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“Ready to get out of here?” he asked.
“Sure.”
He pulled out his wallet before throwing cash on the table next to the bill and walked out, barely holding the door open for her as he rushed to the car. He was acting odd. She’d thought the rooster story would have reset his mood, but he’d been “off” all evening.
She opened her own door this time. He was too busy searching under his seat for something. Whatever it was, he was pissed he couldn’t find it.
“Shit,” he hissed.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, buckling in.
He looked up at her, as if realizing she was still there. Shaking his head, he said, “Sorry. I just forgot something at a friend’s house. I gotta stop by on the way home and pick it up.” He climbed in and shut the door.
He drove faster than he had on the way to the restaurant. A nagging feeling had her stomach in knots. Was his behavior related to those pills she’d found? What were they? Should she ask him about them?
They pulled into the driveway of a house she didn’t recognize. The neighborhood was quiet, except for the sounds of night drifting in through her open window. She reached to unbuckle herself, but his hand stopped her.
“I’ll be right back.” He left the car before she could protest.
As he walked into the porch light and knocked on the door, unease and curiosity rippled through her. He was acting weird. Mikel disappeared inside as she waited in silence.
She turned the radio on, flipping through the channels until she found one she liked. “Colors” by Halsey was playing. Remy sang along, the lyrics making her think more about his behavior.
Mikel was doing drugs. That was the only way to explain his erratic behavior, the pills she’d found, and where she was now. Maybe it was a one-time thing, or something he did on occasion. Mikel couldn’t be an addict. He owned a business and his brother was the deputy, for crying out loud. If Mikel had a problem, surely Bently would know.
He walked powerful and commanding back onto the porch, heading towards the car. His shoulders seemed heavier. Her heart ached for him. Remy saw past the mask to the broken boy within. She wanted to hold him and assure him it was all going to be okay. Remy wished she could fix him, give him all her love, and solve his problems. She’d do anything to take his painful past away for a little while. He had secrets that he had never shared with anyone and Remy wanted to be the one to comfort him. To love him. To save him. Maybe if she gave him all the love in her heart, and if she was the perfect girlfriend, he would see how much he had to live for.
He opened the door and climbed in, seemingly calmer. A hint of some kind of smoke clung to him. She wasn’t sure if she should speak first, or let him.
He started the car and pulled onto the road. “I’m pretty swamped this week with work, but do you wanna hang out next Saturday?”
She turned to face him, her worries fading as butterflies tumbled in her belly. He wanted to spend more time with her.
“Yes.” She nodded in the dark cab as he reached over and brought her hand to his mouth. His warm kiss was so tender, it eased all her fears. Mikel was in this with her.
