Page 61 of Breakaway

“Open it. I really want to see what it is,” Katie said excitedly. “It says fragile.”

Aunt Trina gave Katie a curious look.

“She’s going through a dry spell, so she’s invested in my messed-up love life,” Morgan explained.

Trina nodded in acknowledgement.

“Mommy.” Willow ran over to the desk. “Can I stay with Morgan?”

Morgan set the package aside.

“No honey, we have to get a table at the restaurant for lunch and then wait for Daddy.” Aunt Trina looked towards the rink. “Look, the players are leaving the ice, so we better go.”

“We miss you, Morgan!” Willow said.

“I miss you guys, too.”

“Maybe you could come over for dinner soon?” her aunt asked hopefully.

“Sure, I’ll let you know.” Morgan smiled at her, feeling a lump come to her throat. Her Aunt might hover sometimes—not to mention, eavesdrop on private conversations—but her heart was full of love, and she was all about family. Morgan had never doubted for one second that her aunt and uncle loved her and would always be there for her.

“Great!” Trina smiled as if she was pleasantly surprised at her answer. “We’ll see you soon, Morgan!”

Katie waited until Aunt Trina and the kids were gone, before setting the box back in front of Morgan. “C’mon, open it!”

“Girl, maybe you should date him.”

“Please.” Katie chuckled. “That boy only has eyes for you. His Instagram page proves that to everyone who sees it.”

She wasn’t wrong.

“Fine.” Morgan carefully cut open the box. She pulled out an airtight container filled with cookies. “Oh, cookies.”

She examined them further. Opening the lid, she saw there was a candy bar inside with a label that read “I’m Sorry.” She set that aside without too much thought. What got her was the fact that these weren’t store-bought cookies. It was obvious that they were homemade cut outs, and very obviously iced by him.

If she didn’t know better, she would’ve thought that Willow had iced these. But it was kind of a sweet gesture.

“How cute are these?” Katie picked one up, then she grimaced. “Did a little kid help him ice them?”

Morgan ignored the comment. It was a thoughtful thing to do; he could’ve bought them at the store, or asked his Grams to make them, but no, he had made them. Her heart warmed a little, and it felt as though a sliver of ice fell away from it.

She wasn’t ready to give in yet, but she had to give him credit for trying. Everything he was doing was from the heart. Anyone could send flowers, and he had done that, too, but he had also taken the time to make cookies and mail them to her.

Keeping herself busy, she avoided the box of cookies. Soon it was five o’clock, and Katie had eaten almost a dozen cookies herself. The “I’m Sorry” candy bar kept finding its way on to her desk, thanks to Katie.

Her friend had been missing for about a half an hour when she returned to the front desk, and she was clearly stifling a laugh.

“Where were you?”

“Oh, around.” Katie smirked as though she had a secret.

Morgan stopped filing the paperwork she had in her hand and gave Katie the attention that she craved. “Alright, spill.”

Katie looked at her with wide eyes, as if she was about to pop?or maybe all the sugar she had eaten throughout the afternoon was kicking in. “I was talking to some guys in the gym.” Katie was so excited that she could barely get the words out.

There was nothing new about Katie trying to pick up a guy in the gym. Morgan focused on her friend a little less, figuring that Katie was just going to tell her how many phone numbers she’d gathered, or worse—set them up on a double date. Ugh. That was the last thing Morgan needed.

“Some of the guys were on social media, and they were going nuts over this video on Youtube.”