Hearts on Broadway (Book 2)

Chapter 18 - Who is She?

Morgan stared at his phone, confusion etched on his face. He had been waiting for Georgie to call, anticipating the first real conversation they would have had in months, but instead, the call had ended abruptly.

He glanced at his friend, Mandy, who was lounging on the couch across from him, looking far too relaxed for someone who had just caused a mess. She had been staying with him for a few days while visiting Nashville, and while their friendship went back years, her presence had started to feel more complicated than comforting.

"Why did you answer my phone?" Morgan's voice was tight with frustration.

Mandy shrugged, flipping her hair over her shoulder like it was no big deal. "I didn't think it was a big deal. I saw the name and figured it'd be quicker if I answered."

Morgan clenched his jaw. She knew exactly what she was doing. "It wasn't your place to pick up, Mandy. You know who Georgie is. You knew I've been waiting for her to call."

Mandy rolled her eyes, sitting up straighter on the couch. "What does it matter? She hasn't been around for months, Morgan. You're raising Jackson on your own. Why should she just waltz back into your life and act like nothing happened?"

Morgan's patience was wearing thin. He could feel the frustration bubbling up inside him. "That's not for you to decide. Georgie is still Jackson's mother, and I've been waiting for this moment—waiting for her to reach out. You had no right."

Mandy crossed her arms, her expression defiant. "You're too soft when it comes to her. She left you, Morgan. She left you and Jackson. Why are you still holding onto her?"

Morgan stood up, pacing the room, trying to cool down. "You don't get it, Mandy. This isn't just about me. It's about Jackson. It's about our family. And for your information, Georgie didn't just leave. She was struggling with things you couldn't possibly understand."

Mandy huffed, standing up to face him. "Whatever. It just seems like you're making excuses for her."

Morgan turned to her, anger flaring in his eyes. "I'm not making excuses. I'm trying to fix things, to do what's best for my family. You don't get to come here and mess with that."

The tension between them was palpable, the air thick with unspoken words. Mandy stared at him, clearly taken aback by his anger, but she didn't back down.

"So, what? You think you two are just going to pick up where you left off?" Mandy scoffed. "You deserve better than that, Morgan."

Morgan shook his head, his fists clenched at his sides. "This isn't about what I deserve. It's about doing the right thing. Georgie is Jackson's mother, and I love her. You need to understand that."

For the first time, Mandy seemed to falter, her bravado crumbling. She bit her lip, clearly uncomfortable with how serious Morgan had become. "I didn't mean to cause trouble," she said quietly, her tone softening. "I just didn't think it was that big of a deal."

"Well, it is," Morgan said firmly. "And you've overstayed your welcome. I think it's time for you to leave."

Mandy's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't argue. She grabbed her bag from the chair, avoiding Morgan's gaze as she headed for the door. "Fine. But I still think you're setting yourself up for more hurt, Morgan."

Without another word, she left, the door closing behind her with a soft click. The silence that followed was heavy, the tension still lingering in the air. Morgan stood there for a moment, trying to process everything that had just happened.

He rubbed his hands over his face, feeling the weight of the situation settle over him. He had been so close to talking to Georgie—so close to hearing her voice again—and now everything felt messed up.

He glanced at his phone, his mind racing. Did Georgie think that Mandy was someone more than a friend? Did she think that he had moved on? The thought made his stomach churn. The last thing he wanted was for Georgie to think he had given up on her, on them.

Morgan paced the room, frustration coursing through him. He had spent months waiting for this moment, hoping that Georgie would reach out. He had given her the space she needed to heal, to work on herself, but now that she was finally ready to talk, things had gotten messed up. He couldn't let this misunderstanding ruin everything.

After a few minutes of pacing, Morgan stopped, his decision made. He needed to fix this. He grabbed his phone, opening the text message thread with Georgie. His fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before he started typing.

Morgan:
I'm sorry about earlier. My friend answered the phone, and it wasn't what you think. Can you call me again? We need to talk.

He hit send, his heart pounding as he waited for a response. The minutes ticked by slowly, each one feeling longer than the last. He wasn't sure if Georgie would even respond. Maybe she was too hurt, too confused to call him back. But Morgan knew he had to try.

He glanced at Jackson's crib, where his son was peacefully sleeping. All Morgan wanted was to make things right—for Jackson, for Georgie, for himself. He had missed her more than he could put into words, and now that she was finally reaching out, he wasn't about to let a misunderstanding ruin their chance at rebuilding what they once had.