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I opened the door and made my way to the elevator. Next week, this would be a memory, and all these crazy feelings would have dissipated. I’d be back to the old Kade; trolling for a new conquest. I laughed at myself as I entered the elevator. Who the fuck was I kidding? After tonight, what woman would even compare to the sweet ecstasy Morgan had given me? I was well and truly fucked.
10
Morgan — Two weeks later, Tuesday
“Oh god, not again.” I let out a frustrated groan as I pulled the second batch of burnt cookies from the oven. All day I’d been trying to make lemon vanilla sugar cookies to take to Beth and Ash, who’d invited me over for dinner now that they were home from their honeymoon. I was eager to see Beth and hear about her island trip with her sexy new husband. And I wanted to hug little Hannah. I’d offered to care for her while they were gone, but again, Chase and Sara took her in as last-minute practice as they got ready for their own child’s arrival.
Of course, dinner with Beth wasn’t why I was burning my cookies. It was thoughts of Kade. I’d have thought that after two weeks, the memory of that night would have faded, especially since it wasn’t a particularly good memory. Everything about that night was perfect until he got angry that I hadn’t told him I was a virgin. Maybe I should have, but that didn’t mean I deserved the way he treated me.
When he went into the bathroom to dispose of the condom, I was up, dressed and out the door so fast. But I hadn’t been able to outrun my humiliation. I guess that was why people said you should wait to have sex with someone special. I hadn’t expected roses and sonnets, but I hadn’t planned on his repulsion either.
To make it worse, I kept hoping he’d call. Maybe he’d apologize. Hell, if I was honest, I was hoping he’d want to see me. But I hadn’t heard a word from him. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that now, two weeks later, he wasn’t interested in me. I wondered if he found someone new. Maybe he had someone else that same night. Why waste a good suite?
I growled in frustration and threw my potholder across the room. Why was I such an idiot? Fairy tales weren’t real. Not for people like me. Beth got hers, but that was different. She and Ash were cut from the same cloth. They were soulmates.
“Did you burn the cookies again?” my mother asked as she came into the kitchen. She looked exhausted, and I felt guilty that I wasn’t more emotionally available to her. With her lupus, working to clean homes had to feel like a herculean task. We worked together in our own little housecleaning business. I’d finished my clients earlier in the day, and if I was a better daughter, I’d have gone to help her finish with hers.
“Yes.” I put on the kettle for tea. “Sit down, and I’ll make you some tea. Next batch, I’ll get right and you can have some.”
“What’s going on, honey?” My mother lowered herself into a chair.
“I’m just distracted. Lots going on.”
“That’s been happening a lot lately.” She reached out her hand, and I went to sit with her. “Tell your mom what’s going on.”
“I don’t want to burden you.”
“The only burden is not knowing what’s wrong so I can help. Tell me, Morgan, what’s going on?” She brushed my hair from my forehead like I was a child.
“It’s a guy.”
“Ah,” she said with a knowing nod.
“He’s way out of my league. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Hey! No man is out of your league. You hear me. You’re a wonderful person and any man would be lucky to have your love. The truth is, there is no one who deserves you.”
I gave her a wan smile. “You’re biased.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Look at how hard you work. How you care for me. How much you helped Beth and Hannah. I love Beth like a daughter, but bless her heart, she’d not have survived her father’s death and brother’s downfall without your help.”
“That’s not completely true.” Beth was a strong capable woman who was overwhelmed by her brother’s illness and looming financial ruin. Yes, my mom was ill, but I was already broke and knew how to make a nickel last as long as possible.
“She’s lucky to have you.”
“And I’m lucky to have her.” I stood. “Now, let me try these cookies again. I can’t wait to hear about her honeymoon and see Hannah.” I pulled out all my ingredients for the cookies again. “At least someone has their happily ever after.”
“Don’t you fret about that, baby. Someday you’ll find a man who appreciates you.” My mom watched as I began mixing the ingredients. “Have you thought about selling your baked goodies?”
