Page 5 of No Going Back

“Okay, you know I’m not very good with the whole being-serious thing, but… it’s your parents’ anniversary in a couple weeks. I mean, of course you know that, but…” She laughs awkwardly, bless her for trying.

I pull out a clean pair of boxers, stepping into them carefully. The fabric sticks a little to the mess on my skin, and I grimace again.

“I thought maybe we could hang out?” she continues. “I dunno… maybe it’s stupid. I just thought… we don’t have a big family and…”

I cut her off with a soft laugh, tugging the first pair of sweats I see up my legs. “I’d love to, Aunt Val.”

She sighs, relieved. “Cool… good.”

I move to my wardrobe, grabbing a plain t-shirt. “So, what do you wanna do?”

I set the phone down on loudspeaker so I can pull the shirt over my head without dropping the call.

“I thought maybe we could just grab a bite to eat,” she says. “Ooh, maybe we could go to Cinemark and watch 28 Years Later! You loved the first two movies.”

I laugh, the sound easier now. “Yeah, that sounds like a good time. We should do that.”

I grab my sports duffel out of the wardrobe, grab the phone again, and head out of my room. My heart kicks up a notch as I step into the main area, hoping like hell it won’t be awkward with Remy waiting out here. I set the phone on the kitchenette counter and reach for my sneakers.

“So,” Val says, “I’ll swing by the dorms at like four p.m. on the seventeenth… how’s that sound?”

I tie one lace tight. “Sounds perfect, Val. Can’t wait.”

She hums playfully, and then Remy’s voice cuts in from across the room. “Oh, hey, Val!”

“Remy?” she asks, delighted.

“The one and only.”

She laughs. “How are you doing, kid? Looking after my nephew, I hope!”

Oh, fucking hell. Heat floods my face, and I refuse to look up from my shoe. He’s probably got some mischievous grin plastered on right now after what we just did.

But when he answers, his voice is softer than I expect. “I always do, Val.”

“I know,” she says warmly. “You’re a good kid. Hey, you wanna join us? Meal and movie?”

I freeze mid-lace and finally glance up. Remy’s already looking at me, eyebrows raised like he’s waiting for my cue. He knows exactly what the seventeenth of July means, he was right there with me four years ago when the doctors told me my parents didn’t make it.

“I uh…” Remy rubs the back of his neck. “I mean… that sounds great, Val, but isn’t this like a family thing?”

He shrugs at me, the gesture saying what do you want me to say?

I know he’d come in a heartbeat if I asked. So, I stand up quickly and blurt, “He’d love to, Val, but his girlfriend will wanna see him.”

Remy blinks. “My…? Huh?”

I nudge his arm hard with my elbow to shut him up. “Anyway, we’ve gotta go to practice now. Love you, Val!”

She laughs. “Love you, weirdo!”

The call ends, and I grab my kit bag again, heading straight for the main door.

Remy follows. “Don’t tell me Hannah’s planning a surprise return or something, because I’m not into that shit.”

“No,” I mutter, pushing out into the hallway. “I just said that to give you an excuse so you wouldn’t get dragged along.”

“Fair,” he says quietly. “But you know I would’ve…”