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Chapter 6
Mikel
Birds chirped loudly, waking Mikel from his peaceful slumber. A warm body pressed against his, smelling like heaven. He opened his eyes, blinking at the bright sunlight. Trees swayed in the wind overhead, framing the blue sky around him. He was outside. Why am I outside?
Realization hit.
Remy snuggled close, lying peacefully on his arm. They had fallen asleep like that under the stars, their conversation fading into the darkness as they’d drifted off into dreamland.
“Remy? Baby, it’s morning,” he said, gently waking her.
She stirred and blinked a few times before shooting upright in a panic. “Oh fudge!”
He couldn’t help but chuckle at her inability to swear. She glanced at him before searching through the backpack she’d brought. “My parents are gonna kill me. I was supposed to be home by midnight.”
“Shit, I’m sorry.” He had been so tired from a long week in the hot sun on the jobsite, he hadn’t even realized he was drifting off. He started gathering the equipment together.
“My phone is dead,” she said, slipping it into her back pocket and hurriedly packing up the remaining items.
He glanced at his black screen. “Mine too. We can charge yours in the car. You gonna be grounded?” he asked, half-teasingly. He had no idea what it was like to have two caring parents who made rules other than to be completely invisible or you would pay dearly.
“They would have been okay if I had just told them I was gonna stay out at a friend’s. Out of respect for them, while I’m still living at home, I just like to let them know where I am or when I’ll be home.”
“Let’s get you home, then.”
* * *
As soon as they pulled into her parents’ driveway, Andre came down the steps, his eyes locked with Mikel’s.
“Thank you, Mikel. I’m sorry I have to run off like this. I’ll text you later, okay?” Remy said.
“Sure thing.” He nodded, wanting more than anything to lean over and kiss her, but they had an audience who he assumed wouldn’t be all that receptive.
“I had a lot of fun last night.” She smiled, before hopping out of his truck. She said something to Andre in passing before rushing into the house.
Andre stared at Mikel with an unreadable expression. The cat was out of the bag.
He needed to man up and face the repercussions of his decision. Switching the engine off, he got out of the truck, preparing to get hit. Out of politeness, he would let Dre have the first swing. After that, it was game on. He was many things, but a coward wasn’t one of them.
“How long has this been going on?” Andre asked, nodding towards the door his sister had disappeared through only minutes before.
Straight to the point, as usual.
“Not long.”
Andre crossed his arms, and asked, “Did you sleep with her?”
Mikel shook his head. “Not like you’re thinking. We dozed off just talking and looking at the stars.”
“How romantic,” he said, sarcasm dripping from every syllable.
“I should have let you know sooner. I just wasn’t sure what this was at first. I know she’s too good for me,” Mikel said, his body on high alert for retribution.
“Damn right she is.” Andre crossed his arms across his chest. “But she’s been crushing on you for as long as I can remember. You better not break her heart.”
Shocked, Mikel took a step back as if his friend’s words were a physical blow. “You trust me with her?”
“You want my blessing?” Dre asked.
