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Maya Brooks (Tyler's Mom)

"I just don't know how to fix us anymore." I cried in Char's chest as she rubbed my back.

"Maya, think about this." Char whispered. "Don't do anything too harsh."

"I've thought about it. I've been thinking about it!" I cried. "Lewis and I have been having problems for years. I don't know where we go from here."

"What about counseling?" She suggested. "I know you two did that for a while. Did it work any?"

"Obviously not." I sniffled sitting up. "Char, I tried to fight through this for Tyler and Hunter, but I don't think I have any fight left."

"You two are business partners, Maya. You're throwing away a lot more than just the 'r' in 'Mrs.'." She said.

"I know." I sighed. "My family, my career, half of our assets. There's a lot that's being lost."

"If you're willing to lose all of that, then go for it." Char shrugged. "I'm not trying to convince you to stay with Lewis, but you two have built a life together. There is no going back after this."

"What will Tyler and Hunter think?" I asked.

"Tyler isn't dumb. He knows what's going on." She shook her head. "Hunter's the baby. He's going to have to find out one way or another."

"I don't want to make them feel like they have to choose, though." I stared down at my hands. "I don't want them to pick sides and I don't want to ruin their holiday."

"I get that and I'm sure they'll understand once you sit them down and talk to them. Talk with them because when it comes to something like this, you have a lot to explain, but you have to listen to them and how they feel. You all need to be on the same page here." Char explained. "I mean, you can wait until we're all back home to do this, but there's never a right time for this type of thing."

She always knew what to say. She always knew how to deliver the hard truth without seeming cruel. Maybe that's why we were best friends. Maybe that's why her marriage was perfect and mine was about to be nonexistent. Why couldn't she deliver the news to them? Why hadn't I been blessed with her abilities?

Amari

"Its cold!" I laughed rushing into the house.

I waved my hands and jumped around shivering.

"Where did you go?" Dad laughed walking over to me.

"I went to buy some thicker socks." I tossed my bag to him and he opened it to look at my socks.

"Nice. I want these." He pulled out the socks with snowmen all over it.

I kicked my boots off before rushing to take off my hat, gloves, and coat. It was freezing!

"Oh my God!" I squealed running over to my Dad.

He laughed and pulled me into a big warm hug while also blowing his breath in my face as I struggled to get away.

"That's nasty!" I laughed turning my head.

"I'm warming you up!" He laughed letting me go and I fell to the floor.

Dad laughed and walked away leaving me sitting there.

"Amateur!" He called out to me.

"Those aren't your socks!" I yelled back.

"They are now!" And he ran upstairs.

I stood up before being wrestled back to the ground.

"Where are my socks?" Hunter asked sitting on my back.

"My Dad has the whole bag!" I laughed.

"I want my three dollars back, Rose!" He said slapping my forehead.

"Ow! You're heavy too!"

"Well, my feet are practically blocks of ice. I wouldn't be this heavy if I had warmer socks." He huffed.

I struggled to laugh as I tried to knock him off of me.

"Is it sit on Amari time?" I heard Jake ask before I felt someone sit on my legs causing me to groan and laugh at the same time.

"Yeah. We're sharing stories right now." Hunter laughed.

"Really? Whose turn is it?" Jake asked.

"Mine." Hunter cleared his throat. "I remember a time, not too long ago, I had given my favorite sister, well, when she was my favorite sister, three dollars to buy me warm socks because my feet were cold. I never saw that three dollars or those socks after that."

"Oh my god!" I laughed. "My Dad has them!"

"Well, I have a story. Similar, really." Jake started. "I gave this girl, who actually looks like this seat, a ten dollar bill because she said she was going to drive to the store with her Mom. I told her to bring back snacks and I still don't have any snacks. I was going to share with her, too!"

"My Dad has it!" I laughed.

"Don't fib on me." Dad said coming back downstairs.

"You're not going to help me?" I asked turning my head to look at him. "This is your fault after all."

"No I'm not going to help you. I didn't even know you were going to the store when you left!" Dad said. "Serves you right!"

"What's happening down here?" Naomi asked as she and Tyler came downstairs.

"We were scammed!" Hunter said jumping up and pointing at me.

Jake laughed and helped me up.

"I didn't scam you!" I pointed at my Dad. "I was robbed!"

"I'm leaving!" Dad sang walking away.

"What? I missed sitting on Amari time?" Tyler asked fake disappointed. "Thanks a lot, Hunter."

"What can I say? We don't take lightly to scammers." Hunter shrugged throwing his arm over my shoulders. "Where are you two going?"

"Nowhere. We just wanted to see what you guys were doing." Naomi said.

"Amari!" Dad called from the top of the stairs.

I ran over and he threw the bag downstairs.

"Are those my socks?" Hunter asked.

"And my snacks?" Jake asked.

"Yes." I laughed. "Get them out because I'm keeping my stuff in the bag."

I handed the bag to Hunter and he and Jake went into the kitchen to get their things out. Hunter and Jake had actually grown very close to each other over the last few days. They'd play the game together, they were always talking about sports, and they teamed up against my regularly. It was the type of relationship you hoped your brother would have with your boyfriend. The type of relationship I hoped Tyler would've had with Jake.

Naomi had gone into the kitchen with Jake and Hunter leaving Tyler and I alone.

"You're moping." I said before I could stop myself.

"Huh?" Tyler asked looking at me.

"Nothing." I shook my head.

I wanted to ask him about the party. Why had he chosen to be with Naomi rather than me when it was clear that we wanted each other. I wanted to ask him why he had rejected me so many times before only to come back and have feelings for me. Where had his feelings come from?

"Is everything alright with you and Naomi?" I asked.

"Everything's fine." He nodded. "You and Jake?"

"Same." I looked away. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing. Why? Does it look like something is wrong?" He asked.

"Tyler, I know you. Why're you hiding things from me?" I asked.

"I'm not." Tyler shrugged. "Can you let it go? Please?"

I stared at him for a moment longer before shrugged.

"Sure. I mean, if you can let important things go, so can I." I rolled my eyes and walked away.

Only he made me act like this without provoking me.

Tyler

Did she have to be so over dramatic? Did she have to have an attitude with me when I couldn't do anything about it? I thought she wanted Jake! I thought I had made things easier for her. Me. Everyone! I followed her into the living room and sat beside her on the couch.

"Stop being angry." I sighed running a hand through my hair. "I don't like when you're mad at me."

"And I don't like when you pretend I don't exist." She mumbled flipping through channels on the TV.

"I don't act like you don't exist." I said staring at the side of her face.

"Yeah you do. You are!" She said. "You don't talk to me anymore and you're hiding things from me."

"I'm not hiding anything from you, Amari." I laughed grabbing onto her hand causing her to look at me. "It's just something you shouldn't have to worry about."

"If you're worrying about it, I should too." She said softly.

I glanced at her lips then back to her eyes. They were in the kitchen. I can't do anything with her. I can't kiss her or it'll ruin things for her and Jake.

"No you shouldn't." I shook my head letting go of her hand. "It's private."

"Tyler..." I cut her off.

"Just drop it. It's not that interesting." I shook my head. "What's taking them so long?"

I stood up and walked to the kitchen leaving Amari alone. This is the only way i could control myself. Isolate myself and push her away. Focus on the problem at hand, not her.

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