I think I've done at least thirteen puzzles today while hanging out with Cassie. Max says she'll get out of this phase soon, and I can tell he hopes it's soon because this many puzzles hurts your brain.

Cassie and I high five as we finish another one.

"I'm going to go get my princess puzzle." She runs off to her room that she has at Dad's house.

I turn to Max once she's gone. "How many puzzles have you bought her?"

He puts his hands up in defense. "Dad found out about the obsession and just kept buying them."

Someone knocks on the door right as he says that.

"He's fueling an addiction," I say as I stand from my spot. "I'll get it." I'm not going to lie, I kind of just wanted to get out of doing another puzzle.

"I see what you did there!" Max calls out.

I laugh as I open the door.

My laugh is instantly cut short by the man standing outside the door. A face that used to make my stomach erupt into butterflies with one smile, but makes my stomach sick every time I think about it now.

The face of my ex-boyfriend. The one I thought was my love-soulmate.

"What are you doing here, Alaric?" I ask coldly. I choose not to take the nickname route. Those are for people who know each other, or at least are friends. He doesn't know who I am anymore.

"I heard you were in town." His voice makes my stomach flop around a couple times.

My mind flashes to the cafe with Wilbur. Ashleigh. How do I just know she told Ric? And how is there's no doubt she mentioned I was with a man? Because that's Ashleigh for you.

"Well then unhear it." I go to close the door, but he puts his hand in the way.

"I can't," Alaric says. I consider for a second of just slamming his hand in the crack but go against that idea. "Not when I haven't said sorry."

I roll my eyes. "Don't waste your breath on words we both know you don't mean."

He sighs, proving I'm right. "How are you doing?" he asks as if this is a casual conversation.

"I'm doing good, but I bet you already knew that." I take a deep breath. "That's the only time you seem to show back up. When you see on social media that I'm happy. Isn't that strange? How you always want to put a damper in my day because the world didn't turn out how you wanted it to be?"

I can hear footsteps behind me. I wonder if it's my dad or Max. Either way, it makes me a little more confident.

"Now I'm still a doctor." Ric puts a finger in the air as if to make a point. "What are you doing for a job again? Minecraft? Playing video games like a kid still? Grow up, Maia."

My blood boils. "As a matter of fact, I am. And I bet, even as a woman, I am making pretty damn close to what you as a fucking surgeon. How you feel about that, Ric? How's your ego after that blow?"

His eyes blaze. I've hit a nerve. He threw me under the bus a long time ago, but now I've rose far above where he is.

"Maybe you could be an inspiration to those kids," Ric muses. I can tell there's something brewing in his brain. "Maybe show them that no matter how much they fuck up they can be rich from Minecraft."

Something knots in my chest; I find myself push back tears at how he thinks I can just be some sort of recovery story. I am so much more than that, even then it's never defined me. I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

It must've been my brother behind me because he steps forward. "Hey, now you-"

I glance behind me to reassure him that I've got this. I notice Dad carrying Cassie away from here.

I turn back to Alaric. "Don't twist the truth. We both know what really happened, not the version you tell people. It took two people to-"

"What in your fucked up little brain thought-" Alaric starts to interrupt me.

"Okay, it's time you leave." Max steps forward now. "You're not welcomed here anymore. Honestly never were, so I get out of here before I call the cops." I can sense the anger in Max now. "Maybe they'll be on the right side this time."

Alaric grumbles something unintelligible before beginning to turn around. I've never seen his eyes give up so quickly before, but he's always avoided Max as much as he could've.

Max is starting to shut the door. My mind blanks to one insult Alaric used, and I have one more thing surge through me.

"And I play more than just Minecraft!" I yell out through the closing door. "If you're going to go for low blows, at least be fucking educated!"

Max shuts the door hard and rests his head against it.

I fold my arms. "I had that, you know. I can fight my own battles."

Max sighs, turning to me. I recognize the look of disappointment as his mouth is in a straight line, but the side of his lips are ever-so-slightly downcast.

"You can't just fire him up like that, Maia. It's dangerous territory, and you know that," he says.

"I was just telling him the-"

"You have a record, okay?" Max says sternly, "Shit like this won't just get pushed aside if the police get involved."

My mouth pops open just a tad. My voice sounds softer now. "It's not all my fault."

"I know." Max sighs again. "Just be... Look, I thought you learned, but it seems to be a little harder for you when you're in Brighton. Just be more careful with things."

Now my jaw drops fully. I hate when he gets like this. Talking down to me anytime Alaric gets involved. He knows I get cloudy-minded, but this time was different. I knew exactly what was going on, and I knew exactly what I should've said.

My blood boils up again. I push past Max and go out the door.

"Where are you going, Maia?" Max calls me.

"Out. Don't worry about me."

"With who?" he asks as I walk down the porch's steps, relieved Ric's car is gone.

"Wilbur, I don't know. Someone." My voice is cold. He knows to drop the subject.

Once I'm far enough from the house, I sit on the curb by myself in the dark.

I consider calling George. He's my only friend who knows what happened, but there's not much he can do from London. I end up clicking on Wilbur's name. He's really my only friend in Brighton besides six-year old Cassie.

"Hey, what's up?" Wilbur asks.

"Hey." I clear my throat. It sounds like I've been crying, which I won't lie, I did a little bit. "Are you doing anything right now?"

"No, why?"

"Would you be down for some drinking?" I ask with a pathetic chuckle.

"I'm on my way."