An Old Fashioned book two Full Circle Series

A Hard Goodbye

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Chapter 33

Maggie

When the knock came I worried that it was her. I know Trent is doing everything to protect me from my mother. He's even gotten his lawyer involved. I'm just afraid it will get worse before it gets better. That always seems to happen.

"Blondie, open the door!"

At the sound of Jeremy's voice, I jumped, my heart skipped a beat. Not my mother, not her but Jeremy. I hurried to unlock the door and open it, finding the usual scowl on my visitor's face. Without a word, he stomped past me and into the apartment as if he's a child being sent to his room.

"Come in." I muttered after the fact.

"I'm here because I was ordered to babysit you and the kid. I'm not back. I'm not staying. I'm not going to bond with anyone! Clear?" The glare in his eyes said he doesn't want to be here.

Trent called him I assume. He needed help over there and asked one of the few people he trusts to take care of us. Mitch, Cole and Harper must have their hands full. He brought Jeremy into this because he didn't have a choice.

And Jeremy doesn't want to be relied on.

That's just sad. This used to be his place too. His friends, his family, his work. I feel like he lost everything when we decided to adopt Zoe. He left because he couldn't take seeing Zoe every day to remind him of what he did to Trent, what broke that trust they used to have before Adrienne ruined it.

He left because he felt he deserved the friendship he once had.

He's so angry with himself. He has really put himself in a corner and that pride of his just keeps getting in his way. He's made a lot of mistakes. I know that but we have all made mistakes. Jeremy just keeps punishing himself for them and then tries so hard to do the right thing. Unfortunately, it always backfired on him.

I understand why Emerly fell for him. She got his story and saw him as a lost soul she could make better. Jeremy, in his way, loves his friends like family and by stepping out of the picture, he thought it could make up for the things he's done. He didn't mean to fall for her just as he didn't want to hurt her. I think the feelings he got for Emerly took him by surprise because no one else has ever really loved him before. And it overwhelmed him.

Emerly didn't mean to fall for him, anymore than Jeremy meant to fall for her. Jeremy just believes that he doesn't deserve to be loved. Em thought she could change that. She didn't realize that this isn't something she can fix. Jeremy has to want to change.

"Would you like some coffee or a beer?" I offered, ignoring his frown and went to the kitchen as I continued talking to him. "I don't have any whiskey but I have some vodka and coke. I've also got some leftover lemon chicken from dinner. I can warm it up for you."

"Did you not hear what I just said?" Jeremy stands in the doorway not sure how to take me.

I've confused him. Good, he needs it.

Not stopping what I was doing, I pulled out a beer and the container of leftovers from the fridge and got a plate. "I heard you and I have no desire to keep you from your important life. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to squeeze in helping me out."

"Since when do you smartass?" Jeremy's eyebrows drop low over his eyes. There's a deep crease between his brows. His lips are tightly pressed together and he's grinding his teeth.

He doesn't like feeling that he has to help out but his conscience won't let him refuse. Interesting. "I can come up with a good line when I need to. This isn't one of those times. What I am doing is called being polite and hospitable. It's what is expected when you have someone do something nice for you when you need help. You might like to try it. Now, are you hungry?"