The Wait Is Over

A Bundle Of Nerves

Morgan and Patrick met for happy hour at The Hawthorne, near where there were to meet his aunt for dinner later in the evening. After getting their drinks at the bar, they found a table near one of the corners.

Patrick: You look fabulous, Morgan.

Morgan: I thought since you were finally introducing me to your family, I should dress the part. I'm not overdoing it, am I?

Patrick: It's perfect, just like you.

Morgan blushed and leaned across the table to give Patrick a light kiss on the lips.

Morgan: Nervous?

Patrick: Yeah! That's why I needed the drink before we met with Aunt Kate. This is a big deal for me. I've never "brought someone home" to meet the family before. I didn't date much at Michigan or at all while plowing through my MSAT at UWM, so consider this a sign of my being serious about you.

Morgan: I have crossed paths with Kate several times in the past, but tonight is a different animal. Previously, it was as part of my job. Tonight, it's as the girlfriend of her nephew.

Patrick: And a beautiful one at that.

Morgan: Stop it, Patrick.

Patrick: Just saying the truth.

Morgan: Save it until after dinner. I'm nervous enough as it is without having to worry that you've painted too rosy a picture of me for your aunt. I DO have some flaws, you know.

Patrick: I'm sure you do, but I've yet to see them.

Morgan: Stick around, they're sure to come out.

Patrick: I don't think I have congratulated you for your performances this past week at National Team camp.

Morgan: If you're thinking of rewarding me for it, hang onto that thought until after tomorrow's game. Who knows, maybe I'll do something that will top what I did in Portland and Denver.

Patrick: Ready?

Morgan: Ready as I'll ever be.

The pair left the bar and walked over to UNO Chicago Grill for dinner with Kate, holding hands with their fingers intertwined the entire way.

***

A couple of groups gathered at Daedalus this evening. Ashlyn, Alex, and Lindsey entered the restaurants and checked with the host on whether their respective dining partners had arrived. Ashlyn went left, where she met up with Yael, Steph, and Whitney, while Lindsey and Alex joined Sam, Abby, Megan, and Meagan Stassi on the other side of the restaurant.

Yael and Whitney stood and greeted their friend and college housemate with hugs, while Steph gave her fellow goalkeeper a light sock in the bicep. After ordering their drinks and giving the menu a once-over, the women got into what caused Ashlyn to request this confab.

Ashlyn: Can I be frank with all of you about a sensitive subject?

Whitney: I've seen you naked and mopped up your vomit. So has Yael. There's nothing you could say that would change our opinion of you, Ash, so spill it.

Ashlyn: I slept with Alex more than once while we were in Portland for national team camp last week.

Yael and Whitney looked at each other a little puzzled, since they thought she was referring to Ali, but Steph went straight to the point.

Steph: Alex as in Morgan, and slept with as in.....something more than sharing a bed?

Ashlyn: Yes and yes. Ali and I have not been as intimate as we were before Michael was born, and the combination of rooming with Alex, her perfect EVERYTHING showing on the night of the Hall of Fame ceremony, and my being pretty pent-up led to her coming onto me and my not stopping it. I could claim temporary insanity for that time, but the next night I was in full control of my faculties and I still went ahead and crossed the line with her.