Page 25 of We're All Liars
“Well, it’s not mine, so you wasted your time being jealous.” But it makes me wonder who would be here. When I walk outside, I spot exactly who it is. Warren. And he’s in a heated exchange with Morgan, who is screaming and yelling at him.
Fuck. Here we go. But before I can get over there, he spots me, gets in his truck, and drives off. Morgan stands watching the direction he disappeared in.
“Are you okay? What was that about?” Even though I already have a few guesses.
“Oh, you know, how could I mess up his life, everyone knows he’s a date rapist, no one trusts him anymore.” Her annoyance is highlighted by an eye roll, but I see her hand shaking as she reaches for the handle of her car door.
When I put my hand on her, she stops and looks to me. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you again.”
“I’ve got it, Cade. Don’t you dare do a fucking thing.” She yanks the door open, but only manages to crack it a few inches before I slam it back closed and situate myself between her and the car.
“Um. I’m gonna go.” Dustin awkwardly points to his vehicle.
“See ya later. You’re welcome to join us on Thursday for lunch.” I tell him without breaking eye contact with her, mainly because she looks like she’s ready to kick me in the balls.
“Move. Now.” Morgan quickly shifts forward when I don’t immediately follow her command. I relax my back against the car and wrap my arms around her.
The good thing is I don’t think she has enough room to get her knee high enough to injure me, so I inform her, “Only if you tell me what you have in store for him.”
She takes a few sharp breaths before she says, “To make sure he never causes another person feel that fear or weakness again.”
I undoubtedly shouldn’t hear more details, but I ask any way, “And how are you going to do that?”
“You’re about to get a demonstration if you don’t get out of my way.”
“I don’t buy that.” I call her bluff. She won’t hurt me. But I worry about what she plans for Warren. “You can’t kill him, Morgan.”
“I’m not going to.” Her blunt response is a relief. There’s enough blood on our hands already, even if the dickhead deserves to be six feet under.
“Alrighty. Handle it how you want. But if I see him in your face like that again, it’s my turn to demonstrate what happens when someone hurts what’s mine.”
“Yeah. Got it. Now move.” She shoves her arms against my chest to get out of my hold, but I don’t let her.
“Only if you confess”—I shift forward, moving my lips over hers to softly kiss her. Her body relaxes a bit—“you secretly love working on the sailboat and can’t wait to sail on it.”
“I confess”—she moves her mouth over mine, her teeth nipping at my bottom lip—“that you’re a fool and the damn thing will probably never see water. At least not from the surface.”
“Challenge accepted. If I succeed and make her seaworthy, you have to marry me on her maiden voyage.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’m not marrying you. And I certainly don’t want an Under the Sea wedding theme—which is where the damn vessel will end up on its first sail.”
“Fine. Second sail. You marry me.”
“You’re such a dumbass. And delusional.”
“So, what’s your hesitation in agreeing since it’ll never happen? What’re you so worried about?”
Her usual stubbornness and defiance come roaring back. “Deal.”
The bargain is sealed with a kiss that I don’t pull away from. And thankfully, she doesn’t try to get out of my grasp again until it’s time to head to Saint Juliet for practice.
The end of the season can’t come fast enough. Neither can our sailing date. Because then she’ll officially be mine.
24
MORGAN
“I’ve been at school more this week than an actual week we’re required to attend class,” Ava complains as we leave the locker room. And I’m in complete agreement. It’s almost time for the game. But we’ve been here every day for practice or some reason or another, then for the stupid pep rally that the interim principal insisted on having to distract from the fact that Saint Juliet’s own Principal Perv has been all over the news, including a less than flattering mugshot when they booked him.