super cozy,” Morgan explains as she plops down beside Oliver. “Because these guys don’t even have blankets.”
“I have some. Should I get you one?” I ask, ready to stand.
She laughs, waving me off. “Next time.”
“So, what brings you to Seattle?” I venture, taking advantage of the relaxed atmosphere to learn more about her.
Morgan smiles wryly, a hint of melancholy flickering in her eyes before she responds. “I work as a live-in nurse, or at least I did until recently. My last client passed away, unfortunately. It was quite sudden, and his family… well, they didn’t take long to rush me out of the house once everything was settled.” Her expression darkens for a moment. “I was a bit stranded after that,” she continues, shrugging as if to minimize the disruption it caused in her life. “Luckily, Oliver and the guys let me crash in their guest room.”
“That sounds really tough,” I sympathize. “It must have been hard to adjust so quickly.”
Morgan gives a small nod, her smile returning. “It was, but I’m taking a few weeks to myself now to think about what I want to do next. Maybe where to go next. But I’m enjoying being here. Having my little brother back for a while. It’s nice to have him close, even if it’s just temporary.”
She turns to grin at Oliver, who smiles back. “It is.”
They’re cute, and even I can see how strong their bond is. It makes me miss August even more. “It sounds like you’re making the most of the situation.”
Morgan chuckles, leaning back against the sofa. “I try,” she says. “It’s all you can do, right? Roll with the punches and see where you end up.”
