I had some help

Fifty-five

Alex had finally begun to drift off, her body wrapped snugly in the soft sheet that still held traces of Riley's warmth. The night had been long, and after he left, she'd barely managed to unwind, her mind filled with conflicting emotions. Sleep was her only escape, but just as she was on the edge of surrendering to it, the sharp ring of her phone shattered the quiet.

She jolted awake, her heart skipping a beat as she instinctively reached for her phone on the nightstand. The sheet slipped slightly, and she clutched it tighter, suddenly aware of her vulnerability, both physically and emotionally. Her eyes, still heavy with sleep, squinted at the unfamiliar number flashing on the screen.

"Hello?" She answered, her voice groggy and thick with exhaustion.

"Is this Alexandria Wilson?" A stern voice on the other end of the line pulled her further from the edge of sleep.

"This is she." Alex replied, her heart beginning to race. Calls at this hour were never good news.

"This is Officer Daniels with the Nashville Police Department. I'm calling to inform you that Morgan Wallen has been arrested."

The words hung in the air, and Alex felt her stomach twist. "Arrested? What happened? Is he okay?"

"There was an incident at a bar earlier tonight." The officer explained. "Mr. Wallen was involved in a fight and has been charged with assault and public intoxication. He's in custody now. Your number was listed as his emergency contact."

Alex's hand tightened around the sheet, pulling it closer to her chest as if it could shield her from the reality crashing down on her. The warmth and comfort she'd felt moments ago vanished, replaced by a cold, gnawing anxiety.

"Is he hurt?" She asked, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to process the situation.

"He's not seriously injured." Officer Daniels replied, "Just a few cuts and bruises, but he's had a rough night. He's going to need someone to bail him out."

Alex felt a mixture of anger and worry rising in her chest. This was the last thing she expected to deal with after everything that had already happened tonight. She glanced around her dimly lit bedroom, the intimacy of the moment she'd just shared with Riley clashing harshly with the cold reality of Morgan being in jail.

"I'll be there as soon as I can." She said, trying to steady her voice as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. The sheet pooled around her waist, but she didn't care. There was no time to think about anything but getting to Morgan.

She stood up, letting the sheet fall away, and quickly grabbed Rileys large hoodie, that went to her knees and a pair of volleyball shorts. The intimacy she had felt earlier was now a distant memory, replaced by a sense of urgency and frustration. Morgan was in trouble, again, and no matter how much she wanted to be angry, she couldn't leave him to face it alone.

As she dressed, her mind was racing. Why was Morgan out drinking and picking fights? Why hadn't he called her before things got this bad? The questions swirled in her head, but there were no answers-only the gnawing worry that things were spiraling out of control.

Alex's car sped through the quiet streets, her frustration evident in the sharp turns and rapid accelerations. The early morning darkness was filled with her growing anger. When she arrived at the police station, she stormed inside and demanded to see Morgan.

After a brief wait, she was led to the holding area where Morgan was sitting, looking disheveled and embarrassed. Without a word, Alex marched over, grabbed him by the ear, and dragged him toward the exit. The act was more symbolic than painful, but it conveyed her displeasure clearly.