worth the risk • dean portman

chapter twenty one

morgan

I'm so glad that we're finally having our first party of the year.

I don't like that it's halfway through January and they're just starting up again, but I'm sure this one will cause others to start happening. Besides, why am I even complaining? I'm going to have a fun night with my friends, and that's definitely not something to complain over.

Tonight, we're going to Drew Mullin's house. He's a senior on the hockey team, and happens to be one of Dean's best friends. Even though Drew's a forward, he's been a mentor to Dean and has played a major part in why he's stayed at Eden Hall instead of going back to Chicago.

I don't know how I'm going to react when I see Dean, because I'm not really sure how I should. Of course, I want to go right over to him and ignore my dad's stupid rule. Who knows if he'll even want to talk to me though? I basically broke his heart without even breaking up with him.

My first order of business is to get ready. I throw on a cute black tank top and a pair of jeans, all of my jewelry, and my favorite boots. After that, I put on my makeup. When everything's finished, I can't believe what I'm looking at in the mirror. I went from seventeen to twenty-one in a matter of minutes, and I feel extremely confident with how I look.

The last things I do is quickly curl my hair, touching it up with some hairspray once it's finished. I grab my coat from my closet and my party bag from the floor, then make my way downstairs and into the kitchen.

As I walk into the room, I hear laughter and look up from my phone. I see all three Kennedys sitting there, which immediately brings a frown to my face. I give them a polite smile, and I definitely don't miss how Jake is repeatedly looking me up and down.

"Where are you going all dressed like that?" Mrs. K remarks, a knowing smile on her face. "Won't you get cold?"

"I'm going to a party." I respond civilly. I then hold up my expensive Canada Goose coat to her and give her an innocent grin. "I have my jacket with me, I'll be fine."

"A party?" she repeats, looking at my parents in shock. I want to slap her so badly, but I know that would only end in disaster.

Instead of doing that, I nod and send a warning glance to my mother. She immediately jumps to my aid and saves everyone from my increasing anger. "It's just a party Liz. I'm sure Jake goes out when you guys are in New York. It's nothing different than there."

Mrs. K wrinkles her nose in disgust and looks back at my mom. "I'm not saying there's anything wrong with her going to a party, Vanessa. But in January? She'll freeze to death."

"I do it all the time." I butt in, smirking at Mrs. K and looking back at my mom. "Addison's mom is on her way to pick me up now, so I'm going to go grab some stuff and I'll text you when I leave."

Not even five seconds after I turn around, I hear my mom call out to me. "Morgan, wait!"

I turn back around and put on the most patient expression I can. "Yes?"

"How about if Jake takes you to the party?" she suggests. "It would be nice of you to introduce him to your friends, and he could also be your ride to and from the party!"

I don't even attempt to mask my horror, because I genuinely cannot believe she just said that to me. "Mom, Mrs. Nelson is already on her way." I say impatiently. "It would be rude of me to ask her to pick me up, just to cancel when she's going out of her way to get me."

Before my mom can counter, I look at Jake with a scowl. "Just saying, you probably don't want to come. I'm really not in any mood to play babysitter."

"Morgan!" my mom shouts in embarrassment, but Jake is already placing a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. "It's okay, it didn't bother me."