He leans back in the booth, throwing one arm over the back casually. He scans my face and then blows out a breath. “The way I figure, it’s not meddling if you bring my Crys back. I’ve waited three years, three long years, for this day.”
“You have?”
“Yeah, I was an idiot to let her walk away from me.”
“Why did you?” I blurt out.
“How much do you know about our story?”
“Only what she’s told me. And that was heart-breaking enough for me and Quinn to contact you. Even if you’ve moved on, I think talking to her would help heal her heartache.”
“Move on? I’m not sure it’s possible to move on from the love of your life. That’s what Crys is to me. The love of my life. I let her go because I was a confused eighteen-year old, grieving my dad and trying to be the man of the house. Every day, my world was getting darker, and she was my light. Anger, hurt, devastation, denial—all of it was eating me alive. I saw her trying so hard, and when she offered to give up college, I knew in the back of my mind, she had to go.”
“That’s why you let her go.” Bryce’s words pop into my head. He was right. Morgan loved her that much.
“That’s why,” he confirms.
“I know we’re strangers, and it’s none of my business, but—”
“Graduation day. I was coming for her on graduation day. Lucky for me, she busted her ass and graduated in three years.”
“It takes incredible self-control to stay away from someone you love for so long. How’d you do it?”
He looks away and starts tapping his finger on the table. I watch him lick his lips and then scrub his hands up and down his face. When his eyes meet mine, they’re filled with the same emotion Crystal showed the day she told me about him. Torture.
“It was hell, Devon, and I almost broke my own resolve a few times. The day she drove away, I was there, watching. It killed me, but I stayed back and hid behind her neighbor’s house. It was obvious she was hurting. Mom told me they had a run in, and I felt guilty, so I was going to apologize. She left six weeks earlier than planned. I thought there was more time. My mind was hurt, but the more I thought about it, I knew the words she said weren’t her own. She never had a malicious bone in her body.
“The next day, her mom came to the shop. She asked me if I still loved Crystal. When I said yes, she made me a promise. Every week, she gave me an update on how Crys was doing—what her projects were, who she was hanging out with. In return, I agreed to stay back until she finished her degree. That is until your email. During that time, I’ve busted my own ass to build a foundation for us. If she’ll have me back, she’ll not only be hitched to a grease monkey, she’ll be hitched to a successful grease monkey who will give her the world.”
“You took a really big risk that someone wouldn’t sna
tch her up.”
“It wouldn’t matter. She’s was and always will be my Crys.”
“Oh my God! You sound exactly like my fiancé.”
His eyes slide to my ring finger, and he smiles widely.
“Engaged, huh? He’s a lucky guy.”
I open my mouth to refute that I’m the lucky one when Quinn and Crystal walk in the door. My eyes grow wide, and I reach across the table, giving Morgan’s hand a small pat. “She’s here. Good luck.”
He turns and stands slowly, facing their direction. When they get close, Crystal’s face goes completely white and then she freezes. Quinn tries to push her forward, but she’s glued to her spot.
“M-m-morgan?” she stutters so quietly, it’s almost silent.
“Hey, baby.” His voice is smooth as silk, but there’s a slight crack at the end.
“What’s happening here?” She looks between the three of us and sways slightly. Morgan reaches for her, but she recoils. Tears pool in her eyes as she turns her glare to me. “What did you do?”
“Please don’t be mad.”
“I thought we were meeting to discuss finals.”
“Being friends with us comes with its highs and lows. We’re nosy, we’re meddlesome, and we’re sometimes liars.” Quinn puts an arm around Crystal’s shoulders. “But we’re also loyal, fierce, and romantics at heart. And when you have a romance like yours, it’s fair play. You deserve your happy ending.”
Crystal’s face swings between Quinn and me then lands on Morgan, who has opened his arms toward her. Like a magnet, she rushes to him and lets out a heart-piercing wail. He immediately wraps her into him and buries his head into her hair. She vibrates so hard with quiet sobs that my own heart hurts.