Best Friend 2: Unlove You (Book 3)

Chapter 3

(Erica in MM)

"How many times are you gonna make me apologize? I fucked up okay. And I swear I get that but don't continue to use it against me." Erica said as she stood in his office wet from rain and shaking. She'd disappeared a couple weeks ago and hadn't been seen since. He sent in the proof to the courts and was granted full custody. She looked like she was back on drugs and he refused to do it again. "I'm not doing anything E. You disappeared four weeks ago. No one has seen or heard from you and you're seriously playing victim right now. You look like you're on drugs again. I refuse to do this and you're not putting Emmett through it. Go get help." Dallas was really done with her. She was his down fall and he couldn't let his life be like that again. He watched her sadly walk away and a little part of him wanted to stop and chase after her but he knew it was for the best.

Amori awakened with Luca buried deep in her side and his face nuzzled into her neck. She carefully slipped from under him and made her way to the bathroom to meet Dallas for breakfast. They hadn't seen each other in about 3 weeks and she kind of missed him. She went to brush her teeth and looked at her hand to see a ring. "Luca!" She called as she rushed back into the room. "Yeah baby?" He answered naturally. "What in the hell is this?" She said holding her hand up. He smiled but was slightly confused. "It's an engagement ring. What else would it be?" She looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. "Are you on drugs or some shit? Luca a ring? What kind of games are you playing here?" She took the ring off and placed it on the bed. "Games? What are you talking about games? I'm serious about this." She shook her head. "I have to go and you need to leave and take all of your stuff with you and leave my key on the bedside table. Now." Amori demanded as she knew she never really loved him. She was in love with the idea of him. He looked at her sadly. "What's the problem Amori? Cause I don't get it. I am here for you in every way I can be. I show you in more ways than one. I just don't get it with you. I do the things for you most men wouldn't even attempt. So what the hell is the problem?" He was in disbelief. "You are the problem Luca. You can't buy my love and affection. You can't shower me with gifts to over shadow your insecure behavior. You don't think. You act on impulse. And at first it was attractive but you seem to constantly be in competition with no one Luca. I'm done with it." He looked at her and shook her head. "You know what. You have been acting differently since that Dallas guy came to town. I'm not stupid. I'm a grown man. I don't need pacifying with little white lies when I'm not blind Amori." He said while packing after getting dressed. "That's just it Luca. Dallas is just a childhood friend. We have years of friendship under our belts. That's all it is to it. Just leave. Please. Whatever you didn't get I'll send it to you. Good bye Luca." She said accepting her key and watching him storm out.

After a long shower and finally getting dressed the doorbell rang. Amori was still getting dressed when she opened the door for Dallas. "I'm running late. Sorry. Morning kind of started wrong." She said walking towards her room and him following behind her. She sat at her vanity as she finished her make up. "It's fine, Erica had me late because she'd disappeared and I got full custody of Emmett then decided she wants to be a parent again." He said in big breath as he took a seat. "Emmett?" She stopped and looked back at him only to see him holding the ring she'd just thrown back at Luca. "What's this?" Dallas asked in return. "I asked first." Amori said. Dallas shook his head. "Mine is bigger." He replied. She sighed deeply. "Luca proposed this morning as a way to cover for his behavior and how he feels about you because he doesn't trust me and thinks we're sneaking around together." Dallas raised an eyebrow as he sat back down with the ring. "You surely don't sound the least bit excited about getting married to the man you love." He told her. "I'm not excited." She replied. "Well why marry him?" He asked. "I'm not marrying him. I broke up with him actually. I think I was more in love with the idea of him. I loved him don't get me wrong but it just wasn't enough to ruin our lives with marriage." Amori explained sadly. Dallas knew what she meant because that's exactly what he and Erica had done. "Now who's Emmett?" Amori said quickly changing the subject. "Long story and if I start we'll never make it out of here so I'll explain on the way." Amori nodded and painted on her lipstick before grabbing her things to leave.

Once making sure she was safely inside the truck, he entered the drivers side and pulled off. "Before you ask questions, I promise to explain everything just let us find some food first." He said with a chuckle causing her to giggle. He actually pulled up to a upscale café with a outside patio. They took a seat and gave their orders. "So about this elaborate story you're holding on me." Amori said as she took a sip of orange juice. Dallas thanked the waiter as he placed the plates in front of them and disappeared. "After graduation me and Erica were all set to start our lives. We had legit jobs and everything then I got drafted before we were able to take a breath. My career picked up and so did hers. She started running with a different crowd than her cheer and sorority sisters, things slowly began to change and she'd gotten out of control. She'd started using cocaine and I found her passed out on the floor one day after practice. Got her to the hospital and she miscarried from overdosing. Twice. I'd had enough and decided that rehab was best. She was gone for about a year. When she came back things changed and I could see the real us again. Found out she was pregnant. Once Emmett was born we were happier than ever. One day after he'd turned 6 months, found her and a friend of ours in bed together. Left her and started fighting for full custody. Found out he wasn't mine but I'm the only father he knows." Dallas told his dark truth. It was still surreal. "Why not do shared custody?" Amori asked innocently. Dallas shook his head. "I could see it in her eyes that she was doing drugs again. She disappeared 3 weeks ago and we had a custody hearing. I got full custody because she was found unfit and a no show. Erica showed up at my house this morning and she was high. She looked like she's given up. I don't want my son around that." Amori smirked at his choice of words. "What? Why the look?" He asked nervously. She quickly shook her head and took the last sip of her juice. Dallas watched her for a second before dropping it and changing the subject. "I got something I wanna show you." He said with small smile.

They pulled up to a building and he quickly opened her door. "Where are we?" She asked after exiting the truck. "Just follow me." He replied. The giant parking lot was full and the building was gorgeous. They walked inside to see kids along the walls sitting in chairs, running down the halls, in rooms exercising, getting fitted for equipment, eating, going over plays, dancing, it was practically heaven for kids. "So is this a daycare or something?" She asked as she watched kids run from every area of the building. "No. I opened this center for kids. It's a sports training and dance center. We also offer tutoring, scholarships just about anything that can help inner city kids. We do fundraisers to run this place and the few other centers just like it." She smiled and continued to follow him. She was really impressed and very proud of him. "We also have a daycare center." He said taking her into the back where there's less noise. "Moriah." An older lady said softly before being seen. "Yes. It's me." He said sliding his key card and signing in. "I brought a visitor." He added. Amori recognized that voice very well. His mother came from the back with a baby in her arms. "Amori?" She asked. Dallas accepted the baby from her and stepped aside. "Mama Reese." She did before embracing the lady. "You look beautiful." Reese told her. "So do you." Amori replied. After catching up quickly Dallas returned. "Is that my handsome grandson?" Emmett giggled before Dallas could answer. "Amori this is my son Emmett Grayson Johnson." She played with his fingers and tickled his side gently.

During lunch they sat in the court yard and talked about the center and to catch up on more of the past. "So is all of this a way to cover the hurt and guilt you're harboring or is it all a way to make life easier for others?" Dallas chuckled at her bluntness. "If I had to choose I'd say a little bit of both." He watched her with Emmett and it made him feel a little lighter.