“Do you? Or do you just want someone who needs you again? But now that Amy’s here filling that void, who needs Maggie?”
“Damn it. That’s not true.” Her eyes watered, and he felt like shit. “Maggie, you know that’s not true.”
“I don’t know anything anymore. Reggie, go figure out what you want in life. Not what I want for you. Not what Amy needs from you. And do some research. Talk to her parents or sister. Get at the truth. Then make some decisions. I love you, but if you don’t truly love me, if you’re only going through the same patterns as the past, then I’m not good for you either. And you’re not good for me.”
“Are we breaking up?” He couldn’t understand how his life was spiraling when just two weeks ago, he’d been the happiest he’d ever been in his life.
“I know howIfeel. It’s you who’s the problem.” She gently helped him to his feet and walked him to the door. “You’re a smart man. So why do you let others step all over you? Why are you so drawn to saving others when you really need to be saving yourself? Figure it out and let me know. And please, don’t have her answering your phone anymore. It bothers me. A lot.”
She shut the door behind him.
He just stood there, feeling stupid. And then the rage hit. He stormed away from her apartment and jumped into his car.
Next stop—Amy’s sister.
An hour later, he pulled into her sister’s driveway, walked to the door, and knocked. Denise opened the door, took a long drag of her cigarette as she looked at him, and laughed. “Now I get it. She went running back to you.”
“Hi, Denise.” They’d never gotten along when he’d been dating Amy. He’d thought at the time it was due to Denise’s jealousy issues, since she and Amy had never been best of friends. Now he wondered… “What’s going on with Amy?”
“You here for the truth or to confirm the lies she’s been spinning?”
“The truth.”
“Your girl is on again, off again with Devon. This must be an off period. He’s in Tacoma interning as an electrician. But that shit takes time, and he’s too busy to deal with a needy ex-wife. Plus, his girlfriend doesn’t like Amy around all the time. She’s gorgeous and distracts Devon.”
Reggie felt a headache coming on. “What about Rachel?”
Denise puffed away. “That poor kid has no idea she’s being used by her mother to get everyone to jump to her bidding. My folks took her in, you know.”
“She said. Then she said they kicked her and Rachel out.”
“No. They kicked Amy out because she keeps hanging on to Devon. They want her to keep her distance and take care of Rachel. But Amy follows that creep around. One thing that seems to be true is he’s off the drugs and supposedly done running scams. I don’t know.”
“Wait.” He had to be hearing wrong. “Amy can stay with your parents if she leaves Devon?”
“Yep. But she loves him and won’t leave him. He wants little to do with Rachel, sadly. So she’s not sticking around for my niece.” Denise sneered, “Hell, I even bounced Devon a few times. He’s great in the sack but such a loser when he’s not fucking.”
Reggie blew out a breath.
“She loved you, you know. She wasn’t faking that,” Denise said kindly. “From everything she said, you’re a decent guy. She just can’t quit Devon. He’s like a drug.” Denise shrugged. “She makes bad choices, but no one ever holds her accountable. Frankly, I’m surprised my folks threatened to kick her out and actually followed through. The problem is, it’s Rachel who’s suffering.”
Reggie, disturbed, thanked her before driving to Amy’s parents. Once there, he got the same story. He invited her folks to come to his house and get Rachel, and they agreed to come the very next morning.
He drove home, not sure what to think. But before veering toward his house, he made a detour. Someone he needed to talk to.
He knocked on Mack’s door and waited.
Mack opened it, saw him, and closed it again.
Reggie banged again. “Damn it. Mack, I need to talk.”
Mack opened up and stepped back with a bow. “Your Royal Fuckhead, please, come in.”
Reggie sighed. “Can just one person get off my dick?”
Mack looked him over and shook his head. “Beer?”
“Got any lemonade?”
