"Wow, you really went all out." Taylor says, her hand on Kate's shoulder. "It looks great, Kay."

"Thanks, T." Kate responds, looking at the venue she booked for Morgan's album release party. "I think we're all set for Friday."

"What time?"

"Seven."

"I'll be here." Taylor gives her best friend a kiss to the cheek then heads out.

"Hey pretty lady." Riley says from behind her. "You did great! It look amazing, babe."

"Thanks." Katie chuckles, pushing her hair back. "Friday is gonna be so stressful."

"Why? Figured it's the day when people just show up." He drops an arm around her shoulders. "I wanna talk to you 'bout somethin'."

"Sure." Kate nods, letting Riley guide her to a more private area. "What's up?"

"I've been thinkin'- and I know there's probably a better time to do this but I can't stop thinking' about this." He licks his lips. "We've been datin' for a year and I think we should get married."

"Get- get married?"

"Yeah, why not? I love you, Katie."

"Can- can we talk about this later when I can give the conversation my full attention?"

"Sure. I'll see you later, okay?"

"Yeah. Sounds good."

"Okay, I love you." He kisses her.

"Love you too." She mumbles back, letting him kiss her but not really kissing him back. He sighs as he walks away, leaving Kate alone in the venue with her thoughts.

+++

"Hey, you seen Katie?" Morgan asks Michael at his party a few days later.

"Uh," Michael looks around. "No, I haven't. Is she here?"

"I don't think so." He pushes his hands through his neatly combed hair. "Shit. She's missin' this party- her first album party. That's not cool." He digs his keys out of his pocket. "C'mon, let's go."

Morgan drives to Katie's house, worried out of his mind. This isn't like her. Not at all.

"That's her car, right?" Michael points at the SUV parked off to the side.

Morgan nods then hops out of his truck, heading to the front porch. He knocks on the door. "Katie?" There's no answer. "Katie!?" He says louder, knocking again.

He swears under his breath as he grabs her spare key from the light fixture above the doorbell. He lets himself in and starts looking around her house. Morgan heads to the back of the house while Michael checks the front.

He knocks on the slightly open bedroom door. "Kate?" He pops his head in. "Hey." He says when he sees a lump on the bed. "Katie?"

She doesn't respond.

Morgan sits behind her, his hand on her side and his chin on her arm. "Katie." She groans in response, pulling the pillow over her head. "Hey." He whispers, rubbing her back.

"Fuck off." She mumbles back, keeping herself hidden in the safety of her bedsheets. "Leave me alone."

"Hey." He repeats, moving the pillow. "What's wrong?"

"Go away, Morgan." She whines, pushing him away. "Please." Michael stands in the doorway, looking at the two. Morgan doesn't budge from his spot as he tugs the sheets down. "No..."

"What's wrong, Katie?" He asks again, tucking her hair behind her ear, sighing heavily when he sees her raw, red, bloodshot eyes. "Baby..."

"Please." Her voice cracks. "Leave me alone." Morgan looks back at Michael, silently asking him to give them some privacy. He gets the hint then heads to the kitchen to make something for his friend.

Morgan slides his arms under her and lifts her up, carrying her to her bathroom.

He sits her on the closed toilet and looks her over. His worried blue eyes lock with her exhausted brown ones and he sighs heavily. He cups her cheeks, brushing his thumbs over her flushed skin, his heart aching.

She's not very open with her emotions but something is eating her up.

She needs someone to take care of her for now and that person is Morgan. "Arms up." He whispers, tucking his fingers in the hem of her Tennessee Vols tee. She whimpers and shakes her head, looking away from him. "Katie..." He hooks a finger under her chin. "Let me take care of you."

She closes her eyes as tears form in them and lifts her arms, her bottom lip trembling. Morgan reaches over and starts the shower, making sure it's at a warm temperature then gets Katie to her feet, sliding her shorts down her legs.

"Morgan..." She whimpers, wrapping her arms around her bare torso protectively.

He says nothing as he strips his clothes off too, helping her into the shower with him. She starts crying softly against his shoulder, burying her face in the crook of his neck as the water starts soaking them. He just strokes her hair and rubs her back, holding her close while she cries.

The longer he rubs her back, the harder she cries. She's let so much shit stack on her shoulders and she finally cracked. Riley telling her he wants to marry her pushed her over the edge.

After a while of standing under the water that's turned cold, Morgan gets her out and dried off.

"Why are you doin' this?" She whispers, looking up at him from the foot of her bed. She watches him pull clean clothes from her drawers through teary eyes.

He says nothing as he hands her a clean pair of bra and panties. While she's pulling them on, he gets a pair of jeans out of one drawer and a nice long sleeve shirt out of another.

"Morgan-"

"C'mon, get dressed. Let's get you somethin' to eat." She nods and slowly pulls the clothes on, looking up at him with red eyes. "C'mon, baby." He sighs and takes the jeans from her and slides them on for her. She tears up again as she watches his hands on her legs.

"C'mon, let's get somethin' to eat." Morgan repeats and takes her hand, walking her to the kitchen.

"Michael?"

"Hey Kate." He says softly, slicing a sandwich in half. "Here." He hands her a plate then Morgan then one for himself.

"What're y'all doin' here?"

"You weren't-"

"We was just worried 'bout you." Morgan cuts Michael off, his hand resting on Katie's thigh.

"Oh, what is today?" She asks, looking over at the clock. "Shit, it's your album party." She starts to stand. Morgan's quick to stop her.

"Relax, babe." He whispers, sitting her back down. "Just eat, okay?"

"No, I- I gotta get to the venue and-"

"I've got it under control." Michael interrupts. "Everythin' is runnin' smooth, okay?"

"But-"

"I'm actually gonna get back, okay? Make sure things are still good."

"Michael-"

"I'll check in on y'all a couple hours okay?"

"But-" He's out the door before she can say anything else.

Morgan takes her empty plate to the sink then turns back to her. "What's up?"

"It's nothin'. Just stressed." She mumbles back. The look he gives her makes her heart hurt. "You're missin' your party. Get outta here."

"I'm not leavin' without you."

"But-"

"No buts." He says. "Y'ain't gettin' rid of me that easily, Kaitlyn."

She tears up again and looks down at her lap. "Why are you here, Morgan? We- we didn't really-"

"Katie May, stop." He says, sitting next to her. "I'm here 'cause I care 'bout you." She drops her head on his shoulder. "C'mere." She gives him a look and he gives her one back. She sighs quietly as she sits herself in his lap, her forehead on his shoulder. "The party is probably goin' go til midnight so if you wanna nap, we can nap."

She pulls back and he wipes her cheeks. "Come on, let's take a nap." She follows him to her bedroom and climbs into bed, Morgan laying behind her with his arm around her middle.

+++

Kate fixes her red dress as she sits on a bar stool in the corner of the venue. She's been flying under the radar and it's been working so far, no one has really noticed her sitting in the shadows.

Morgan has been texting her to check in on her. She told him everything that's been weighing on her except the whole Riley wanting to marry her and she feels a little better.

Riley's off doing something back in his home state and it's nice to have a break. He tried to cancel on them but Kate talked him into going.

She checks the time and stands. "Where you goin'?" Morgan asks, gently taking her arm.

"Home. It's past one."

"Lemme drive you."

"Morgan, I don't need a baby sitter."

"I know." He takes her hand and walks her out to her Chevy. "You looked beautiful, tonight, Katie."

"Thanks." She mumbles, kicking her strappy heels off. "Why are you still hangin' out with me?"

He licks his lips as he stares at the road in front of him. "I care about you. I just wanna make sure you're okay." Her heart melts. He still cares about her after everything. He pulls up to her house and parks.

"What about your truck?"

"Michael got it handled." He responds, hopping out of the lifted Chevy. "C'mon, let's watch a movie."

Katie smiles to herself as she looks down at her feet, following him into her house. He shuts the door behind her and she heads to her bedroom, stripping down to her bra and panties to change into something more comfortable. Morgan kicks his boots off then lays on her bed, pulling Netflix up while she pulls a baggy shirt on.

He decides on Malcolm in the Middle instead of a movie, wrapping his arm around Katie's shoulders, pulling her against his side.

She drops her head on his chest, feeling safe and secure in his embrace. She quickly falls asleep after he starts raking his fingers through her hair.