I had some help

Fourteen

Alex woke up confused. She was in bed alone, but it wasn't her bed. Her head throbbed as the sun shone through the blinds, and the smell of pancakes wafted through the air. She sat up slowly, trying to piece together the events of the previous night.

Blinking against the sunlight, she glanced around the room, recognizing it as Morgan's bedroom. Her mind flashed back to snippets of the night before-the bar, the karaoke, Morgan's comforting presence.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, wobbling slightly before finding her balance. The oversized t-shirt and shorts she wore were clearly Morgan's. She sighed, grateful for his care.

Following the scent of pancakes, Alex made her way to the kitchen. Morgan stood at the stove, flipping pancakes with a practiced ease. He turned and smiled when he saw her.

"Morning, Al. How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a truck." She admitted, rubbing her temples. "But those pancakes smell amazing."

"Thought you might need something to soak up all that alcohol." Morgan said with a chuckle, sliding a fresh stack of pancakes onto a plate. "Coffee's ready too."

Alex smiled gratefully, taking a seat at the table. Morgan set the plate in front of her, followed by a steaming mug of coffee. She took a sip, savoring the warmth and the familiar comfort of the drink.

"Thanks, Mo. For everything." She said, looking up at him. "I was a mess last night."

"Don't mention it." Morgan replied, sitting down across from her. "We've all been there. Besides, I promised I'd always be there for you, remember?"

Alex nodded, her eyes softening. "I do. And you were. You always are."

They ate in companionable silence for a few moments before Alex spoke again. "Did I... say or do anything stupid last night?"

Morgan hesitated, thinking of their time in the bedroom, then shook his head. "Nothing you need to worry about. We talked, but it was nothing serious. You just needed someone to listen." He lied to save her from any embarrassment or guilt.

Alex looked relieved, taking another bite of her pancake. "Good. I just... I don't want to complicate things."

"You won't." Morgan assured her, though his mind still lingered on the moment they'd shared. "We're good, Al."

She smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "Thanks, Mo. You're the best."

He returned her smile, pushing aside his own feelings to focus on her. "Anytime, Al."

As they continued their breakfast, the air between them lightened, the unspoken tension easing. Alex was grateful for Morgan's unwavering support, and Morgan was determined to be there for her, no matter what.

Morgan offered Alex his shower so she could freshen up. She didn't have to go to the office today, but she did have a bar shift in the afternoon.

As Alex stood in the shower, letting the hot water hit her body, a memory from last night came back. It was an image, that flashed in her mind for maybe a second, of her bent down in front of Morgan. The memory sent a jolt of embarrassment through her, making her heart race.

She quickly finished her shower, wrapped herself in a towel, and walked back into Morgan's room. He must've still been in the kitchen, so Alex went into his closet, choosing something to wear. She picked out a comfortable t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, knowing she needed to feel relaxed after the tumultuous night.

As she dressed, the memory nagged at her, but she tried to push it aside, reminding herself that Morgan would have stopped anything from happening. She trusted him completely.

Alex was getting dressed into Morgan's clothes as he walked into the room. He smiled when he saw her in his clothes. "Feeling better?"

"Yeah, thanks." She replied, taking one of the mugs from him. "And thanks for letting me borrow these."

"Anytime." He said, leaning against the doorframe.

They sat down together, sipping their coffee in a comfortable silence. Alex decided to address the memory directly. "Morgan, about last night... I have this fuzzy memory of me... bending down in front of you. Did I... Did we?"

Morgan set his cup down, his expression serious but gentle. "Yeah, that happened. But nothing else did. You were trying to get me to dress you, like when we were younger. I didn't want to overstep, and you got a little too close. I stopped you, Alex. I didn't let it go any further, I knew you were drunk and probably just missing Bailey."

Alex sighed in relief, though her cheeks still burned with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, Morgan. I didn't mean to put you in that position."

"It's okay." He reassured her. "You were drunk and going through a lot. I get it. I just want you to be alright."

"Thanks." She said, her voice soft. "I really appreciate it."

"Anytime, Al." Morgan replied. "Now, let's finish this coffee, and you can relax for a bit before your shift."

Morgan's house was beautiful, it was built and decorated just as Alex and he planned their house to look when they were in high school.

The exterior of the house featured a charming blend of white paneling. A wraparound porch adorned with two swinging chairs suspended from the roof. Delicate wooden accents on the siding added a touch of rustic charm, enhancing its overall appeal.

As Alex and Morgan lay side by side on a soft, woven blanket beneath the canopy of stars, a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves of nearby trees, carrying the faint scent of pine. The night sky above was a canvas of countless twinkling lights, each star seemingly winking at them as if in approval of their dreams.

With their fingers intertwined and their gazes fixed upwards, they let their imaginations roam freely. Morgan spoke first, his voice a mix of wonder and enthusiasm as he described their dream house. "Imagine," He began, his words punctuated by the occasional twinkle of a passing meteor, "a two-story modern farmhouse. It's got this clean, white exterior with black window frames and a black roof. The front of the house has a big wraparound porch with a bunch of columns, perfect for sitting outside. The front door's right in the middle, with big windows on either side and more windows upstairs."

Alex looked over at Morgan, admiration in her eyes. "I'll make cookies and bread every week. We'll have a brick fireplace to lay in front of during winter." She said, smiling.

Morgan turned to her, their eyes locking. "And a kitchen filled with the smell of your baking." He added softly. "A place where we can make memories and share our lives."

Alex nodded, her heart swelling with the vision they were building together. "We'll have a garden full of wildflowers and herbs. And a library stuffed with all our favorite books."

"Definitely," Morgan agreed, squeezing her hand gently. "A place where we can watch storms roll in from our porch or sip coffee in the early morning quiet."