Morgan
The church’s back office is cluttered with boxes and old furniture. I fold pamphlets at a desk while Ingrid gawks at me.
It’s been a week, but I couldn’t keep the truth inside anymore.
“No, you didn’t,” she says. “Morgan Leigh Montgomery did not almost lose her virginity to an atheist?”
I twist my fingers. “I know.”
“Oh, my clueless bestie! You did everything wrong.”
I shrug, because that isn’t true. “I didn’tsleep with him.”
“Because you were interrupted!” She holds up her hand and starts counting on her fingers. “And you acted desperate. Begged to help. Cooked for him. Then wouldn’t go home. I’m surprised he didn’t screw you sooner so you would leave.”
I fold my arms. “I was showing him I cared.”
“That’s another thing. Why the heck do you like this guy so much? You lied about being sick and then ditched evening service for a random guy. When you met him at the center, I thought you didn’t like him. This isn’t you.”
“I get your point,” I huff, wishing my closest confidant wasn’t being so harsh. She makes tons of mistakes with guys. I never give her crap. I hate having to be perfect all of the time.
I lower my voice as shame wraps around my words.
“Jack is just...”
“Hot.”
“Oh, yeah,” I agree longingly. “He’s scorching. He took off his shirt before dinner and I literally stopped breathing. His tattoos on those muscles. They cover parts of his chest. Uhhhh.”
Ingrid waggles her eyebrows teasingly.
“But it isn’t just his looks,” I add.
She rolls her eyes, her smile amused.
“I mean it! I could tell he is under a lot of stress. He’s such a good brother. He takes care of his family. He can fix things. I couldn’t stop staring when he installed a door. My ovaries were exploding.”
We both laugh at my confession.
“So...” she muses aloud. “Taking a break from Gabe then.”
My chest squeezes and I’m instantly nauseated. I haven’t seen Gabe since the attack. I haven’t called or texted him. Nobody has heard from him other than my dad. Gabe said he has the flu. I bet he wants to hide his bruises.
“I am done with Gabe,” I say definitively.
“Done? You can’t be done. You two are destined for each other.”
Bile creeps up my throat.
“I don’t want to talk about Gabe. That’s over.”
And it is. Gabe and I will never be together, let alone in the same room. He has to find a new church. I don’t know how I will manage otherwise.
I wish I could tell Ingrid about the attack, yet saying what happened terrifies me. Every time I try, the words stick in my mouth.
Just then, Bailey walks in.
“You and Gabe are over?” She ties her curly red hair into a bun. “Look, I’m sorry to hear that, but I bet that fire will restart after you quench your curiosity elsewhere. Date other pastors, but Gabe will always be your perfect match.” She reaches for my hand and squeezes it tenderly before opening her laptop at the other desk.
