Morgan
The last couple of days were hard. I’d missed school, refusing to leave my mother’s side. Even though she insisted she’d be fine after the doctor prescribed meds and we all sat down and talked, I still couldn't go. I felt awful knowing she was fighting some type of hidden battle I couldn't fight for her.
So I stayed at my parents’ for a couple nights, making sure she had very little to do on her own. I wanted her to just relax, take some time for herself, and let me handle everything else. She was stubborn, even though she said it was all me, but where did she think I got it from? She fought me, then when she finally realized I wasn’t gonna budge, she gave in. She napped, took long hot baths, and even went to lunch with an old friend.
My mother has such an amazing heart, so full of life. Lately though that spark within her had faded and I wanted nothing more than to get it back for her. I wanted her to laugh and smile, know that it was not forced or for show, and that it was truly genuine.
I’d do whatever I had to in order to get back that sweet woman. I was slowly starting to see her again; with each day that passed she resurfaced.
“Looks like we’ve got some company,” my father said as he rounded the corner onto the street. “Fancy little red car, isn’t it?”
I didn’t respond, because all I could focus on was the tight knot in my stomach. I knew that red car. It was the same red car Xavier climbed in after he gave me his number and walked away. A red two-door sports car that looked like it cost more than mine, my father’s, and my mother’s combined.
My question was why he was here. Oh, and how in the hell did he figure out where my parents lived?
I moved from the truck within seconds of my dad slowing to a stop as I moved toward the front door with purpose. I pushed open the front door, fully intending to tell Xavier he had a lot of nerve taking his need to know me this far and froze instantly.
My mother and Marcus sat on the couch, while Xavier stood in the center of the room. He held Toby’s hand in his as he extended his fingers, pressing firmly to the palm of his hand. I recognized the movement immediately; it was a therapeutic method we used on him daily. The muscles and tendons throughout his arms and hands needed continuous stretching, otherwise they remained tight and caused him pain.
What I didn’t understand was why Xavier was now the one performing them.
“Do they recommend this once a day?” he asked.
They were all still oblivious to my presence.
“Actually we do it with him twice a day,” my mother said in response. “There are times, though, that we’ve done it more. Usually Morgan will do it or Marcus when they are sitting down to watch a movie. He does better when others help him; I think he gets frustrated with me.”
“Sometimes a change is good,” Xavier added, “for the both of you, actually. Does he have therapy weekly outside of the house? Cycling, maybe,” he asked. “They say that truly helps with the muscle spasms.”
“What are you doing?” I asked, gaining everyone’s attention.
Marcus spun around, looking back over the couch at me, and my mother stood. I knew he was somehow behind this and I’d handle his nosy, pushy ass later. By the look on his face, I think he sensed I was irritated with him.
“Honey,” my mom said, taking a step toward me. She looked so much brighter than she had a few days ago. It could be related to the fact that she was now on medication to help her cope with her depression. Or maybe that none of us have left her alone for more than thirty minutes at a time. “Xavier was just…” I cut her off as I stepped around her and focused on Xavier.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
“I invited him.” I turned my body toward Marcus and gave him a look I knew he’d understand.
This is my life, my family. I wouldn’t allow any guy to weasel his way into my life by using my family to do so. Especially Toby, and Marcus knew this. I was territorial of my brother. No, I was obsessive. He was the most important thing in the world to me, and at that moment I felt bulldozed.
My emotions were all over the place.
“He gave me a ride over here after he showed up at our place looking for you,” Marcus clarified, only it did nothing to ease the tension I felt. I bit down hard on my lip to keep myself from saying all the things rolling around in my head.
“Thanks for the help, Morgan,” my father said from behind me as he squeezed past me carrying bags. “There’s more in the truck,” he added.
It was my way out, my escape. I needed a moment to just breathe.
Without another word I turned on my heels and walked back out the front door. By the time I reached the truck my heart was racing. I leaned forward, bracing myself against the side of the bed and closed my eyes.
I could hear someone approaching from behind and assumed it was Marcus coming to explain his actions. I spun around, fully intending to let him have it, only it wasn’t Marcus. It was my mother.
“He seems nice,” she said cautiously, “and Toby loves him.”
“That’s just it, Mom,” I said, throwing my hands up in the air. “Toby.”
I ran my hands over my face, trying to regain a little self-control.
“What?” she asked.
“Toby is off limits.” I sounded louder than I intended to.
When I lowered my hands and looked back at her she was just watching me. How could she not see why this upset me?
“He’s just a guy, Mom,” I told her. How the hell do you explain to your mother that you hooked up with someone you didn’t even know and now he wants to do it all over again? “I barely know him.” I left the rest unsaid. “He’s asked me out and I declined. Now he’s here, in my space, with my family. He’s acting as if he gives a shit about Toby and his therapy and you all are buying into the act.”
“Do you know anything about this guy?” she asked, still giving me a look like I’d lost my damn mind.
“He’s just a frat guy who isn’t used to being told no,” I assured her. “I give in, he gets what he wants, and then he’s gone.”
“I don’t get that from him,” she stated, crossing her arms over her chest. “I see a boy who likes a stubborn girl.”
I rolled my eyes and leaned back against my father’s truck.
“Morgan.” My body tensed as I looked over my mother’s shoulder to see Xavier standing only a few feet away. “Can we talk for a minute?”
My mother stepped forward and pressed her hand to my cheek. “You’re young, you shouldn’t be forced to push the things you want aside. I may be old, honey, but I know what it’s like to be your age. Give the boy a chance.”
Her hand dropped away and she turned to face Xavier. Walking toward the house, she patted his arm as she passed him and I cocked a brow in question. Had he really had them all so fooled?
“Just a frat guy, huh?” he questioned me as he stepped closer.
I should’ve felt bad about him overhearing my thoughts, but at least it saved me from having to repeat it all.
There he stood, with his hands pushed into his front pockets, his forearms flexed, showing off the contour of the muscles throughout his arms, shoulders, and chest. A flashback of those very muscles ran through my mind as I remembered the way they tensed when he hovered above me not that long ago.
“You have this perception of men,” he began, pulling me back to the present. “Like we all want one thing, as if we aren’t capable of commitment. That may be true for some, but I’m not sure why you’ve categorized me as the same. I’ve tried since the morning after we were together to be more with you than just that one amazing night.”
“I told you I didn’t…” He held his hand up to stop me.
“I know, you didn’t have time,” he finished for me. “I didn’t show up here to make you mad. I didn’t decide I would invade your life and leave you with no other choice but to give in.”
“Then why did you come here?”
“At first,” he shrugged, “it was because Marcus assured me I’d get the chance to see you.” I arched my brow as if to say “I told you so,” and he chuckled. “I know, but then after I met your mom, and Toby, it was different.”
I didn’t say anything in return. The mention of Toby once again gave me that territorial reaction. Only I chose to not yet react.
“It doesn’t change the fact that I want to know you more. But if you’re still adamant about not giving me a chance to show you I’m not the guy you think I am, then I get that.” He removed his hands from his pockets and took a step toward me. “Okay, so I lied, because I’ll still try to change your mind,” he chuckled when I rolled my eyes at him. “But Toby is a great kid, and whether you believe this or not, I’d still like to be able to hang out with him.”
“Why?” I said. “Because you feel sorry for him and you feel like you’re doing something great by befriending him?”
“No.” He appeared completely unaffected by my aggressive words and demeanor. “Because he is amazing and his personality is refreshing. He’s brave and the way he smiles as if everyone around him has the challenges and not him himself is inspiring.”
“I don’t mean to be rude or bitchy, I’m protective of Toby. I can’t help it,” I said, suddenly feeling slightly defeated. “When it comes to him, something shifts inside me and the need to keep him safe is all I can think of.”
“I understand why you are so protective over him,” he added. “I’m the same way with both my siblings, but I can assure you of something. I’m not using him to get to you and I don’t feel sorry for him.”
“Hey, you two,” my father hollered out from the door, “grab the rest of the food from the truck and get it in here. Let’s eat before it all gets cold.”
Xavier raised his hand indicating to my father that he’d heard him before looking back at me. I could tell he was silently asking me if it was okay. How could I tell him no? It appeared that everyone else thought him being here was nothing big. Like he’d been accepted as part of the gang and I was the one overreacting.
Hell, maybe I was. But the idea of anyone using Toby, or looking at him as if he was an easy target infuriated me. It was something I would do everything I could to avoid. Even if it meant pushing aside my own needs and curiosity to protect him.
“I guess you’re staying for lunch?” I realized it was more of a question. I also knew I was the only one questioning it.
“Only if that’s okay with you.” With a tilt of his head, he offered me a sweet smile and suddenly the charm they all could see was right there in front of me. “I did promise Toby I would watch his favorite movie with him.”
“Pulling out the Toby card already, huh?” I asked, unable to hide my own smile.
With a shrug his grin grew wider. “Toby is pretty amazing.”
I couldn’t have agreed more.
“You do realize what movie you agreed to watch, right?” I asked. It was a movie I thought I could recite word for word I’d been forced to watch it so many times. Xavier looked back at me for the first time appearing concerned and shook his head. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
“Shew,” he said, pretending to wipe the sweat from his forehead. “For a minute I thought you were gonna say something like Legally Blonde or Pretty in Pink.”
“No,” I moved past him, “but in that case you should never agree to watch a movie with Marcus. Pretty in Pink is one of his favorites.”
I didn’t look back but I could hear him chuckling as he followed closely behind. “I will remember that if I’m ever invited over to watch a movie.”
Maybe it was just me, but his comment sounded a little hopeful.