Crushed (Rushed #2) (24 page)

"Have it your way." I grabbed my coat and turned to leave.

She caught my arm. "Dakota Bradley—walk out on me and we're through!"

I was used to her threats and the way she used them to manipulate me. This time, she'd unwittingly given me the out I'd been looking for.

I shook her off and stormed out.

Chapter Seventeen

Morgan

My phone rang an hour later. Like
rang
. With the ringtone I'd stupidly set for Dak. Like he was someone special. As if he thought I was someone special beyond a sobriety buddy of convenience and sometimes hookup. No more hookups. I repeated it again to myself.
No. More. Hookups. With. Dak. Period.

My heart was doing that odd fluttery thing it did with anything regarding Dak. I let the phone ring until the last second and picked it up against my better judgment. "Home?"

"Safe and sound." He sounded seductively happy. Light and free.

"Caught a cab or took your chances?" I had to know.

"Took a taxi. Not easy to get in Seattle. Left the ride at the party." Okay, he sounded almost euphoric.

It made no sense, but then I guess it didn't have to. The joy in his voice was contagious. "Your ride, how is he getting home?"

"Spending the night at the party house."

Was that relief in his voice?

"You hope," I said. "Did you take his keys?"

"No. Should have thought of that. Don't worry…they'll be fine." He paused. "Morgan, I'm sorry." His voice was low and genuine. So true and emotional, my resolve cracked and my eyes watered.

I tried to brush it off. "About what?"

"You know what. About being a douche and not calling after—"

The phone shook in my hands. I bit my lip and blinked back tears. Crap, the whole thing made me so emotional. It was like I was almost grieving. Which was stupid. A pregnancy would have made my life beyond complicated. But I wasn't the hard-hearted bitch some of my sorority sisters made me out to be. "Let's not talk about it. Ever."

"Let me just say one more thing and I promise I won't mention it again."
 

I took a deep breath and nodded. As if he could see me. We weren't Facetiming. I cleared my throat and made some lame noise that passed for permission.

"You could tell me. I'm not the kind of guy who would leave you in a lurch. I'd feel better knowing you trust me and that we can work things through together. You can tell me anything." He cleared his throat. "That's all."

I pictured him with that sweet, apologetic look on his face. The look that made me want to take his face in my hands and kiss him softly and sweetly. The look that made me want to cry. I couldn't speak.

"Morgs? Still there?"

My voice caught. "Yeah."

"Everything okay?"

"Perfect."

"We started off on the wrong foot."

"You mean by being enemies?" I laughed and brushed aside a tear.

"Enemies to frenemies to friends to…something more. I've missed you these last days. I didn't realize how much until I came home and couldn't get you out of my mind."
 

Crap! He was determined to make me cry.

"Let me make it up to you. Let's start over. Go on a real first date. Are you busy tomorrow?"

I laughed through my tears. "It's past midnight. By tomorrow, do you really mean today or Monday?"

He laughed back. "Either. I have to see you. As soon as possible."

Could a heart break because of too much joy? I took a deep breath. "I have family plans tomorrow. Monday?"

"Excellent! Monday it is. That will give me a chance to plan it."

I smiled. "Where should I meet you?"

"Meet me? I'm picking you up like a real gentleman." He laughed again. "I'll need an address."

"On Monday I'll be at Mom's in Kirkland."

"Even better. I'm in Bellevue. It will save me the long drive to Puyallup. I'll text you the details tomorrow. I'm thinking afternoon into evening. We'll make a day of it."

"I'm thinking that's perfect."

"Goodnight, Morgs."

"Goodnight, Sweat Prints." I didn't know why I said it.

"Did you just call me Sweet Prince?"

"No, I called you Sweat Prints. You have to earn the Sweet Prince title. Make the date good."

He laughed again. "Goodnight…Sweat Print Cents."

I laughed as the line went dead. Then I fell back on my pillow, smiling.

Dakota

Fallout. I should have known there would be fallout. There always was after a breakup with Jordan. This time, I was serious. It was over.
 

There's only one way to move on. You have to make a hard, cold-turkey break. Sever all communications. Otherwise, it's too easy to get sucked back in out of pity. To find myself apologizing for shit I hadn't done. For wanting someone else. What could I say to Jordan, anyway? That we'd changed and grown apart? That she didn't understand how serious the charges I faced were? That she was trying to ruin me?
 

I ignored her pleading texts. Deleted her
I'm sorry
voicemails. Ignored her rants and begging.
 

Zach called. "We need to talk."
 

"So talk."

"In person. About Jordan."

"You heard."

"Oh, yeah. I heard." He sounded nervous, which was odd for easygoing Zach. "Coffee? In an hour?"

"Usual place?" I said.

"See you there."

Zach and I arrived at the same time and walked in together, making small talk. The coffee place smelled of pumpkin-spice lattes and caramel-apple cider. The pastry case was filled with cranberry scones and their delicious seasonal cranberry cake. We ordered. I got cake with my latte. We waited for our order to come up and found a table.

Jazz music played in the background. In another few days it would be the house blend of Christmas jazz and arrangements. Already the fall mugs were on sale. Outside it was raining. Even that couldn't dampen my spirits. I was grinning like a damn idiot. Wondering why I had hung on to Jordan so long. Why I'd nearly fucked everything up for her.
 

Zach studied me. "You look happy."

"That obvious?"

"Not if you're blind and deaf." He grinned, but he still looked nervous. "You're that happy to be rid of Jordan?" His eyes narrowed. He spoke before I could answer. "Does Morgan have anything to do with this? You can't fuck with her, QB2."

I glared back at him, on the defensive. "What's that supposed to mean? You're suddenly her defender? After what she did to you and Alexis?" Where the hell was he going with this? And who was he to call me out?

"Morgan has been going through some serious shit this year. She finally seems to be coming out of it. People have the wrong idea about her and me. We're friends, in a weird way. You aren't using her for cover again, are you? Like you used Alexis? But without Morgan's knowledge?"

I squeezed my cup, threatening to crush it as I stared at Zach. "What the hell are you getting at?"

"What are your intentions with Morgan?"

"What are you, her dad now? I just broke up with Jordan, didn't I?"

"Is it going to stick this time?"

I scowled at him. But why should he believe me?

He grinned at me. What the hell? "You really like Morgan."

"Shut the fuck up. Of course I like her." I leaned across the table and hissed at QB1. "She doesn't need to know about Jordan."

"Dangerous game, buddy." He took a sip of his coffee. "Jordan is pissed. She called me and tried to cry on my shoulder. She also threatened me." His grin was wry. "Blackmailed, more like."

I cocked an eyebrow. "What? How? What does she have on you?"

"You're not getting back together with her."

"Is that a command or a question?"

"Both."

"Jordan and I are done."

"I've heard that before." His expression became serious as he studied me. Finally, he looked like he believed me. "I have something to tell you that should seal the deal. But first, you have to promise not to punch me after I tell you."

I shook my head and grinned at him. "What are you getting at, man? Are you a chickenshit now?"
 

He was serious. "We've barely reestablished our friendship. I don't want to lose it, buddy."

My heart pounded. My mind raced with shitty, disgusting possibilities. "Whatever it is, it can't be worse than what I'm imagining. Give it to me straight. I promise not to throw a punch. Or my coffee." I forced a grin.

"I slept with Jordan."

My mouth fell open. "What the fuck? When? What about Alexis?" I reflexively rose out of my seat, ready to break my promise and beat him senseless.

He stood too, ready to defend himself, as curious bystanders went quiet around us and the manager looked like he was about to come over or call security. "Sit down," he whispered in a hiss. "It was ages ago. The summer after high school."

I fell back into my chair, stunned, doing the math. "Wait a minute—Jordan and I were together then…"

He nodded. "Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm not proud of it, buddy. I was out for revenge."

My mouth went dry as the implications set in. "She screwed you behind my back? Why?"

Zach looked away. Which was telling. All this time I'd been hanging on to Jordan, thinking she was the one girl who'd wanted me above Zach. It had all been a lie.
 

I saw red. My stomach burned with rage and betrayal. And relief.

"You okay?" Zach fell back into that defensive posture again as his forehead creased with concern.

"I'm glad she's not here, is all I can say." I swallowed hard. "I wouldn't be accountable for what I might do."

"And us?" Zach stared at me with sympathy and remorse in his eyes. "I'm sorry, dude. I wish I could take it back."

"Shit," I said. "I was trying to hurt you, too. Bygones." I stood.

He stood. We took a step toward each other and slapped each other on the back.

"I won't forgive her." I realized I was playing with a double standard. I'd been with Morgan, after all. Maybe there wasn't any defense. But she'd gone a step further and slept with my best friend. That was unforgivable.

Morgan

Dakota texted me and told me to get ready for a day in Seattle. He'd pick me up around two. I felt like a nervous high schooler as I tried on outfit after outfit, finally settling on a cute fall dress, tights, and thigh-high boots, with my black coat that tied around the waist and flared into a skirt.

Mom insisted on meeting him. She was already upset that Dad had met him first. And approved of him. I hoped she wouldn't be perverse and dislike him just to be contrary. She and Dad used to be in lockstep about everything. Now they rarely agreed on anything.

I'd been wondering how Dakota planned to pick me up. I half expected to go on a double date. Instead, he showed up with a limo and driver. He was smart enough to come to the door. He charmed Mom like she was a pliable snake. Until she'd coiled her approval all around him and was singing his praises as he escorted me to the car.

He was dressed casually in jeans, but he looked so hot I couldn't take my eyes off him.
 

The driver held the door open for me.

"Where are we going?" I asked Dak as I slid in.

"You'll see." He slid in next to me and grabbed my hand. "You look beautiful today, Morgs. Breathtaking."

I laughed as I leaned into him to whisper in his ear. I caught a whiff of his cologne and the fresh mint of his breath. I ran my fingers along the back of his neck and watched him shudder with pleasure. "Be still my heart. You don't have to shamelessly flatter me."