Running Into You

Maggie got out of the shower and dried off, pulling on a T-shirt and pair of shorts. She toweled her hair and decided to let it air dry to its natural state.

Makayla was waiting in the kitchen with a bowl of soup in front of her, along with some hot tea.

“How did this happen, Mak? How did I not see this coming?”

“Honey, this is not your fault! That dickhead played you! He told you what you wanted to hear and then took what he wanted. I don’t know about Olivia, I thought I knew her too.

“I just can’t imagine what she was thinking, but listen to me! You are going to be stronger because of this! I love you and know you can do this; you can survive this!”

A few tears slipped down Maggie’s face as she listened.

“I just never thought that Jason would steal from me. My entire savings account, and my checking account. I have no money for rent!

“Plus, if the credit card company decides against me, I’m going to have to figure out a way to start making payments for a fifteen-thousand-dollar bill!”

“Honey, Mike and I talked, and if you need some money to tide you over, we can—”

“No! That is your money for the baby! I am not taking your money!”

“I’m not due for seven months; we know you will pay it back. Besides, that’s what friends do, help each other, not hurt each other.”

Maggie took her hand. “I know, and I love you and Mike for wanting to help, but I think I have this figured out.

“I talked to Brett yesterday and he is going to schedule me every day this week except for Thursday so I can play in the game, and I should be able to make enough in tips for my rent. “Luckily, payday is in a few weeks and after next week, if I can cut a few corners on food, I should be okay. If I work at the club through the summer, I should be able to start saving again.”

“You’re going to be teaching every day, then going to work at Brett’s place every night?”

“Yes, I don’t have any other options. I don’t have any family to help me. So this is on me.”

Makayla knew she was finding a losing battle and gave up. She sat with her best friend as she finished eating.

“I’m gonna go. Mike and I have dinner plans with his sister. See you at the game?”

“Have fun with Stella, I know how much you like her!”

Makayla stuck her tongue out, hugged her, and made her promise to call if she needed anything.

Maggie sat on the couch with Gus on her lap and thought about Jason. He was good-looking but had been distant and secretive for the last few months. Now she knew what it was.

He had cheated on her with her best friend and forged a credit card in her name to buy gifts for his lover. He was hiding the bills and making minimum payments so she wouldn’t find out.

And she didn’t find out until she came home early from work and walked in on Jason balls deep in Olivia.

It wasn’t pretty when she threw them out and told them both to go to hell. That day, she had embodied the stereotype of the hot-tempered redhead. It had been weeks since then.

They got their revenge when they cleaned out her bank accounts last week, leaving her with nothing. She didn’t hesitate to go to the police and start legal proceedings.

Mike and Makayla convinced her to go to the lawyer to see if there was anything else she could do. And since it was Spring Break, she could go and not take a day off from her class.

She loved teaching and being around kids. At some point, she wanted to get married and have four kids of her own.

After six months with Jason, he seemed to fit the bill, but he turned out to be a liar and a cheat.

Was having a happy family really too much to ask? Maybe. Between Jason and her father, she had no faith in men.

Growing up an only child had been lonely, but Olivia and Makayla were there for her from second grade on.

Her mother had died in a car accident when she was six years old

As she got older, she found out that her father didn’t hold a normal job. He was a con artist and a thief and ran off to who-knows-where after spending a few years in jail.

She was only eight when her father went on the run, and she never heard from him again. Thankfully, her dear grandmother stepped in and raised her.

Maggie had put herself through college, working two and three jobs while studying to become a teacher.

Her grandmother had died of a stroke when she was a freshman but left her a small insurance policy and some other money to get by.

Instead of using it, Maggie had put it away in a bank that no one knew about except Makayla. Luckily, she never told Olivia. That was all the money she had left and she was using that to save for a little house of her own, vowing to not touch it for anything other than a down payment.

Maggie was awakened from her trip down memory lane by a knock on the door. She glanced at the clock and saw she had been sitting for a few hours. Sighing, she went to answer the door.

On the other side of the door was one of the hottest men she had ever seen, smiling. After a double take, her anger rose as recognized the man who had knocked her into the puddle.

“Come back to finish the job? Going to ruin the rest of my clothes? How did you even find me?” she snapped at him.