"So when do you think you'll get a real table?" Morgan asked. She grinned at Shane as they sat around the coffee table he'd snagged from a neighbor's driveway when they had put it out for the trash.
It was late on a Friday night, and he was glad to see Morgan seemed to be over, or mostly over, the situation with her sister. She'd been subdued since then, although she tried to hide it. He saw it in little things: she didn't scold Casey when the latter made her raunchy jokes; if the wedding came up, she got quiet; overall, she just wasn't herself. He'd hoped to coax her out of it with some time where they didn't have to think about the wedding.
"I'm going for an ancient Roman theme," he said. "I figure some cushions, maybe a divan or two. Everyone can stretch out and eat." He winked at her. "Maybe you could put on some veils and serve me grapes." He liked that idea.
"Dream on," said Morgan, rolling her eyes. She wasn't wearing veils, and her t-shirt referenced another show he wasn't familiar with, but he liked how it fit, and how the v-neck gave him a tantalizing glimpse of her breasts.
"Asian, then," said Shane. He held up his carton of cashew chicken. "I'll get some different cushions, some robes and decorate with dragons. It'll be very zen."
"You'd be mixing cultural themes, I think," said Morgan. "But you know, if you want to get some decorating ideas, you should talk to Astrid, Casey's girlfriend. You remember her?" When Shane nodded, she continued. "Astrid's a lawyer but her passion is things like decorating."
"A lawyer who decorates?" Shane stared at her. "How in the world did she do that? Why? It takes forever to become a lawyer. I almost did it myself but decided I didn't have the patience."
"She's still a lawyer," Morgan said. "She works for a clinic that specializes in legal aid for the LGBTQ community. In her spare time, she decorates."
"I just—I don't know." Shane shook his head. "I guess if I'd put in all that effort going to school, probably having internships and clerking and all, not to mention all the studying, I'd feel compelled to work at a firm."
"You're kind of bottom-line about that stuff, aren't you?" asked Morgan.
"What do you mean?"
"I bet you didn't take a lot of courses you didn't need in college, right?" she asked. "Even for electives, you probably took things related to math or finance or whatever your degree was in."
"Yeah, pretty much. I mean, it only made sense."
"Didn't you want to take something you were interested in just for fun?"
"I don't think it ever occurred to me," he said. "I just wanted to get done and get a job make sure I didn't have to move back in with either of my parents. I was pretty focused on meeting requirements and graduating."
"Ever take, I don't know, an art history class? Or music theory? Or any class just because you wanted to?"
"Nope." He shook his head. "I bet you did, though."
She nodded. "I did. I took music theory, which was fun but the teacher was terrible. I also took an anthropology class. I just liked to see what was out there."
"No classes in science fiction?" he teased.
"Actually yes, I did. Two."
"Really?" He shook his head. "I never thought to look for courses like that."
She reached over and put her hand against his cheek. "You really were kind of driven, weren't you? It doesn't sound like you did much for fun."
He kissed her palm. "I don't mean to sound like I lived in the library. I had friends, I had fun. But yeah, I was focused."
"Do you like what you do?" Morgan bit into a dumpling.
"Like it? I guess so." He frowned. "I never thought about it. It's not bad, I'm good at it, it pays the bills."
"How about outside of work? What do you like to do then?"
"I'd think that would be obvious." He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
She chuckled. "I'm flattered."
"Well, I like working on the house, playing some video games. I hang out with Evan sometimes, and my brother." He shrugged. "It's not terribly exciting, but it works for me."
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry or criticize," Morgan said. "I just like to make sure my friends are happy." She cocked her head. "Casey tells me I do it too much. So if you're happy, I'll shut up."
"I don't know about totally happy, but you definitely make me happier."
"Aw, you'll make me blush."
Shane leaned over and kissed her. "I'd rather make you blush doing other things." He rested his forehead against hers.
It was true. He'd thought about it all day, wishing the clock would run faster so he could get to Morgan sooner. He'd wanted to see her, talk to her, kiss her, touch her. At one point he'd let his mind wander over her and realized he'd gotten hard and had to stay at his desk, hoping no one called a meeting.
"Hey, I have an idea," Morgan said.
"Yeah?" He nipped at her neck, laughing when she squirmed. "I have a couple. What's yours?"
"Mmmm." She leaned her head back to give him more access. "I think you should come out with me this weekend and do something silly. Just because."
"Okay. I can do that." He slid closer to her and worked his way up to her jaw, and then her lips.
She turned her body towards him and met his kiss with warmth and eagerness. She clutched at his shoulders and her lips parted at his urging. He slid an arm around her waist to pull her closer, making an approving noise as her chest pressed against his.
"You're not going to back out?" she asked, her voice low and breathy. "You don't know what I'm planning."
"I'm game," he said as he tugged her t-shirt loose from her jeans. "I might be boring but that doesn't mean I won't try new things." He pulled her shirt over her head, then ran his tongue along the edge of her surprisingly lacy bra, pleased at her sharp intake of breath.
Morgan worked the buttons on his shirt. "Don't you ever wear a t-shirt?" she asked.
"This shirt builds the anticipation," he said, finding her lips again.
She made an appreciative noise, finished the buttons, and dragged her fingers over his chest. He groaned and slid his tongue into her mouth, tasting and exploring. He reached behind to unclasp her bra, but couldn't find the hooks. He slid a finger under the band, thinking he'd been in the wrong spot, but he continued for a minute as Morgan shuddered against him.
When he still couldn't find it, he realized Morgan was laughing.
"What am I missing?" he asked,
"It's a front closure," she said, and laughed harder at the expression on his face.
"Well, why didn't you say that in the first place?" He grinned and reached down to undo the clasp. "That's much easier," he murmured, kissing her while his hands roamed over her breasts.
