Adore Me (Austin Singles 3)

My stomach turned again. I couldn’t do this. I needed air. I needed a moment to gather my thoughts and figure all this out.

“Excuse me, I need to go to the ladies’ room.”

Kaelynn went to stand, but I placed my hand on her shoulder.

“Alone. Please, Kaelynn, not now.”

I stood, and Rich, my brother, and father all stood. I forced a smile. “Just going to the powder room. Excuse me.”

I navigated my way through the tables, lost and confused. I stopped a waiter. “Excuse me, where is the ladies’ room?”

“Out that door and down the hall. Second door on the left.”

“Thank you,” I replied, picking up my dress so I could walk faster. The moment I pushed open the doors to the hallway and stepped out of the ballroom, I drew in a deep breath. Quickly making my way to the restroom, I threw the door open and went right to the sink. With both hands on the cold porcelain, I took in a few deep breaths. Then I looked up at myself in the mirror.

“Who are you anymore, Morgan?” I whispered to the stranger in the mirror.

After another few moments of staring at myself, I laughed. “You asked for this. You said no strings. You ran from him. Told him you would call and didn’t.”

I stood taller, drew in a deep breath, and slowly let it out. “Suck it up, and get over it. For whatever reason, he didn’t text you back this morning. You need to stop acting like a weak fool. Go out there, stop acting like Rich is your boyfriend, and let Blake know you are a strong, confident woman. If Raine is who he wants, then fine.”

With a few deep breaths and vows I would not look at Blake for the rest of the evening, I readied myself to go back into the ballroom. I knew my last affirmation was a lie. I wouldn’t be fine if Blake was really with Raine, but I would never let him see it.

Staring at myself, I laughed. I had fallen in love with Blake and then messed it up because I hadn’t been upfront with him about my feelings.

I leaned in closer. “Did you really go to school for counseling? Ugh.”

Pinching my cheeks to give them more color, I turned on my heels and headed out of the bathroom.

I didn’t take but two steps before I felt someone grab my arm and pull me into an empty room. I went to scream, but a strong hand went over my mouth. He pushed me against the door once it closed and placed his mouth to my ear. I knew who it was by the way my body reacted to him.

Blake.

MORGAN’S EYES WIDENED in surprise as she looked up at me. My body trembled being so close to her. I tried to ignore the way this woman made me feel, but seeing her with Rich nearly had me going insane.

“Are you back with him?”

Her eyes went even wider.

“Are you sleeping with him?”

She placed her hands on my chest and pushed me away as hard as she could.

I dropped my hand from her mouth and took a step back. I rubbed the back of my neck and cursed.

Holy shit. What in the hell am I doing? I basically just kidnapped her and pulled her into a closet.

“Fuck. I’m sorry I lost control like that.”

“What in the hell is wrong with you, Blake?” Morgan spat out. Anger laced her words.

I turned and paced as I glanced around the small room. It was the janitor’s closet, filled with mops, brooms, and miscellaneous cleaning supplies.

“What’s wrong with me? Let me see, I have a long list. Should I start at the top? You’re the therapist; you tell me, Morgan.”

“You’re not making any sense.” She opened the door, but I pushed it shut.

“From the moment I saw you, I haven’t been able to catch my goddamn breath.”