I had some help

Twenty-one

Alex woke up, a glass of water and a bottle of ibuprofen on the nightstand. She looked around the room, recognizing it as Morgan's. Sitting up in the bed, she stretched her body and sighed.

"Not again." Alex whispered to herself as memories of her behavior at the bar flooded back. She felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, ashamed of her actions. Morgan did not deserve to be toyed with like that.

As she was lost in thought, Morgan entered the room, carrying a tray with toast, scrambled eggs, and a steaming cup of coffee. He paused in the doorway, offering her a gentle smile.

"Mornin." He said softly, walking over to place the tray on her lap. "I figured you might need some breakfast."

Alex looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and regret. "Morgan, I'm so sorry about last night. I acted like a fool."

Morgan shook his head, pulling up a chair to sit beside her. "You don't have to apologize, Alex. We all have our moments. I'm just glad you're okay."

She sighed, taking a sip of the coffee. "I hate that I keep putting you in these situations. You deserve better than this."

"Hey." Morgan said, reaching out to gently squeeze her hand. "We've been through a lot together. I'm not going anywhere. Just take it easy today, okay?"

Alex nodded, feeling a bit of the tension in her chest ease. "Thank you, Morgan. For everything."

He smiled warmly. "That's what friends are for. Now eat up, you need your strength."

As Alex started to eat, she couldn't help but feel grateful for Morgan's unwavering support. Despite everything, he was always there for her, just as he had been since they were kids.

Alex and Morgan sat in his room, both eating the breakfast he made. "Morgan, I'm sorry." Alex apologized again.

"Alex, you're fine." He said, rubbing her leg gently. "Just promise me you'll take care of yourself."

"I hate myself, Morgan." Alex said, her voice trembling. "Bailey doesn't deserve to be treated like this. He is an amazing guy and every time he's gone and we're together, I jeopardize everything. He deserves someone who doesn't almost kiss someone or grind on them." A tear slowly fell down her cheek.

"Alex, the fact that you feel bad means you care about him." Morgan said softly. "You just need to figure yourself out."

Alex looked down, her fingers tracing the edge of the tray. "I know I care about him. But why do I keep messing up? Why can't I just be the person he deserves?"

Morgan sighed, leaning closer. "Sometimes, it's not about deserving or not deserving. It's about understanding what's really going on inside you. Maybe there's something you need to address, something you're avoiding."

She nodded, taking in his words. "Maybe you're right. I just don't know where to start."

"Start by being honest with yourself," Morgan suggested. "And then be honest with Bailey. He might surprise you with his understanding. You owe it to both of you to be truthful."

Alex wiped away another tear, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Thank you, Morgan. For everything. I don't know what I'd do without you."

He smiled warmly. "You'll figure it out, Alex. And remember, I'm always here for you, no matter what."

As they continued eating, the weight on Alex's shoulders felt a little lighter. With Morgan's support and her determination to be honest with herself and Bailey, she knew she could start to make things right.

After breakfast, Alex got dressed in a pair of Morgan's clothes. The oversized shirt and sweatpants were comfortable, a small comfort as she prepared to face the day.