"She's trying to convince me to marry you, so her judgment might be slightly off."
The words are out before I can stop them, and Morgan's face flushes pink.
"I heard," she admits. "Earlier. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but she wasn't exactly quiet about it."
Of course she heard. Of course.
"Right. Well. Just so you know, I'm not actually planning to propose to someone I met this afternoon."
"That's... probably smart."
"Though if I was, Riley's already decided you're perfect, so you'd have her vote."
Why am I still talking? What is wrong with me?
Morgan's smile is small but genuine. "Good to know I have her approval."
There's a moment where we're just standing there, in my kitchen, and I can't help but notice how close she is. Close enough that I can see the way her hair catches the light and the curve of her plump lips.
I take a step back.
"Feel free to use the living room, kitchen, whenever," I say, falling back on practicality. "TV remote's on the coffee table. There's coffee in the morning. I make it around six but help yourself whenever."
"Six?" She looks slightly horrified.
"Riley's an early riser. Pre-K hours."
"Ah. I'll try not to be in the way."
"You won't be." I run a hand through my hair, suddenly exhausted. "I should check on Riley. Make sure she's actually in bed and not plotting your permanent residence."
Morgan laughs. "Goodnight, Casey."
"Goodnight."
I head upstairs, checking on Riley, who is, miraculously, already half-asleep, before going to my own room and closing the door.
My phone buzzes again. My dad.
*Your mother says to give her our love.*
*Dad, I'm not dating her.*
*Not yet.*
I don't respond. Just set the phone on my nightstand and lie back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
This is fine. It's a few days, maybe a week. I'll fix her car, she'll pay what she can, and then she'll be gone. Back on the road to wherever she's going.
Riley will be disappointed, but she'll get over it. Kids are resilient like that. And I'll go back to the way things were. Just the two of us. Safe. Predictable. Exactly how I built it.
The house settles around me, and I can hear the faint sound of water running. Morgan is now in the bathroom, probably getting ready for bed.
A stranger in my house.
A beautiful stranger who my daughter has already decided should be family.
This is fine.
