Reynolds' POV.

My eyes darted back and forth. Shifting from Amyra to the guy sitting on the bed with her. They seemed to know each other well.

"Amyra, you left without letting me know." He sounded like her parents would. Why did he think he deserved to be told about her whereabouts? I tried not to imagine that he was her partner. If that were the case, it would be pointless for her to come back to me after a decade. And she wouldn't have stormed out on Tiana and I. Amyra still loved me, I knew it because she looked at me the same. He was probably her boss.

"I did. You weren't going to let me go if I told you I was leaving. This is Reynolds." She pointed at me. Finally, I was introduced. "He is the guy I told you about."

I was relieved to know that she had mentioned me to him. It was amusing how I suddenly felt like I needed his validation.

"Oh, your childhood friend?" He asked as he stretched his hand out for a hand clasp. My face wrinkled in a frown as my gaze pierced his soul.

"Childhood friend?" I looked at Amyra with confusion. "Did you tell him that or did he choose to believe that?"

"I told him about us, Rey. But Jake doesn't believe that love is real if both parties aren't at least twenty years old. We were very young, you know. We spent five years together. Come to think of it, we began dating when I was thirteen and you were fifteen. He believes that what we did is simply what all teenagers do but even though they never forget about each other, they never end up together."

"What the hell?" That was the most stupid thing I had ever heard. Who was this guy and what had he done to my Amyra?

"I know, right?" Amyra gave a weak laugh. "He thinks it's best to wait until twenty as you'd be able to figure your emotions out better."

"That's way too much time to spend," I cut in. "I find it unnecessary waiting for what you can have. I had a chance to have you and I didn't let it slide. I lost you but that doesn't mean I replaced you. Amyra if you must know, I have not loved anyone else since then. It doesn't matter if we were five back then, I loved you with everything I had and even at this moment, I love you with everything I have."

Although it seemed like Amyra wasn't aware, it seemed that Jake was into her. His facial expression showed jealousy as he listened to me speak. There was a wry smile on his face. He reached out to take her hand and she offered it to him. "Amyra," He said, wearing a smile that was both fake and evil. "I'm glad that you are okay. Now, tell me. How did you end up in the hospital?"

"Oh, it's a long story. The point is that Reynolds saved me."

He scoffed. "How would you know that?"

"Because I witnessed it. I saw him save me."

"What if he did that to make you see him as a hero? It's a common thing for pick-me men."

I couldn't remember the last time someone spoke to me the way this guy was doing. He felt he had the right to do so and as a matter of fact, he did. I loved Amyra so much and it didn't matter what I had to go through as long as she and I ended up together.

"Do you not like him?" Finally, Amyra saw the strangeness of his words and actions. She looked at him with confusion. "Do you not want us to be together?"

Jake ran his fingers on her palm as he let out a sigh and a soft smile, "I am yet to know him."

"Well, then stop judging him."

"Why should I, Amyra? I just want the best for you and he doesn't seem like it."

Amyra was angry at that point. "Jake, you're my only and closest friend. You saved my life and made me who I am today. Not once have I disrespected you but I'm afraid I'd have to do that now. I'm not a kid, so need I remind you that I know what's good for me?" Her voice got louder as she struggled to sit up on the bed. "I have spent ten years away from him. You know how much I've dreamt of being with him. Now, I have him back. Or at least, it seems we would work things out. You're here with your dumb philosophies. Can you not ruin this for me, Jake?"

I gave a nod with a proud smile. That was my Amyra. I knew how she was rebellious to everyone, our parents included, any time they said we should break things off. It didn't matter if this guy was a god to her. He didn't seem like someone who was rooting for us so she needed to cut him off.

"I'm sorry but you all would need to leave now. Both of you." The doctor was speaking to Jake and I. He had walked in without us taking any notice because we were too invested in the conversation we were having. "She needs rest and it's been an hour since she got here but you've not let her have any of it."

I looked at him, wondering if he heard the doctor because he did not attempt to leave. Minutes later, he gave Amyra a peck and stood from the bed. I wanted to kiss her as well, but it didn't feel right anymore. I felt like I was competing for her attention with this dude. The moment I got home, I was going to do background research on him. I needed to know who the heck he was.

"Reynolds!" The party at my house had ended. Tiana, my mom, and a few other close family members stood outside the house waiting and hoping that I would come back. My mom was the one who called out to me, the moment she spotted me.

"Hello, mom." I just wanted to lie down so I walked past her and everyone else.

"Come back here," She said. "Where have you been? You walked out on your guests without letting anyone know."

"I have been out with Amyra, mom. She's back."

Her facial expression changed to a frown as her jaw dropped. "Huh?"

I gave a nod. “America's back." A smile lit up my face as I waited to see the excitement in her eyes.

"That explains so much, that girl is bad blood and you don't need her anywhere around. forget about her, she was a childhood fling. You have a wife now." She pointed to Tiana who stepped forward with a smile.

"Amyra is my wife, mom. She came at the right time. She isn't poor anymore if you must know. So, what else would be your problem with her?"

"My problem with her isn't your business. She will not be your wife and that's final."

"If I have to cease being your child to be happy, so be it. But I swear by my late father's grave, Amyra is and will be my wife. Just watch and see!”