She felt so much guilt. She had just given her body to Messiah moments ago, and now Meek stood in front of her, and it felt like he could see her lies. Her eyes glossed as emotion built in her, rising and rising and rising as she bobbed for air in her mind.

“Umm, Meek, why don’t you join us?” Alani said, filling the awkward silence. Meek ran one hand down his head. Morgan waited. Would he stay?

“This is a private dinner; I doubt that’s appropriate,” Christiana added.

“And since I’m the hostess and you’re a guest, I don’t really think your approval is required,” Alani said.

Morgan couldn’t even believe he was there. He had heard her. At Aria’s. He hadn’t forgotten that she was graduating today. Her emotions were already heightened. Messiah had already sent her mind spinning today, but Ahmeek standing in front of her, staring at her like she were the only person in the room, left her breathless. The tension thickened the air as everyone awaited an answer.

“Thanks, but I’ma break out,” he answered without looking to Alani. No one existed but Morgan. She felt it. The intention he looked at her with. The focus. There was so much she wished she could say.

“You came all this way. Might as well have a seat,” Bash said. “We know your neighborhood is nowhere near here. Grab a chair, man.”

Morgan finally broke eye contact as she looked at Bash in shock. The smug look he wore on his face sent Morgan’s temper through the roof. He thought he had the upper hand. He was seated in a five-star restaurant, and his family had a tableful of power sitting among them. Morgan could see the contempt burning in Bash as he sat back in his chair and threw an arm around her shoulder.

“A friend of Mo’s is a friend of mine, right, love?”

Morgan’s eyes widened in alarm. He had never called her that before; in fact, she knew he knew that Ahmeek called her that all the time. It was such a passive-aggressive blow that Morgan interrupted him. “Bash, please stop,” she said in a hushed, pleading tone.

Bash stood, grabbing a champagne flute and holding it in the air. “I’d like to propose a toast. Mo, you have accomplished something great today, and I’m looking forward to building a beautiful life with you. While we have our friends and family here, we might as well make the announcement.”

Morgan squinted in confusion. “Bash, what are you—”

“Come on, Mo, we might as well share,” Bash continued. “The reason why Mo won’t be entering medical school immediately is because we’ve decided to expand our family. After the wedding, we’re going to try for a baby.”

“Ohhh, shit,” Aria whispered, astonished.

Morgan died on the inside.