I had some help

Four

Caleigh Hardy as herself

Alex and Caleigh hit it off pretty well. When Alex got home, she received a text from Caleigh asking how she was doing and how she knew Morgan.

Caleigh: Hey, it's Caleigh. I saw you were really upset after Morgan came in. I'm so sorry if we made you uncomfortable in any way. But I am wondering how you knew Morgan before today.

Alex: Hey Caleigh, I'm okay. I was just shocked. Maybe we can set up a day to meet up and talk because it's a very long story.

Caleigh: I get it. Do you work tomorrow? I have the day off if you want to meet up.

Alex: Sure, that sounds great. I'll need the address tomorrow.

Caleigh: Great, I'll see you tomorrow.

Alex was glad she was able to become friends with someone new. Megan was pretty much her only friend until now. She went home after her long day at work, ordered dinner, and settled on the couch to watch a movie.

Morgan stayed the night with Michael and Caleigh. Michael, worried about his mental state, offered him a place to stay. Morgan explained his side of the story, but Michael and Caleigh still wanted to hear Alex's perspective.

The next morning, Alex woke up feeling a mix of emotions. She got ready and headed to the café where she was supposed to meet Caleigh. She was nervous but also relieved to have someone to talk to about the past.

At the café, Caleigh was already waiting with two cups of coffee. She waved at Alex, who smiled and joined her at the table.

"Hey, Alex. Thanks for coming." Caleigh greeted her warmly.

"Thanks for inviting me." Alex replied, taking a seat.

Caleigh nodded. "Morgan told us his side of the story. I wanted to hear yours too."

Alex took a deep breath. "It's a long story, but here goes..."

She began to recount her past with Morgan, from their high school days to the abrupt end of their relationship when he left for The Voice. Caleigh listened attentively, occasionally nodding or asking questions for clarification.

By the time Alex finished, she felt a weight lifted off her shoulders. Caleigh reached over and squeezed her hand.

"Hey, maybe y'all will grow close again, God has a plan and you never know what it's going to be. I know you have a boyfriend but who knows what'll happen." Caleigh said in a comforting way.

"We should do a double date, you and Michael, me and Bailey. It would be a lot of fun, and I wonder if him and Michael know each other." Alex offered, a smile making its way to her face.

After they finished talking at the café, Alex and Caleigh decided to continue hanging out and went to the mall for some shopping. It was a perfect bonding trip for the new friends.

They wandered through various stores, trying on clothes, sharing fashion tips, and laughing at each other's jokes. The lighthearted atmosphere helped Alex relax and enjoy the moment, gradually pushing the day's earlier tensions into the background.

In one of the stores, Caleigh held up a dress and grinned. "This would look amazing on you, Alex. You should try it on."

Alex smiled and took the dress. "Alright, I'll give it a shot."

As Alex emerged from the fitting room, Caleigh's eyes lit up. "I knew it! You look stunning."

Alex twirled in front of the mirror, feeling a bit more confident. "Thanks, Caleigh. You're pretty good at this."

Over iced coffees, they talked about their dreams, their favorite memories, and even their embarrassing moments. Alex felt a genuine connection with Caleigh, grateful for the new friendship that was forming.

Alex got back to her apartment and settled into her office to work on her managing business. Her journey in the music industry had been both challenging and rewarding. During and after college, Alex had worked at a small law firm, but it wasn't what she wanted to do. It was stressful, and everyone was so loud and mean. Eventually, Alex left the firm and started working with Big Loud two years ago. In that time, she had met incredibly talented and kind-hearted people.

Alex sat at her desk, trying to focus on her work, but her mind kept drifting back to her first date with Morgan. She smiled to herself, remembering the way he had looked at her when he handed her those wildflowers.

Alex sat nervously in her room, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She had spent the last hour trying to pick out the perfect outfit for her first date with Morgan. She finally settled on a simple yet stylish dress paired with her favorite sneakers. She wanted to look nice but still feel like herself.

The sound of a car pulling up outside made her heart skip a beat. She took a deep breath and grabbed her purse, heading downstairs. Her parents gave her an encouraging smile as she walked out the door. Morgan was waiting for her, leaning against the truck with a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand.

"These are for you." He said, handing her the flowers with a shy smile.

"Thank you, they're beautiful." Alex replied, feeling her cheeks warm as she accepted the bouquet.

"I hope you like Italian." Morgan said as his mom drove through town.

"I love Italian." Alex said, feeling her nerves ease a bit. "Where are we going?"

"There's this little family-owned place downtown," Morgan explained. "It's not fancy, but the food is amazing."

They arrived at the restaurant, a cozy little place with a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The owner greeted them at the door and led them to a table near the window. As they looked over the menu, their initial nervousness began to melt away, replaced by the excitement of getting to know each other better.

Over plates of spaghetti and meatballs, they talked and laughed, sharing stories about their childhoods, their families, and their dreams for the future. Morgan told Alex about his passion for baseball and music, and Alex shared her ambition to become a music manager, inspired by her love for helping others and her dream of making a difference in the music industry.

After dinner, Morgan suggested they take a walk along the riverfront. The evening air was cool and refreshing as they strolled hand in hand, the city lights reflecting off the water. They found a bench and sat down, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment.

"You know," Morgan said, turning to face her, "I'm really glad we did this. I've been looking forward to it all week."

"Me too," Alex replied, meeting his gaze. "I had a great time tonight."

They walked back to the truck, their hands intertwined. As Morgan's mom drove her home, Alex couldn't help but feel like she was floating on air. The night had been perfect, and she couldn't wait to see where things would go from here.

When they reached her house, Morgan walked her to the door. "Goodnight, Alex." He said softly.

"Goodnight, Morgan." She replied, standing on her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading inside.

As she closed the door behind her, Alex leaned against it, a wide smile spreading across her face. Her first date with Morgan had been everything she'd hoped for and more. She knew that this was just the beginning of something special.