Guess Again

twenty-eight.

"I'm getting 'be resilient' in Dad's handwriting on my bicep," Morgan said.

"Oh that's nice, not too big," Mason said, nodding, "good night Morgan."

"Good night Mason," Morgan replied, and ducked inside her hotel room.

The next morning, Morgan left the hotel before everyone else woke up. She got her tattoo and wore the Red Bull jacket to cover it up. Returning before anyone else woke up, she sat in the lobby enjoying her breakfast.

Whitney came down the burgundy carpeted stairs, and found her daughter finishing the remains of a cinnamon roll.

"What will we do today?" Whitney asked.

"We'll go shopping, get our nails done," Morgan replied, wiping her fingers on a napkin, "and then I found a place that does go-karts."

"What about the kids?" Whitney asked, concerned.

"We'll take turns," Morgan said with a shrug, "there's enough of us to divvy out the responsibility."

Whitney nodded, realizing that Morgan had thought this out.

Mason, Mark and Allie came downstairs with Aidan on Mason's shoulders and Katherine in her carrier.

"Coffee?" Mark suggested, and Morgan grinned.

"Coffee," Morgan confirmed, and they left the hotel. Morgan had rented a minivan so everyone could fit, and out they went. When they returned that evening, the city was waking up. Neon lights illuminated boardwalks as patrons searched for something to fill their voids.

Allie put the kids to bed so they could play games and talk.

"Got your eye on a boy yet?" Mark asked Morgan, teasing his sister. He knew how picky she was, so he was surprised when she nodded slowly.

"Wait, what?" Mark asked, then looked at Whitney, "did you know about this?"

"No, I didn't," Whitney replied primly, then looked at Morgan, "what have you been keeping from me?" 

"You tell them, I haven't got the fortitude," Morgan said to Mason, shaking her head.

"So remember how Morgan was attending Formula 1 races?" Mason asked the other three, and they nodded. "Well, Morgan caught feelings for one of the drivers."

"You what?" Mark asked, his mouth wide open.

"Close your mouth Mark, that's gross," Morgan replied as she leaned back in her chair.

"The worst part is, he had feelings for her too, and confessed them," Mason added, "and instead of telling him the truth, our sister lied and said she didn't feel the same."

"Are you serious?" Mark asked, leaning on the table. Morgan nodded, a look of disgust on her face.

"I'm just as disappointed as you are," Morgan said.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me about this," Whitney said, her eyes full of sadness.

"I came to Idaho to help you, not to burden you with my trivial mistakes," Morgan replied gently, "he'll move on... and so will I."

"Somehow I doubt that," Mason muttered.

"You know there's a Formula 1 race in Las Vegas this weekend right?" Mark asked. Morgan pressed her lips together.

"It completely slipped my mind," Morgan whispered.

"Wait, who was the driver?" Allie asked, her gaze intense.

"Who's in the lead for the driver's championship?" Morgan asked.

"Max Ver- oh no, Morgan, not him," Mark said, throwing his hands up.

"Who's Max Ver?" Whitney asked, her head turning between her children. She had never understood her husband's love for F1.

"It's Max Verstappen," Mark explained, "he won last year."

"Well, I suppose you could do worse," Whitney said, crossing her hands in her lap.

"Wait, so if by some small unbelievable chance we do end up dating, you're fine with it?" Morgan asked, leaning forward, her eyes staring intensely into her mothers.

"Of course, Morgan, I trust your judgement," Whitney said, "you're your own kind of woman."

Morgan sat back in her seat, slightly shocked. She had expected her mother to be stern and strict, so this was a complete surprise.

"Just because Mom's cool with it doesn't mean I am," Mason said, "he's going to have to prove himself."

"I mean, it's not like he'll ask me again," Morgan said with a shrug, "I'm not that much to look at."

"Oh Morgan, if you think he went after your looks, you should know better," Mason replied, shaking his head. Morgan nodded her agreement and laughed.

"Let's discuss something other than my non-existent love life," Morgan suggested, and Mason pulled a deck of cards out of his pocket.

They played games until midnight, then went upstairs and wished each other good night. Tomorrow was a big day.