I woke up clawing at my throat in a sweat drenched t-shirt. I was so thirsty that it felt like I hadn’t drunk anything in days. I knew it came from me yelling from the constant nightmares that I had been having. I reached beside me and grabbed the bottle that was half-full and gulped the water all the way down in a matter of seconds.

Tonight, the nightmare was the same as it had been for the past couple of nights; I was basically reliving the night my mother was killed. These nightmares were so vivid that it seemed like the entire scene was tattooed in my mind. I mean, I could smell and taste everything that I did that night and the shit scared the hell out of me like it had all those years ago.

I thought about calling Game to confide in him, but I knew I couldn’t do that. We moved very fast, and to be honest, I didn’t need that distraction in my like. It seemed like being with him made me happy, but at the same time, everything that he was going through was causing me to relive my past; a past that I’d shielded myself from for so long.

It had been three days since I last heard from him and I was avoiding him like the plague. I was complicated and from what I could see, he was too, and that just made for a disaster. I had to get myself together and focus on me. Chandler had found me a place, I had a job, and that was all that I needed to be worried about.

I’d also made the decision that I would give Game back the deed to the library that he purchased for me. I just didn’t need to feel like I was indebted to him because I honestly needed to detach myself from him. Sure, Kayla and I would always be cool for everything that she had done for me, but I knew that I could no longer burden her or Game. I had to put my big girl panties on and finally do something for myself, on my own.

I fell asleep about an hour later and had to be right back up to get ready for work in three hours. I knew that today would be a long day and I prayed that it flew by. The faster it went by, the quicker I could make it to Game’s home to give him back the deed to the library.

I walked up to his home, kind of nervous about what I was about to do, but I knew that it had to be done. That was stupid of me to accept such a large gift from a man anyway. No one had ever given me anything except Mama C, and she taught me the value of hard work. I hadn’t done anything to get this library, so rightfully, it didn’t belong to me.

I sat the deed to the library on the porch and started to scurry away when the door was swung open.

“DADDYYY, your little friend is here,” a rude Ava said and then skipped right on past me.

This little thing had blown my cover. My plan was to just leave the deed and I wouldn’t have had to even see Game, but now he was standing in the doorway with Logan by his side staring right at me.

He picked up the deed from the ground and after realizing what it was, he shook his head.

“You want to come in and talk?” he asked.

I so badly wanted to say no, but when this man spoke it was like he cast a spell over me, so I reluctantly followed him.

Logan went off into another room, leaving Game and me alone to talk.

“Running again, I see,” he spoke calmly.

“I’m not running. I’m here in your presence, aren’t I?” I replied, finding my strength.

“So, why did you bring me this?” He flung the papers across the room.

“Because I shouldn’t have accepted it in the first place. Please believe that I am grateful for everything but—”

“But what? This is the way you show your gratitude? By returning the gift?”

“Look, I didn’t come here to do this with you. Thank you for everything, but you and I are just too different. We would never be able to work.”

I turned around to walk away.

“What if I needed you?” I heard him say, prompting me to turn around.

“What?”

“What if I need you? I don’t know what you are doing to me Misty, but I need you. You say that crystal that you wear around your neck brings you peace, well you are my peace,” he said sincerely.

“You don’t need me, and I don’t have anything to give you. Don’t you see that I am broken and empty? Empty with nothing to give.”

I clutched my heart as I wiped away the falling tears. I didn’t want to admit it, but since I’d met Game he had been my peace as well, even when we were arguing. I was just scared and didn’t want to rush things with him. I was scared that he would see me for the broken girl that I was.

“Blue, I don’t see broken. I see a fighter. I see a beautiful woman with scars who is deserving of love just like anyone else. I see the woman that I want to take a chance on.”

“Game, I don’t know,” I said, still wiping away tears. I would punch my damn self in the throat if I cried in front of this man.

“You don’t have to know. Let’s just do this shit.” He put it simply.

After staring at him for a moment, I finally nodded, indicating that I would give this crazy love a chance.

“Yeah, let’s do this shit!” I heard from behind me, and there stood Logan which made me bust out laughing. This little girl was mess.

“Grounded! Two weeks!” Game yelled.