(Part 3)
"You lied to me?"
The pain in her eyes hurt more than the slap she planted across his face. She stood in front of him all but naked, save for a matching pair of lacy underwear. He'd cursed himself for letting it get this far before he caved. He should have said something at dinner, but her hand on his knee had been distracting. He should have spoken up the moment they entered her apartment, but his mouth quickly became too preoccupied for words.
"Morgan, I'm sorry-"
"Save it." She threw up a hand to stop him, causing him to wince as a reflex to the last time she'd raised it. "Just leave." Her voice softened as she turned around and pointed the way.
Her hushed sobs shredded his heart. Shit. He had screwed this up so badly. He fought the urge to hold her, opting to grab his coat and shirt and head for the door instead. The last thing she needed was consoling from the jerk who had deceived her. And the last thing he needed was false hope that she would ever forgive him.
He paused in the doorway before leaving. "I love you. I know it's not an excuse, but it's like all rational thought disappears when it comes to you. I wasn't thinking. Period." He gave a heavy sigh. "I'm so sorry."
She didn't turn to look at him as he left, but her crying had stopped. The silence the moment before the door clicked shut was deafening. Greg slumped to the floor on the other side of it. Damn his heart and conscience. The war between them was doing him in.
Morgan sank into the bed, tears still drying on her cheek.
He loved her. He had said so himself. But he had also lied to her. And she had trusted him completely, out of everyone. She had been cautious around everyone else, including her dad. But not Greg. He was different. He gave her a sense of security she couldn't quite explain, and his presence alone made her feel warm and safe. Or it did, until she learned of his betrayal. And yet, she still wanted to believe him. Why? Her heart raced to tell her something her mind had yet to catch up to.
She had agreed to meet her dad for brunch. The tension was thick and growing increasingly awkward as neither spoke. Greg was supposed to be there, to act as a mediator, but after last night, what was she expecting?
She stared at the menu to avoid her father's uncomfortable stare.
"So, when is Greg coming?" he asked.
She had opened her mouth to speak when her father's focus shifted, waving to someone behind her. She stiffened. It was him. She just knew it and soon the scent of his woodsy cologne confirmed it.
"You came?" She looked at him startled. His eyes held hers briefly before his gaze fell to the floor.
"I promised, didn't I?" he said, slipping into the seat next to her.
"Well, you said a lot of things last night. I wasn't sure which ones to believe." He flinched at her words.
"What's going on?" Ecklie asked, lost in the interaction.
"I should go." Greg pushed back the seat to leave and knocked into the waitress who splashed the hot coffee she was carrying all over Morgan. The memory washed over her as the heated liquid hit her skin. The image of his smile flashed in her mind. Several images of him actually. Laughing, talking, hugging. A tingling sensation ran through her. She loved him. Before the accident, before the things she could remember. Somehow she knew it. The faint recollection had stirred something in her.
"Morgan? Are you okay?" His voice brought her out of her daze. His hands rested on her shoulders and his expression was one of deep concern.
"Can I talk to you alone for a minute?" she asked, catching her breath. Greg nodded and followed her out into the corridor that extended to the kitchen. Morgan patted her shirt dry with a towel the apologetic waitress had brought.
"Morgan, I-" Greg started but she interrupted.
"Greg, just let me talk, okay? Look, I'm mad that you lied. But I just remembered something…maybe, I think, a few minutes ago brought on by the coffee assault. You lied to me when you said we were dating, but from what I remember, what I feel, I don't think that statement was far off from the truth. I know we weren't technically together, but I think there was something there. Maybe there still is."
She took a deep breath, studying the surprised look in his eyes before continuing. "I'm attracted to you. And I care about you deeply. I might not have all the memories you do, but despite everything, my heart still wants to trust you."
"Morgan, what are you saying?"
"Do you want to be my boyfriend?"
"What?"
"It's a simple question, Greg. The answer is yes or no."
"Um, do you remember last night? I'm the idiot you kicked out after he got you out of your clothes and then confessed that he had deceived you for weeks."
"Yes, I remember. But I also remember that you're the idiot who stopped us before we crossed a line and then said he loved me." She smiled. "And I'm starting to think I feel the same way. Plus you're a fantastic kisser. So…yes or no?"
"You're serious?"
"Yes and you're avoiding the question."
"Morgan, you were a mess last night when I left you. I hate that I did that to you. I almost feel like this is some sort of trick to get back at me."
"Are you saying that you don't trust me?"
"What?! No!"
"No you don't trust me? Or no you don't want to be my boyfriend?"
"Neither…I mean yes….I mean no. Morgan, you are confusing the hell out of me. Can we just take a second while I wrap my head around this?"
She sighed, nodding. He ran his hands through his hair, thinking. His eyes ran over her body. Her perfect body with just the right curves in the all the right places. She stood almost a foot shorter than him and he loved that too. She was chewing her bottom lip. Her perfect pouty lip that he desperately wanted to taste again. And then he was, his mouth devouring hers. Strawberries and mint. That was what she tasted like. It was divine. He couldn't get enough, their tongues exploring, tangling.
A loud cough startled them, causing them to jump apart. Greg turned to find Ecklie giving him a stern questioning stare.
"If you two don't mind, I would like to order some time today."
They both muttered apologies as the sheriff shook his head and walked away.
"So, was that a yes? You want to try the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing for real?" She looked up at him with hopeful eyes clouded by a hint of doubt.
He tucked a stray blonde lock behind her ear. "Morgan, it was always real for me."
She grinned and kissed his cheek. God, she loved him. Now she only wished she could remember him.
She was so adorable when she slept. Greg brushed his fingers through her hair. He smiled watching her wrinkle her nose at his touch. It had been six months since Morgan lost her memory, but she was starting to gain it back again, slowly but surely. Each day she surprised him with a little tidbit she recalled about him or their job. It made him so happy to have parts of her back, including the return of some of their favorite inside jokes.
She had also begun to rebuild her relationship with her father again. The weekly brunches had been the catalyst to her change of heart. They were on good terms once more, so Ecklie eventually warmed up to the idea of Greg dating his daughter better than Greg had expected. Morgan made him suffer though for his lying indiscretion by withholding sex for another month while they rebuild trust. Not that Greg was complaining. He had already waited four years for her, what was a few more weeks?
And here she was, lying in his arms in their bed in their new apartment together. She was definitely worth the wait. She might never remember all of their past, but he was going to make damn sure every moment of their future was memorable, starting with tonight, when he planned on throwing on that old Frank Sinatra record and getting down on one knee. He held their memories, but she had their dreams. And he was going to make sure all of them came true.
Sorry, it took a while to write. Things kept coming up. You know, life and all. I'm going to try to write a separate holiday story in the next few weeks, but if anyone has any requests send them my way. I love writing them and having a starting point to go from. : )