Hearts on Broadway (Book 2)

Chapter 21 - The Mom's Plan

The days dragged on, each one stretching longer than the last, with no response from Georgie. Morgan found himself staring at his phone more often than he'd like to admit, hoping for the small buzz of a message that never came. Each time his phone lit up with someone else's name, his heart would sink a little deeper.

He had sent her that message—Can we talk?—and then nothing. It was starting to gnaw at him, the silence. The pictures of Georgie and Riley were still making the rounds on social media, and every time he scrolled through his feed, it seemed like a new headline popped up, speculating about their "relationship." It stung more than he was willing to admit, even to himself.

Morgan knew he couldn't keep sitting in this limbo. The not knowing was eating him alive, and he needed someone to talk to. Someone who wouldn't judge him for being caught up in his feelings.

That's how he found himself driving to his mom's house, hoping for some clarity—or at least someone who would listen.

When he arrived, his mom was waiting on the porch, as if she had sensed he'd need her. She smiled as he got out of the truck, but it was the kind of smile that mothers give when they know something's weighing heavily on you.

"You look like you've got the world on your shoulders, Morgan," she said as he stepped up onto the porch. "Come on inside."

Morgan followed her in, the familiar smell of coffee and cinnamon filling the air. His mom motioned for him to sit at the kitchen table, and he did, running a hand through his hair as he tried to figure out how to explain everything he'd been feeling.

His mom poured two cups of coffee, setting one down in front of him. "So, what's going on, honey? I can tell something's bothering you."

Morgan stared into the dark liquid in his cup before finally speaking. "It's Georgie," he admitted, his voice low. "I sent her a message days ago, asking if we could talk. But she hasn't responded. And now, with all these rumors about her and Riley..." He trailed off, his frustration and sadness bubbling to the surface. "I don't know, Mom. Maybe she's moved on. Maybe I've been holding out hope for nothing."

His mom sat down across from him, her gaze soft but concerned. "Honey, I know this has been hard. But you can't assume the worst just because you haven't heard from her. Georgie's been through a lot, and so have you. This silence might not mean what you think it does."

Morgan sighed, rubbing his hands together. "I just don't know what to do anymore. I've been waiting, giving her space, but I don't know if it's going to make any difference."

His mom reached out and placed her hand over his. "Maybe you need to stop waiting and start doing something about it. You two have so much to work through, and it won't happen on its own."

Morgan nodded, but before he could say anything else, his mom's phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at it quickly, then excused herself from the room, leaving Morgan to sit in his thoughts.

In the living room, Morgan's mom dialed a familiar number and waited for the call to connect. When Joan answered on the other end, she got straight to the point. "We need to do something."

"I was thinking the same thing," Joan replied, her voice equally determined. "Georgie hasn't said anything, but I can tell she's not herself. She's avoiding the conversation with Morgan because she's scared. I think we both know they're not going to fix this on their own."

Morgan's mom sighed in agreement. "We need to get them in the same room. They're never going to work through their problems if they keep avoiding each other."

Joan was silent for a moment before speaking again. "I have an idea. What if we plan a family day? Something casual, but with just the two of them left alone for a while. We can take Jackson out, give them time to talk."