The Driving Force to Love (MXM) ✔

Chapter 48

Dean Axle Lance

I put the clean sheets on the bed and then the quilt. I glanced around my bedroom just to make sure everything was in order. Then I went into the kitchen to start dinner.

My phone rang just as I took the hamburger out of the fridge. "Hello," I answered.

"Hey, Dean," Mark said.

"Everything going alright?" I asked. I left the hamburger on the counter and sat at one of the kitchen chairs to talk with my brother.

"Yeah," he said. There was a slight pause and then he said, "What do you think of Missy?"

"She's nice," I said. I was suddenly worried he was asking because Mark was thinking of making her my sister-in-law.

"Don't just tell me what you think I want to hear," Mark said. "What do you really think of her?"

I sighed. I didn't want to get into this conversation with him. Things had been going well between my brother and I and I didn't want to ruin that. "I don't know," I said. "She does seem nice and you two seem to really love each other so isn't that all that really matters?"

"Dean," he said in a tone that he knew there was more to it than what I was saying.

Fine. If we wanted me to answer truthfully, I would. I just hoped he wouldn't hate me for it. "At first, I was worried that she would get back on meth and drag you with her. Now I worry that she's changed her addiction to alcohol. That is a dangerous addiction too. I'm just worried about you, Mark. I finally feel like I have my brother back and I don't want that to change."

There was a long pause as I waited for him to respond. "I confronted her about her drinking," he said. "It didn't go well. She yelled and swore and left. And I had no desire to chase after her."

He paused as if waiting for me to say something, but I didn't have anything to say. And part of me was worried anything I did say would come across as unsympathetic or make things worse. I couldn't say I was surprised at her behavior. I was surprised that Mark had confronted her.

"She was fired for drinking on the job," he said.

An audible sigh escaped me before I could stop it. "Do you think I should break up with her?" he asked.

Yes. Definitely yes. "I can't tell you what to do, Mark," I said.

"But you wouldn't be sad about it if I did break up with her," he pressed.

I paused before I said, "No, I wouldn't."

It was his turn to sigh heavily into the phone. "But," I said, "If you love her and think she can overcome this addiction like she did with meth, then maybe you should try." I really didn't want him to pursue another addict, but I had never been in his shoes. Maybe it was good for another addict who overcame his addictions to be with another addict who overcame her addictions. They could support each other. The problem was, Missy hadn't overcome her addictions.

"I feel like a horrible person, Dean. I thought I loved her. I thought I was going to be with her for the rest of our lives, but now I don't want to even bother."

"Then, she isn't the one for you, Mark. You need to focus on your recovery. I know it can't be easy, but you've been doing well. You need to surround yourself with people who are going to encourage you to keep doing well." I paused to let him say something, but when he didn't, I said, "Do you want to come over? I'm making hamburgers."

"Isn't Antonio coming over tonight?"

"Yeah, but you are welcome to come too. I know he won't mind."