Messiah licked his bottom lip and debated if he wanted to follow directions. Alani somehow gave them out like a schoolteacher. No questions. All statements. Messiah didn’t particularly like it. He didn’t particularly dislike it either. Something about her felt like he was supposed to listen. Like she was the core of everyone in the room, and they were to protect her at all costs. It was an odd feeling. He had never felt that before for anyone. Motherly. It was almost motherly. He nodded and then peeled out of the jacket.

The room felt small to Morgan. She and Messiah in the same space. The tension. The things floating around in their heads but trapped by sealed lips. Morgan heard her heart racing. She was uncomfortable. Being around him didn’t feel the same. He used to fill her with so much confidence. Now all she felt was the insecurity of unfamiliarity eating her alive. Distance and dishonesty had done a number on them. The thought of how much of a stranger he was to her made her sad.

“Let me put Ssari in the hammock outside. Mo, you can come out when you’re ready,” Alani said. “Grab the sewing kit from upstairs in the closet in the master.”

Morgan felt Messiah’s eyes robbing her of her courage. Damn outlaw. He stayed stealing shit. She huffed and retreated upstairs, leaving him with Ethic and Alani. Morgan quickly located Alani’s sewing kit, and then she made her way to her old room. It overlooked the backyard. She watched Yara play in the wading pool with Eazy, and she smiled as he signed to her. Her eyes drifted to Messiah. Unease filled her, but she couldn’t deny her relief. Just to lay eyes on him again was a gift, no matter how angry she was with him. Morgan felt as if she were staring at a force. Messiah was energy, and Morgan could feel his pull.