𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨
﹥━━━━━━━━━━﹤

"I gotta stop to look, 'cause GIRL YOU LOOK SO DAMN GOOD TO ME!" I scream-sing as I attempt to shave my face in the mirror.

Morgan flicks water at me. "Shut up, Jesus Christ."

She's mad because this is her fourth take trying to film a morning skincare routine on Tiktok and I keep messing them all up.

I can't help it, I'm in a good mood today and really feeling this old Mint Condition song I rediscovered.

People ask me if I find what Morgan does to make her money weird or annoying/ invasive? I don't. I love that she can make money just by being beautiful. Of course she has millions of followers online, I mean look at her. And that personality? Sheesh. No wonder she blew up so fast. I remember our first video together, she made me be in a TikTok one day - it was back in Penshaw, we were at some party in the woods. She couldn't post it obviously because we weren't supposed to be together, but the second she did, it went viral. A few more successful posts and Morgan became an internet sensation really. I'm so proud of her.
The fact that she's not just a beautiful face but an honest, personable online influencer, and a businesswoman really sets her apart.

I can't lie, I love being her fiancé. For the most part, the content featuring me probably does the best — well, after her bikini pictures and lingerie shoots. I'm not mad about those either because I get BTS and the real thing in person.
I thought it would be a lot for me to grasp, all of the people pining after her, but it's been easy. I'm secure. Shit, we handled all the press from the sex tape well. It always comes down to they want her, but I have her.

"Stop being cute, I'm still mad at you." Morgan says, elbowing me in my side.

"For what?" I ask, pretending I know what I'm doing braiding her hair.

She doesn't say anything, just shoos me away.

"You know what you need..." I ponder. "dick."

Morgan laughs and turns to face me, turned on.

She's so tempting, I put her body on top of the sink and push my weight between her legs.

"Why has it been so long?" She whispers, batting her eyelashes at me.

"You've been scared." I joke, wrapping my arms around her small frame.

Fresh out of the shower, she smells like Dove soap, pomegranate, and a soft, fresh scent like baby powder per usual. Her hair smells clean, too - fruity.

"I'm not scared right now." Morgan tests me, biting her lip.

I inhale deeply to fight the temptation of her seduction.

"We're expecting someone, remember? She'll be here any second, actually. You need to finish getting ready."

"You need to finish getting ready," Morgan snarks. "Fuck Lydia."

Jokingly I gasp at the idea. "You want to? That might be hot, she's a nice looking old lady."

Morgan's face can't go any straighter. The unamused look makes me laugh out loud.

"I'm sorry." I laugh, giving Morgan a hug.

"Get off me." She huffs, hopping off of the sink.

12:19 pm

"—I can't believe he talked you into inviting Karen over." Jasmine says to Morgan as she fixes a pitcher of lemonade.

"I am right here." I remind the free-loader.

Jasmine sucks her teeth at me. "I can't believe you invited the Karen over for lunch."

"It's for a dog play date." I correct her since she thinks she knows every damn thing.

"Speaking of dates, aren't you going on one tonight, Mrs.Flamer?" I question the married woman.

Morgan chokes at my response and Jasmine snaps her neck at her.

"Sorry." Morgan pips, drying her hands.

"You're not going to say anything to him?!" Jasmine scoffs.

"You started it." Morgan says.

Jasmine looks offended. Me- 1. Her- 1.

"A-ha!" I taunt Jasmine, dipping my chip in the salsa.

"I hope you lose all your money next time you golf." Jasmine snickers in my face.

"Ooo." I pretend to be scared, chomping on a nacho.

"Both of you shut up." Morgan puts her foot down, walking between us to steal the nacho tray and take the food outside.

And we both stopped talking, too, mostly out of respect for Morgan but I also had nothing else to say to Jasmine.

"Help with the food, please." Morgan says, leading the way through the sliding glass door.

Jasmine, with her eyes piercing through my soul, carries the lemonade outdoors, waiting for me to go first.

"After you, Mrs.Flamer." I insist, standing out of the way.

"CHRIS!" Morgan scolds me for my remark.

✕

"Christopher, hi," Lydia talks. "What should I be expecting here?"

I walk her from the sidewalk out front to the backyard.

Chuckling, I reply, "Just for our dogs to run around, really. There's some snacks, though, if you get hungry."

"She's not trying to poison me, is she - Morgan?"

I have to laugh. "No ma'am."

"Well I do appreciate this, Chris, how kind of you." She pats my hand and laughs until it turns into a strong cough.

"I've got to stop smoking." She plays it off.

Bebe and her are matching today with Burberry outfits on. Lydia has on a sleek white wig today and her signature red almond-shaped nails. The collar to her tracksuit is popped and like times before, she smells like roses. I don't like the smell of roses.

Eventually, we find the girls and my two dogs in the backyard. There's upbeat music playing and clouds dotted in the sky.

"Hello, hello, hello." She sings, making her presence known.

"Hi." Jasmine speaks up first, waving.

"You are beautiful, you look like Naomi Campbell." Lydia compliments Jas. Or, tries to.

"I look nothing like Naomi." Jas says under her breath.

I walk past her, following Lydia to the picnic table, and can't help myself.
"You sure don't." I say to Jasmine, earning a whack to the back of the head with a pool noodle.

Lydia stops behind Morgan's back and clears her throat.

"Thanks for coming." Morgan says once she faces our neighbor.

"Thanks for having me," Lydia smiles. "I brought pasta salad."

Morgan, with a neutral facial expression, nods her head. She accepts the dish and puts it with the others.

"Well thank you," she says awkwardly.

Lydia walks away to introduce herself, and Bebe, to Duke and Stevie who are sitting in the shade.

Morgan hurriedly steals a glance at the pasta salad and inspects it.

"Is she trying to poison me?" Morgan asks.

"No, stop it." I laugh, smacking her hand away from the food.

"HEY-O!" Andy is heard before he's seen.

"Who's that?" Asks Morgan, squinting her eyes under the noon sun.

"The guys." I tell her for the first time.

What? I couldn't have a gathering at the house and not invite the team. So, I called the men of Aragon: Elijah, Calvin, and Andy. Of course they brought their plus ones, being Sloane, Drea, and Lucy.

"Yo, yo!" Calvin makes himself known. He comes barreling through the fence with a case of beer over his shoulder.

"Chris, you didn't tell me we're having a whole party." Morgan complains.

I just flash a smile hoping that'll be enough and it is. She just rolls her eyes but doesn't put up a fight, walking in the house to get more food.

I stay outside to greet all the guests first.

"I can't get over how dope the house is." Andy says to me, handing over a cold Natural Light.

I turn it down because beer is disgusting, I rather sip on something else. Usually when I drink beer, it's after I get high enough to not care.

"Did you see all the reviews online? The house tour video hit a million views already!" Sloane brags, touching my arm.

I wiggle away from her and sneak inside where I find Morgan searching the fridge and freezer for more hot dogs and burgers.

"We can order a pizza, or something, don't worry about it." I tell her, closing the refrigerator.

"A heads up would've been nice." She scolds me, arms folded over her chest.

She's so cute when she's fake mad at me.

I mock her pout, grabbing her by the waist. "I thought you loved hosting parties."

"Still, I wasn't expecting so many people over..." Morgan mumbles, swirling her finger over my chest. "I was hoping we could..."

Oh?

My eyebrow raises with intrigue. I'm turned on already, especially at the thought of sneaking off in the middle of a party.

"We still can, what you mean?" I chuckle, attacking her neck with kisses.

Morgan squirms in my arms, getting weak in the knees. She laughs hysterically but finally manages to push my weight off of her.

"Unh-unh." She sounds, shaking her head at me. "go be a host."

Morgan shoves a bag of chips at me chest and then switches through the door, looking back at me as she laughs.

This is hell, I think in my head.

I'm inside changing so I can get in the pool, when I get a phone call.

It's my father. He usually doesn't call, typically Mom does, so this is a nice surprise.

"Hey, Dad, what's up?" I speak into the phone as I fix the string to my shorts.

"Oh, so you pick up for your father on the second ring, but not for me?" Mom's voice nags me.

An aggravated exhale leaves my nostrils before I say anything.

"Hi, Mom, how are you?" I talk mechanically.

She sighs in my ear. "Would be better if you ever called to check up on me."

I roll my eyes. "We're talking now. What's up?"

"You," she says. "I saw on Morgan's Instagram story that you're having a get-together. Why didn't you all ask me to come, I haven't been in your pool, yet?"

"It's just friends today, Mom. You wouldn't really fly out here for a couple burgers, would you?"

"I sure would. And for the sun, and to see you and Morgan. Absolutely!"

I swipe my palm down my face, over this conversation.

"I have to go, the hot dogs are burning." I make anything up just to get off of this call.

"What about next month, Dad and I can come visit?" She asks, hopeful.

I pause for a beat to think about my next answer.
An immediate "no" almost came out of my mouth, but I don't want to be rude, she's too sweet.

"I'll have to ask Morgan."

"Why? I'm sure she'll say yes!"

"We have a lot going on, you know - new place and all. Let us get settled first, and back to our normal selves."

"Morgan seemed perfectly normal to me, is she not? Oh, it must be all the wedding stuff, stressing her out! I knew I should've came sooner. Tell her I'll be on the next flight, we can shop for her dress and look for a venue-"

"She has that covered, Mom. Jesus, don't you think she can do some of that with her own mother?"

"I-" she's suddenly speechless.

I immediately regret saying that, or at least so bluntly.

My mother only wants to help, that's how she shows her love. Only, sometimes it can be a bit much - suffocating.

"I'm sorry, Mom." I admit quietly.

"No, i-it's fine. I have to go, okay?"

"Alright," I sigh, "I love you-"

She hangs up without saying it back or at all.

Great. Son of the year award goes to—

Knock. Knock.

I turn and see Calvin peeking in my bedroom.

I don't say anything, just throw my phone across the bed and snatch my towel up to take with me outside.

"You okay, brotha?" He asks me, wandering further into my bedroom.

I just look at him. Really, I want to tell him to get the fuck out of my room, but I don't have the energy to.

"I'm alright. What's going on downstairs?" I change the subject and walk him downstairs.

"That old white lady you invited asked Eli to turn his music off and when he said no, she said 'figures.' I had to stop the girls from going off on her." He fills me in.

I zone out of his storytelling because I notice Lydia roaming around my house.

"Handle that." He grunts, walking to the sliding glass door as he mean mugs Lydia.

"What are you doing in here?" I ask her.

"I couldn't stand the music, plus it was getting warm outside - this April air. And anyway, Morgan had this small bikini on; I don't know how she can call herself a respectable woman when she has all of that on display and you weren't even outside-"

My jaw clenches. I cut her off to say, "You need to leave. Now."

"Excuse me?"

"If you're going to keep disrespecting my fiancé, you can stay the hell away from the both of us, and our house."

She grabs her necklace and gasps. "Surely this isn't how you talk to a potential client, Christopher."

"No, it's how I talk to entitled people like yourself. I asked you to leave, why am I still looking at you?"

"I can sue." I think she thinks that's a threat.

"For what?" I challenge her.

She doesn't know what to say because she knows she can't.

Looking dumb with nothing more to say, I show Lydia the door.

"Don't let it hit you on the way out." I say, closing the door on her back.

I push out a deep breath and lock the front door.

Karen's, man.

✕

"What you know about Knuck If You Buck?" Drea gives me a hard time.

She laughs and nudges me at the hammock.

I just playfully smack my lips giving her a look and she dances away.

"Shit," Eli exasperates, "do we still need to go out? This the party right here."

Everyone around laughs, somewhat agreeing.

"I haven't been to a single bar in Nashville, yet, I wanna see what it's like!" Morgan exclaims, skipping over to sit in my lap.

"Where are we going again?" Andy asks the group.

"Fat Angel's." Jasmine's speedy answer makes my face curl. She's just excited because Tate is going.

I'm not even gonna say too much about her because I'm disturbed by how quickly she can move on from A WHOLE MARRIAGE, but whatever. I'll just keep my eyes off of her tonight at the bar.

Morgan sees my face is torn up so she smiles at me and that makes me grin ear to ear. How perfect is she?
I get lost in her eyes. The sparkle in them indicates how much fun she's having.

"Well, I won't be going out tonight. Sorry guys." Andrea announces.

"Why not?" Morgan pouts.

Andrea looks at Calvin and they smile in each others faces.
"We're pregnant!" She breaks the news and I drink to it.

"Awww!" The girls synchronize.

"Congratulations. I really want a baby." Morgan gets to talking. She's a bit tipsy herself.

The guys shoot looks to me and I just drink another CutWater, staying out of this one.

"Trust me, don't let it ruin your body." Drea offers some advice.

"Well, I don't think of it as ruining your body. Plus, you can always get your body done after."

"Like a Mommy makeover!" Sloane proclaims.

"Girl, you know your boobs can get even bigger if you get pregnant?" Andrea tells Morgan.

Morgan pops her shoulders, not caring. "So can your ass!" She makes everyone laugh.

"You don't need a bigger ass, Morgan." Jasmine rolls her eyes. As much as it pains me to admit, Jasmine is right.

"I think so." Morgan says quietly. I just shake my head no, but she can't see me.

"You have a cute butt, it's big for your shape, you know?" Lucy says to make Morgan feel better, and she's right.

"But it's not big," Morgan argues. "I want, like, a BBL."

"Ah, hell no!" Elijah says exactly what I'm thinking.

Sloane sucks her teeth at him. "I have one." She admits. See, I knew that because her thighs are really small and it looks like she always has on a diaper.

"Morgan, why would you want a BBL? Where you even gonna get the fat from?" Jasmine talks some sense into her best friend for once.

"I can gain weight." Morgan has an answer for everything.

"She's serious, too." Andrea laughs.

Jasmine shakes her head. "I'm mad 'cause this isn't the first time she said this, either."

"Morgan, girls would kill for your body. Leave it alone, or donate it to me." Lucy cracks up.

"Okay, enough about ass and titties. Can we all get ready to go out?" Calvin speaks up.

"Yes!" I agree to that, getting up. If I sat there any longer, I would've fallen asleep. I'm already a little buzzed, not gonna lie.

"This was a great pregame." Andy cheers just seconds before he jumps in the pool.

"Who's taking his wet ass home?" I yell as I walk inside.

"He ain't getting in my car!" Andrea shouts.

"Hell naw, mine either!" Eli makes clear, walking to his truck.

Everyone disperses from the backyard and I wait until Morgan's inside to shut the sliding glass door, still watching Andy float in the pool alone.

"Guys?" He calls for someone. "Come on, y'all, don't leave me out here alone!"