i had some help | book four

chapter eight

The tone of Morgan's voice was tense but more concerned. Unknowingly to her, a paparazzi had been lurking near the window and snapped pictures of them laughing, sipping coffee, and Jack extending an arm for comfort as well as their hug goodbye.

"Laney, I saw some pictures of you with Jack. What's going on?"

Laney felt a pang of anxiety, she didn't even know someone was taking pictures of them. "Morgan, it isn't like that. Jack and I were talking. It's been hard for me, and he's been a friend who has always been there for me".

Morgan's voice softened, "I get that. I respect that... But seeing those pictures, it's hard for me not to be there for you. When you leave me out of the loop, it's hard".

Laney took a deep breath and took a sip of her wine. "Morgan, I need you to trust me. Those photos don't mean anything. I'm trying to figure things out. It's me confiding in a friend".

Morgan hesitated before answering. "I just get worried".

Laney understood where he was coming from, but she kept her voice firm. "We both need to work on this. It's about working together and understanding each other, trusting each other".

Morgan agreed, his voice firmer than before. "You're right. We are in this together. I want us to be honest with one another no matter what".

As the call ended, Laney felt relief. It was shocking he called Jack by his actual name and that the conversation went so well. But this was the start of moving forward. She wanted their commitment to stay strong.

They both were obviously working on moving forward and Laney felt her bitterness for him starting to fade out. As she felt her social battery come back and her normal self, she reached out to Mia who was still in Chattanooga.

"Hey Mia," Laney greeted her as they FaceTimed.

Mia was sat on the couch since it was her day off. "Hi! How have you been?"

Laney was folding clothes as she spoke to Mia. "Pretty okay. I miss you so much".

Mia smiled at Laney, missing each other constantly was a factor in their friendship after college. It seemed like these two could never end up in the same place. "So I've been seeing this guy, his name is Ross".

"Like Ross from Friends?"

Mia laughed at the silly question. "Yes. I met him on Hinge and he is so sweet but we have only been on a few dates here and there. I am hoping to have him over and talk about where our relationship is going".

Laney made an excited face as she let out an audible gasp. It had been a long time since Mia even potentially wanted to date someone. "Oh my god Mia this is HUGE. You need to tell me these things sooner".

"You've been busy!" exclaimed Mia, making Laney subconsciously feel guilty for not being present. She had basically shoved her friends to the side for the last few months and had become unreachable.

"I'm sorry. Morgan and I have been hitting a rough patch and work has had me so busy," explained Laney.

Mia nodded, "Yeah I know about work... but Morgan? What is going on? Please distract me from my big talk tonight".

Laney hated herself for her explanation. Saying she had work and a relationship to take care of which has been making her busy is the same thing that Morgan had said. But she had run Morgan through the runner for saying that and begged him to try harder. The difference was that she was still filling her familial role while he wasn't as much.

As she explained the recent developments in their relationship as well as what led to them, she could feel a pit form in her stomach. She missed him a lot. Sadness washed over her as the realization dawned on her. Mia gave nothing but support to Laney in her decision to go home from the tour and paying a babysitter for Luna so she could work. Maybe Laney was just missing her drive from before. She didn't want to be defined as just a mother or a wife, she was other things too.

Later that day, she saw Morgan's name flashing across the screen and picked up the phone. "Hello?"

The conversation was more relaxed than that of previous interactions as they discussed what they had been up to and Luna.

"I've been thinking of you both," his voice barely came out as a whisper, "But how are you feeling now?".

Laney took a deep breath. The inevitable part of the conversation. "We've been managing, i... miss you. But I've been focusing on painting more with the sitter so I'm definitely happy".

He replied with a cautious tone yet there was a hint of excitement. "How about I plan a visit for.. 2 days from now? We can talk things through in person?" he suggested.

She hesitated before agreeing to the conversation. She had to see him eventually, they were married after all. The conversation had been dragged out and she was tired of it. The longer they would wait, the more awkward things would become between the two of them.