Chapter 2 - Morgan (Part 2)

"That was close, wasn't it, little friend?" Morgan murmured softly, gazing tenderly into the kitten's wide gray eyes. "You gave me quite a scare, you know that?" with all calm and kindness, he extended his hand towards the cat, who flinched even more and hissed loudly, showing the teeth, although it was visibly trembling "No need to be afraid, I don't want to warn you. I just want to make sure you're not hurt."

Patient, he waited the time necessary for the kitten to calm down and feel safe enough to, step by step, even still very cornered, get out from under the car and approach him. Moving slowly to disturb the animal further, as Charlie had taught him, he gently stroked the back of the cat's ears until it relaxed enough to allow itself to be picked up and examined.

"You look fine..." Morgan muttered to himself, as he ran his fingers and eyes over the little guy's legs and belly. "But I'm not an expert, so I think it would be best to see a vet to be sure..." he couldn't help a chuckle escaping him when, suddenly, the most obvious solution of all came to mind "You know what? I know the perfect place. I'll take you there and then I can decide what would be the perfect gift for a perfect girl."

Since there was nothing inside the car that could provide shelter for the kitten, Morgan took his suit jacket, which had been lying in the backseat since he had left his late-afternoon meeting, and rolled it into a ball. And he was ready to place the kitten snuggled in the middle of it when the little animal, who had taken advantage of his moment of inattention to climb his shoulder, tried to jump back to the ground, but Morgan was faster, managing to hold it before the paws reached the floor.

"You're quite the rebel, huh?" Morgan laughed breathlessly as he lifted the cat to eye level and watched it give a sullen meow. "You know, I know someone who also loves to take chances without a second thought. I bet you two would get along great. Well, actually, you're going to get along just fine once we get to your new temporary home."

Now with more attention and dexterity, he placed the cat on top of his jacket and closed the door quickly, entering through the driver's door before his new friend tried to escape again.

"Be patient." he laughed, when the two returned to the road and the cat began to walk suspiciously around the car, as if looking for an exit "We're almost there. Why don't you take a nap in the meantime?"

After another minute of wandering around the car, the cat seemed to accept his suggestion and jumped into the passenger seat, crumpling the fabric of his jacket until it finally lay down on it and fell asleep. Which was no doubt providential as, as soon as he stopped once more in front of Vivian's institution, it was much easier to pick up the now sleeping kitten in his lap and carry him inside.

"Why, two visits in one day?" Vivian raised her eyebrows as soon as she saw him come in "If you lost sight of Charlie, I'm sorry to say, but she hasn't come back here. Not even that girl likes to work that much."

“You'd be surprised how untrue that is." he laughed; in fact, there was nothing Charlie loved more than animals and, most of all, being able to help them "But I came back for another reason..." pulling down the fabric of his jacket a little, he revealed the scruffy furball he wore, "Bring you another mouth to feed."

"Oh..." instead of being amused by his joke, as she usually did, Vivian's face, on the contrary, became worried "One more..."

"Are you all right, Vivian? It was just a joke, don't worry." he soothed her "I can find another place..."

“No, it's okay, it's just that…” she bit her lip, before sighing in defeat. “Maybe it really would be better to look for another NGO. We already have almost twice the capacity and I don't want to take the risk of taking in the animals knowing that we run the risk of leaving them without adequate food."

“You know I can help, Vivian. You are building something amazing in this place and a lot of people would be heartbroken if something bad happened."

“With 'a lot of people'…” Vivian smirked, making air quotes. “You mean Charlie?"

"Do not change the subject." He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Just accept my donation and pay your debts."

"I'll think about it. But no matter what, this place is my responsibility and I'll take it. " Smiling sadly, Vivian took the cat from his arms "Now let's go this little guy. What happened?"

“He crossed the street suddenly and I nearly hit him with my car. Fortunately, I didn't find any injuries, but I thought I'd better check."

"You did well." Vivian praised "I'm going inside for a quick checkup. You can wait here if you like…” It was only when Vivian's eyes strayed to the door behind him that Morgan realized a young man in uniform had arrived. “Oh, the shipment of rations I ordered has finally arrived. Jack!" she called over her shoulder. "Come here! We have a delivery and I'm busy!"

"You know that my shift is theoretically over, don't you...?" The boy appeared in the hallway leading inside, taking off his lab coat and looking displeased, until the sight of Morgan standing there seemed to take him by surprise.

Trying to be friendly, Morgan nodded and even tried to smile a little when the young man hesitantly returned the greeting. It wasn't like he hated the kid or anything. He just couldn't relax around him since he found out that Jack had already hit on Charlie. Several times. And knowing that left a sour taste in her mouth and made her hands want to curl into fists. Which was a ridiculous reaction, of course. Charlie was a 20-year-old who had every right to flirt freely with guys her age and go on as many dates as she wanted. In fact, it was good that she did this: dating someone her age, who could give her the experiences and future that an old man like him never could.

However, not even knowing that it was best for Charlie could make him enjoy the possibility of seeing her find a boyfriend.

With a silent sigh, as Vivian went in to examine the kitten and Jack went out to meet the delivery man, Morgan sat down in the small set of worn chairs near the front door, trying to find some distraction from her plans for what might happen. as a birthday present for Charlie. Fate, however, did not seem to be willing to allow him to relax, as soon the sound of the conversation of the two boys outside reached his ears, clearer than he would have liked.

"So she rejected you again?" a voice he didn't recognize but thought was the delivery guy, he asked.

“You don't have to pretend you're surprised. I already knew this would happen." Jack disdained, looking very calm, almost good-humored "I just asked her out again so I wouldn't miss the opportunity."

“You know that means it's my turn, right? I've already given you too many chances. Oh, and don't be too disappointed after you catch us making out in your pantry one of these days". the other boy commented smugly.

“Oh, of course, Don Juan." Jack laughed cynically "Just promise me you'll repeat that in front of Charlie when you ask her out. I'm looking forward to seeing her neuter you."

Gritting his teeth so hard his jaw ached, Morgan had to dig his fingers into the flesh of his knees to keep himself in place and not rush through that door to land a few punches in that stupid kid's face. How dare he talk like that about Charlie? One more word and he'd have him swallow his own tongue...

"Anyway, Paul, I've told you time and time again that neither of us, nor any other guy, has a chance with her." Jack commented, clearly trying to dissuade the delivery man "We're not her type."

“Well, I'm very versatile." replied the boy, without seeming to give up "Sometimes you're just not her type."

"Believe me ..." this time Jack laughed heartily "She knows very well what she's looking for. So if I were you, I would give up."

"Do you know something you don't want to tell me, by any chance?"

More attentive than ever, feeling her stomach clench at the possibility that Charlie was in love, Morgan waited for Jack's response, her breath catching in her throat, but nothing happened. Jack's suggestive silence began to suffocate him with an almost unbearable wave of anxiety, until Vivian suddenly reappeared in the room, with the cat in her arms, taking away from him any possibility of finding out what Jack apparently knew about Charlie's heart.

"He is fine. Just a little scared, of course, but perfectly healthy." As Vivian approached him, the cat began to swing its paws in the air, trying to escape from her hands, while meowing desperately in Morgan's direction "Look at this. Sounds like you really managed to make him feel safe. Congratulations, you just made a new friend.

"It seems so." He forced himself to laugh, despite the tension that refused to leave his body after the conversation he had overheard, as the cat jumped into his arms, starting to purr softly as soon as Morgan hugged it to his chest "And don't worry, I will take responsibility for him. I know things are not easy around here."

" Are you sure?" Vivian questioned him, in a mixture of relief and concern.

“Absolute. In fact…” Tilting his head to look into the kitten's wide, curious eyes, Morgan was finally able to manage a genuine smile, “It's my duty. I had a big problem and he just fixed it."

“Well, it's up to you." Vivian laughed, even without understanding "Just take good care of him. And, whatever happens, we're here, okay?"

After saying good-bye to her, Morgan left towards his car, suppressing the urge he had to approach Jack and the other boy when he realized that the two were now talking across the street, near where a truck was parked, too far for Morgan's hearing to reach. With an irritated sigh, he just tucked the kitten back into his makeshift bed inside the car and got out of there as quickly as possible.

It was none of his business if Charlie had an ideal type of man or even if she was already in love with someone. They were friends, and if she ever wanted to open up to him about that part of her life, that was her decision. And, as a friend, it was her responsibility to welcome and congratulate her when the time came for her to fall in love...

When the time came for him to see her in the arms of another man.

When the time came for him to have his heart broken.