I had some help

Thirty-four

The next morning, Alex woke up with a pounding headache. "Oh my gosh." She groaned, clutching her head as she sat up in bed.

Looking around the room, Alex spotted Caleigh asleep beside her, and noticed the bathroom light was on with the door shut. She quietly grabbed a change of clothes and sat back on the bed, waiting for Lainey to finish in the bathroom.

"I think I overdid it last night." Alex said holding her head.

Caleigh stirred awake, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "Morning, Alex. Feeling any better?" She asked, concern etched on her face.

"A bit." Alex replied, managing a small smile. "Let's get some breakfast. I need coffee, lots of it."

The girls gathered their things and headed down to the hotel's breakfast area, where they found Michael and a few other members of their group already seated.

Michael looked up as they approached. "Morning, ladies. Rough night?" He teased gently, noting Alex's slightly disheveled appearance.

"You have no idea." Alex muttered, sinking into a chair and gratefully accepting a cup of coffee from one of the boys.

Over breakfast, they discussed plans for the day, trying to distract themselves from the events of the previous night. Despite the heaviness in the air, being together helped lift their spirits, if only a little.

Alex and Michael arrived at the recording studio, eager to bring her songs to life. They started with "Yeah Boy" a lively and flirtatious track that captured Alex's excitement and admiration for someone special. As she sang each line with enthusiasm, Michael adjusted the soundboard, ensuring every note resonated perfectly in the studio's acoustics.

"Your voice really shines on this one, Alex," Michael commented during a break. "It's got that catchy, feel-good vibe."

Encouraged by their progress, they moved on to "I Quit Drinking," a more introspective and emotional song. Alex poured her heart into the lyrics, reflecting on a past filled with wild nights and the sobering realization of moving on from a relationship. Her voice carried a mix of longing and resolve, capturing the raw emotions embedded in each verse.

After several takes and fine-tuning the arrangements, they listened back to the recordings. Both Alex and Michael nodded in satisfaction, pleased with the way the songs had come together.

"I think we nailed it." Alex said, a smile spreading across her face as she leaned back in her chair.

"Yeah, these songs are going to make an impact." Michael agreed, feeling proud of Alex's growth as an artist.

Alex and Michael left the recording studio, heading towards the venue where they were set to meet everyone. The atmosphere in the car was tense, the weight of recent events still heavy on Alex's mind. She glanced over at Michael, her concern evident in her expression.

"Michael, how's Morgan?" Alex asked quietly, her voice tinged with worry as she watched him navigate the road.

"Honestly, not great." Michael replied solemnly, his eyes briefly meeting hers before returning to the traffic ahead. "He got pretty hammered last night. But I talked to him, Alex. He regrets it, and he wants you to know that."

Alex nodded, absorbing his words. She appreciated Michael's effort to bridge the gap, to make sense of the mess that had unfolded. But there was something else weighing on her heart, something she needed to share with Michael.

"Michael, there's something you don't know," Alex began tentatively, her voice wavering slightly. "About me and Morgan... in high school, I got pregnant. We were young, scared, and we... we lost the baby." She paused, feeling the weight of the memory pressing down on her. "And then, two years ago, I had another miscarriage with Bailey."

Michael's eyes widened in surprise and empathy as he listened, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. "Alex, I had no idea," He murmured, his voice laced with compassion. "I'm so sorry you went through that."

Alex looked out the window, blinking back tears. "I never told Morgan about the second one." She admitted softly. "I don't even know if I can have kids, Michael. And now, with Katie... I just feel so inadequate. Like I can't give him what he wants, like he has to find someone who can."

Michael glanced at her, his expression gentle yet firm. "Alex, you are not inadequate." He said firmly, his voice tinged with conviction. "And trust me, you don't want to be like Katie. You're so much better than her."

A small, fragile smile touched Alex's lips at his words. "Thanks, Michael." She whispered gratefully. "I needed to hear that."

Morgan and Katie sat in a quiet café, the air between them thick with tension. Katie's eyes were red from crying, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched her coffee cup. Morgan watched her, his heart sinking, knowing that this conversation was going to change everything.

"Katie, what's going on?" Morgan asked gently, leaning forward, his voice filled with concern.

Katie took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on the table. "Morgan, I've been hearing things," She began, her voice shaky. "People have been telling me that you've been seeing someone else."

Morgan's heart raced, panic setting in. "What? Katie, no, that's not true." He said, reaching out to take her hand, but she pulled away.

"Don't lie to me, Morgan," She snapped, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I've heard too much. My friends saw you with some girl at the bar last weekend, and then there are all these texts on your phone that you keep hiding from me."

Morgan shook his head, desperate to make her understand. "Katie, I swear, there's no one else. The girl at the bar was just a friend, and the texts... they're not what you think. Please, you have to believe me."

Katie looked up at him, her eyes filled with hurt and betrayal. "How can I believe you, Morgan? This isn't the first time I've heard these rumors. How do I know you're telling the truth?"

Morgan felt a lump in his throat, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "Katie, I love you." He said earnestly, his voice breaking. "I would never do anything to hurt you. Please, give me a chance to prove it."

Katie shook her head, wiping away her tears. "I can't do this anymore, Morgan," She said softly, her voice filled with sorrow. "I can't keep wondering if you're being honest with me. I can't live like this."

Morgan felt a wave of despair wash over him. "Katie, please." He whispered, his eyes pleading with hers.

Katie stood up, her decision made. "I'm sorry, Morgan." She said, her voice trembling. "I can't do this. We're over. I can't marry you." She said as she se the ring on the table.

With that, she turned and walked out of the café, leaving Morgan sitting there, stunned and heartbroken. He watched her go, feeling a deep, aching pain in his chest.

Hardy: She's my favorite artist rn @AlexWilson