Morgan was in desperate need of coffee as she stood in the break room willing the coffee maker to brew faster. Every sound felt like someone was drumming on the back of her skull. She couldn't remember the last time she had been so hungover. College, maybe? Thank God her mother was leaving tomorrow. She had never been so grateful for the distance before, but after the disastrous dinner date she had subjected Greg to, she was starting to question if Las Vegas was even far enough away to escape her mother's intrusion into her personal life.
"Still stealing my coffee?" Greg's voice vibrated inside her head. She turned and held up a finger to shush him as she drank her cup of the forbidden coffee, the caffeine lessening her monstrous headache.
"I'm paying for it now, so I consider it our coffee for the next year," she said moving to the table to sit down.
"So last night was…" Greg paused trying to find the right word.
"Mortifying?" Morgan finished for him. "I'm sorry for my mom, and anything else that happened after my fifth glass of wine. My memory gets a little fuzzy at that point whenever I replay last night in my mind. I didn't do anything stupid, right? I have this strong feeling of remorse and have no idea why."
"You've already forgotten how you declared your undying love for me and then serenaded me with a surprisingly good rendition of I Will Always Love You?" he teased, smirking.
"Oh my God! I didn't." Morgan groaned, her cheeks flushing red. Greg laughed.
"No, you just fell asleep, but you feel better about earlier now, right?" he said pouring his own cup of coffee as he sat down next to her.
She shot him an evil eye. "Watch it, or you'll be on my hit list next to Hodges." They were still laughing when they heard a knock on the door.
"Mother! What are you doing here?" Morgan asked, spotting her mother at the entrance to the break room. Greg took a sip of his coffee averting his eyes from both women.
"Well, Jerry and I were talking, and we felt we really didn't get to spend much time with you. We would love to take you to brunch before we leave," Morgan's mother said smiling.
"You could have called," Morgan said.
"Yes, dear, I could have but it's harder for you to reject me in person."
"Ok, Mom. I'll call you when I get off work," Morgan relented.
"Great! Gregory, of course, you are invited too. We actually have some things we wanted to discuss with both of you," Judy said.
Greg shot a glance Morgan's way. "Mom, Greg is probably exhausted after last night. We can just make it the three of us," she said.
"Oh, nonsense. You can join us, right Gregory?" Judy pushed. Greg shrugged and smiled.
"Sure, I would love to," he said, sipping again on his coffee.
"Wonderful! I'll make the reservation for five then," Judy said.
"Five? Who else is coming?" Morgan hedged, feeling her headache returning with a vengeance.
"Oh, well I just ran into your father in the hall, and he was very interested in spending time with you and your boyfriend also. You know, he actually seemed a little surprised when I told him you two were dating. This will be fun. Like a family reunion of sorts." She watched them both, glowing with excitement. Greg spit his coffee back into his cup and gave Morgan a nervous look.
Morgan closed her eyes, pressing her fingers against her temple. "You talked to Dad. You two haven't spoken since my college graduation. Why are on earth would you invite him, let alone talk to him about my personal life?" she said trying to remain calm.
"Morgan, sweetheart, you are entering a new stage in your life. I feel like we should all be on the same page, especially if things are becoming as serious between you two as I expect they are after what I saw last night." She gave them a knowing smile, reaching for her buzzing phone. "Well I have to go. That's Jerry. He's waiting on me. So, brunch, then? Call me when you get off work. Bye dear. Bye Gregory." She turned to leave, talking on the phone during her departure.
Greg looked up to find Morgan staring at him. "What exactly happened last night, Greg?" she questioned him, anger edging in her voice.
"So, do I get any additional compensation for this extra date?" Greg asked backing the car out of the parking lot. They were on their way to meet Morgan's parents.
"You get to live another day. How about that? How could you not tell me that I kissed you?" Morgan sighed.
"It wasn't a bad kiss. It was nice. Granted, a little sloppy with you being sloshed and all," Greg teased, as Morgan playfully punched him in the arm.
"That's it. No mimosas for me. Seriously, Greg, don't let me drink, because I am going to definitely want to." She gazed out the window as she nervously picked at her fingernails. He reached out and grabbed her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze causing her to turn and look at him.
"Everything is going to be okay. It's just one more meal, right? How bad can it be?"
"You've never seen my parents together. You have no idea."
Morgan's mother, father, and stepfather were already seated when they walked in. Greg pulled out Morgan's chair for her and then sat beside her.
"Great, everyone is here. A round of mimosas for everyone," Jerry told the waitress. Morgan eyed Greg.
"No, that's okay. Make mine a virgin," Morgan corrected as the waitress left to get the drinks. Greg could feel the heat of Ecklie's stare on him as he sat across the table from his boss.
"So, Greg, Judy tells me you are dating my daughter. Have been for a while in fact." Ecklie said.
"Dad," Morgan shot a warning. "Let's just enjoy our meal, okay?"
"Okay, okay. I just find it interesting is all. Two days ago, you come to talk to me about a supervising position on a different shift, and today I find out that you're involved with my daughter," Ecklie continued.
"Dad, let it go. Mom, we really didn't get to talk about you much the other night. What's going on with you?" Morgan redirected the conversation. They all listened as Judy went on about the renovations she and Jerry were doing to their new home. Morgan and Greg sat awkwardly avoiding each other, pretending to concentrate on what Judy had to say. Ecklie's gaze wavered from one of them to the other throughout the chat.
Morgan nibbled at her eggs, still feeling queasy from her earlier hangover. She watched Greg smother his crepes in syrup, sending her nausea over the edge.
"Excuse me," she said, turning pale and racing to the restrooms. Everyone turned to look at Greg as she left.
"She's not feeling very well today," Greg said, wishing the time would move quicker. This was worst than he imagined.
"So, Greg, I know we kind of broached the subject of marriage last night," Judy started making Greg pause, fork in air mid bite. "But Morgan is our only daughter and we would all love to know if you two were planning something in the near future, or have at least discussed it." Greg glanced towards the restroom doors, saying a silent prayer that Morgan would hurry up and save him.
"Yes, Greg. What are your intentions with Morgan?" Ecklie eyed Greg suspiciously. "Is there something you're not telling us?"
"What? I don't know what you're talking about." Greg panicked. Where was Morgan?
"Spit it out. Is Morgan pregnant? Is that what all this is about?" Conrad Ecklie raged. Greg's eyes grew wide, and he gasped for air, rendered momentarily speechless.
"Oh my God! Dad! No!" Morgan's voice caused Greg to shift towards her, thankful for the interruption.
"Oh Morgan, are you? That's would be wonderful, although you really shouldn't drink like that when you're expecting," Judy frowned.
"Mom! Dad! I'm not pregnant. I'm hungover. Good Lord! Look what you have done to poor Greg, and I've only been gone five minutes." She said motioning to the man beside her whose face was drained colorless. "We work with murderers and harden criminals on a daily basis, and I have never seen him this scared before."
"That's it," she continued. "We're leaving. Mom and Jerry, it was great seeing you. I promise to call you more often, Mom. Just stop harassing me about my personal life. You know, thirty is the new twenty. It's no longer the end of a woman's life if she isn't married by the time she reaches thirty five. And Dad, stop jumping to conclusions. I will explain everything to you tomorrow, but right now, I'm going home and am going to nurse my hangover with some much needed chocolate and rest. Good bye." She pulled Greg up by his arm and walked him out of the diner.
"Yeah, I think that little meeting is going to cost you at least six months more in coffee supply. Your family is certifiable. I mean, I always knew your dad could be a little insane, but wow!" Greg said as they sat in the parked car getting ready to leave. He glanced over at Morgan who was staring out the window, tears streaking down her cheeks.
"Hey," he said softly brushing a tear away from her face with his thumb. "I was just kidding. You know that right? They just act like that because they love you. My family is the same way. Wait till you meet my mom…" he stopped mid sentence as she turned to look at him.
"She's right, though. I let work consume my life, and now that I realize what I want, now that I finally see it… it's too late."
"What are you talking about? You're young. You still have plenty of time-" Greg tried to console her.
"Not with you. How long until you start your new job and we never see each other? Huh? How long until we're not even friends anymore but just acquaintances who smile at each other in the hall and wonder what if?" she sniffled, cutting him off.
"Morgan, is that what this is about? That's never going to happen." He moved closer to her, crowding in next to her on the passenger side. He pulled her into a hug as she leaned against his shoulder.
How do you know?" she asked.
"Well, first of all, after today, your dad is probably not going to give me that job. Any man that spits venom like that when he thinks you're sleeping with his daughter is not really likely to promote you," Greg said holding Morgan tight as she gave a small laugh.
"Whatever. We'll tell him the truth tomorrow, and you'll get the job. You deserve that job, Greg. He's not going to deny it to you."
"Well, what if I don't want to tell him the truth? What if I'd rather have the lie be the truth?" he spoke softly, laying his chin against the crown of her head.
"What do you mean?" she asked, straightening up to look into his eyes.
"I mean everything your mom has talked about the past few days sounded nice. I kind of pictured it. You and me together, maybe with a family down the line. I'd take that over a promotion any day." He held his breath waiting for her response.
"But Greg, you deserve that job," she said searching his face for her answer.
"Yeah, but I'd rather deserve you more." He leaned in and kissed her. As they broke apart, she grinned at him.
"So, does this mean I don't have to pay for your addictively delicious overpriced coffee any more?" she asked, batting her eyes. He smiled leaning in to kiss her once more.
"No, you still do, but when I tell everyone you're my hot girlfriend at the wedding on Saturday, it will be the truth."
"Haha, you're hilarious," she retorted.
"Yeah, but I'm not just hilarious. I'm your new hilarious boyfriend," Greg said, finally moving to start the car.
"And charming. Don't forget charming," she teased, rolling her eyes as they pulled out of the parking lot.
"Always, baby. Always."
If you want me to keep going, let me know. I have a few more ideas I could continue with. Thanks for the reviews!