Princess & the Player

twenty-one: you can't go home again

Marco's POV:

I slept in while Maggie and her grandmother had breakfast. After my shower, I watched as they walked along the beach, holding hands. It was amazing how physically alike they were. 

I rubbed my skin dry and threw on a t-shirt and board shorts. There wasn't much stuff to pack up so I grabbed my duffle and headed down to check out. An old buddy I'd supposed to meet for an early game of hoops back in New Haven called and chewed me out. I tried to stay cool but found myself telling him that I was in Gloucester to see a girl.

"That's far for a booty call," he laughed.

"I'm on vacation anyway."

"So is this a real girl?"

"As opposed to what? Blow-up girls?"

"Thought you didn't do relationships."

"I don't. Usually."

"When do I get to meet her?"

"Never. You suck. I don't want you scaring her off."

"F*ck you. Bring her to my folks' 4th party."

"In your dreams."

We hung up and my phone immediately rang again. My dad, reminding me to stop by Connolly's fish market and pick up his order of scallops and cod on the way back. 

I finished checking out of the hotel and dropped my stuff back in the SUV. Pulled a towel, one of the new ones from West Virginia, over my shoulder. I was just about on the beach when my phone rang again. It was getting ridiculous.

It was Scottie. 

With a glance towards where Maggie was waiting, I turned back to the parking lot. "What's up?"

"Marco. I can't believe I'm asking you but...do you know where Maggie is?"

"Yeah."

"OK, I'll bite. Where is she?"

"About 50 yards away from me."

"Christ, Marco, don't be a dick. I need to talk to her."

"Then call her. She's got her own phone and knows how to use it. If she wants to talk to you, she'll talk to you."

"She's been ignoring me."

"OK."

"Shit," he growled. "I know the thing with my dad went down bad for her..."

"There's an understatement."

"You know, it's not your f*cking family, Marco."

"Is it yours?"

"I thought you hated drama so why are you knee-deep in it?"

"Are you serious?"

"I've seen how you treat women, Marco. I'm saying you need to stay away from my sister."

"Step-sister."

"F*ck you."

"You ask for favors so damn nice, Scott."

"This is for real, Santos," he paused. "I don't know how much you know but there's stuff..."

"Just give me the message for Maggie," I cut him off. 

"Fine. Her mother must be screwing a lawyer because she got some kind of emergency injunction. The cops took Jeb and Laurie from Dad and gave them back to Ma."

"Doesn't she have a rap sheet like a mile long?"

"She isn't currently being investigated for statutory rape so she wins."