Page 124 of Shifting Hearts

JASON

C hristmas was approaching, and Smokey Joe’s was packed. I couldn’t wait to smell her again, to get lost in her presence. Lately, I’d stayed so close that she walked through me countless times, I’d stopped counting. I didn’t care. It was the only time I truly felt we were one.

One evening, Bert walked into the bar. One of the second twins Gabby and Zack had brought into the world. Why couldn’t it be Morgan? Morgan would have known him. I hadn’t seen him in ages, and he looked just like Zach. Morgan froze for a moment, but quickly realized it wasn’t Zach.

He flirted with her, asked if they had met before as she handed him a drink, then asked for something else, pointing him toward Emily Chase. Morgan didn’t take the lie well; Emily had told her the truth: her surname was Duvall, the same as Bo and Alice’s.

Morgan told Paul she needed a few days alone, and I knew she was about to run.

Any hint that I was nearby would make her vanish, and this time it wasn’t toward me.

No, that time had passed. I begged her to stay, but she didn’t listen.

She was starting over again, erasing her phone, trying to build a fresh start.

She cried when she realized who Em was, and I hated myself for changing their names. I leaned close and whispered, “Just go back, please. I can’t do this anymore, Morgan. I need to wake up, please.”

To my surprise, she listened. She went back. Was it over? I didn’t know. Ten years had passed; it could be, or it could be another decade.

One day, Jess walked into the bar. Morgan froze. Completely froze.

The boy was the spitting image of me, a perfect double, but there was a subtle difference Morgan didn’t notice. She walked slowly closer.

“Hi,” she said, clearing her throat.

“Hi,” Jess replied.

“Can I get you something?”

He ordered a beer, then asked where Emily Chase was. Morgan pointed him toward the back, still confused because Em had warned her exactly what kind of father I was. Her confusion deepened when Emily rushed over and threw herself into Jess’s arms.

They sat at a table far from the bar. I could see the panic on Morgan’s face, she wanted to leave so badly. She stayed late, Paul already there at the table. When Em introduced Jess, Morgan frowned, staring at them for a long moment.

Finally, after the bar closed, she joined them. Em introduced Morgan to Jess.

“Cousin?”

“Yes,” Jess said.

“Okay, cousin. Nice to meet you.”

Jess chuckled. “So this is your vampire friend?”

“What do you mean?”

“Alice told me.”

“Oh, just don’t tell my dad,” Em said, and the look on her face made me feel ashamed of who I’d become. Would she ever forgive me?

Jess stayed for a while, and I hated how Morgan watched him. There were times it seemed they might kiss. One evening, I had to watch them head to the park downstairs while Paul and Em were at it again. I didn’t know what to feel.

“I spoke to Em,” Jess finally said.

“About what?”

“About the way you froze when you saw me.”

She sighed.

“She didn’t answer, so something tells me she doesn’t know.”

“Know what?”

“You know her father, don’t you? You thought I was Jericho when he walked in.”

“She showed me a photo.”

“Stop lying to me, Natasha.”

“What, are you a lie detector?”

“Yup. I see colors when people speak. Lies are red. You just told a big one.”

Morgan didn’t speak.

“How do you know him?”

“Long time ago. He doesn’t know me.”

“Why wouldn’t he?”

“Because he doesn’t. For him, we never met. Only I remember.”

Jess hummed. “Interesting. You didn’t lie. Explain it?”

“No, it doesn’t matter. I can’t do that specific thing anymore.”

“Why?”

“Because of a witch.”

“Say no more,” Jess sighed. “My uncle goes on about vampires, but it’s witches I’m scared of.”

Silence fell.

“Did you love him?”

“Stop asking me these questions, please.”

“Did you know my mom and dad?”

She nodded.

He chuckled and shook his head.

They spoke about other things before heading back to the apartment. Over the next few weeks, I watched her grow closer to him. Jess stayed with them intermittently, and I prayed he wouldn’t kiss Morgan. He didn’t.

“You remind me a lot of him,” she said one night. Jess spit out his drink.

“Who? Uncle Jace.”

She laughed, nodding.

Jess stared at her, wide-eyed. “I take it this witch changed his personality too.”

“Must be. Please don’t tell Em that I know him.”

“I won’t.”

“Thanks.”

They moved on to other topics, and I still had no clue how I felt about Morgan growing closer to Jess. He left eventually, returning at intervals. The days dragged, and I hated every second, desperate to wake up from this slow-moving nightmare.

Then, out of nowhere, Em exclaimed: “Christmas in Russia.”

THANK YOU!

I had waited years for this moment, and I could hardly believe it had finally arrived.

***

Saying the days dragged was an understatement. Morgan wanted to cancel more times than I could count, pull out completely. She even got texts from Jesse asking what she was going to do.

Another month passed before they finally boarded the plane. I could hardly wait for this to be over, to have her in my arms, to just be with her again. Watching her arrive in Russia, Jesse asking the same questions, I laughed quietly to myself, ready to move forward, ready to embrace life again.

Everything passed in a blur as we reached the house. I hated how at ease Jesse seemed with her. That boy was crushing hard on his aunt, and he was going to learn the hard way. I was sure Annie had told him, after Gabby revealed who she really was.

The tension was exhausting, but crucial. I needed to see everything from all angles. Now, all that remained was waiting for the moment I’d finally see her again.

Life slowly crept back in. I felt stiff, my back aching as I got up. Food was nearby, and I had no idea what day it was, but I was starving. I ate like I hadn’t eaten in weeks, wincing as a sudden pain flared in my back.

The door opened, and by the scent, I knew Dom was lingering.

“You’re awake.”

Silence.

“Jace.”

“Yeah,” I mumbled, shoving another bite in my mouth.

“How was it?”

I shook my head. “She sugarcoated it.”

“Thought so. What do you want to do?”

“What do you mean? And what the fuck is wrong with my back?”

“Oh, that. The edges filled in, and you’ve got these weird slashes on your back. Appeared during the dent.”

I took a beating for her. Did I really stop the blow?

“She told us what happened. How Adrienne beat her. You tried to protect her, didn’t you?”

That time in Morgan’s life felt so distant now. I nodded.

“How do you feel?”

“Tired. Glad it’s over.”

“I mean about Morgan. She said there wouldn’t be a way forward if you saw what she did.”

I sighed. “The truth, there was a time I felt her evil. It was bad. But then she met Em, and I fell in love with her all over again. She reminded me why I loved her in the first place.”

Dom stared.

“What is it?”

“Fuck!”

“Speak.”

“She’s not here. She left, and nobody knows where. Gabby and Zack are trying to find her, but,” he shook his head.

I closed my eyes. I had told her it would never work. The last time I think she heard my voice, she rejected me. Now, her distance was all my fault.

“I’ll find her. I owe her everything.”