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“Doesn’t mean I need to see it. Come on, man, have some respect.” Dre shook his head.
“Like I haven’t had to watch you suck face with your dates before?” Remy teased sarcastically.
“That’s different.”
“Why?” she demanded.
“It just is.”
She rolled her eyes. “Wow, that’s quite the winning argument. Congratulations. You should join the debate team.”
“Smart-ass. Don’t think because you’re grown I can’t take you over my knee.”
“Come on, if anyone is going to be spanking Remy, it’s gonna be me,” Mikel teased interrupting the fighting siblings.
Andre snapped to standing. “The fuck did you just say? I know you didn’t just make that comment about my little sister.”
Bently’s eyes followed the scene. “Come on, guys, cool down.”
Remy wasn’t sure if her brother and Mikel were still just poking fun at each other, or if Mikel had gone too far this time.
“Nah, man. I definitely wasn’t joking,” Mikel said.
Remy held her breath, waiting to see how her brother would react.
Silence stretched across the beach, no one in the small gathering making a noise, as if one wrong sound could cause everything to come crashing down.
Andre suddenly burst into deep laughter with Mikel following.
“You’re lucky I love you, bro,” Andre said, slapping his hand harshly to Mikel’s shoulder.
“You are such cavemen,” Jasmine said, rolling her eyes.
“Yeah, well, it’s in the blood.” Mikel’s gaze grew dark, narrowing towards the fire as he sat back next to her.
“It’s a choice,” Bently said aloud, seemingly to himself.
* * *
The rest of the night passed without incident. Emma showed up late with a date, and they sang a few songs. Stories were told, drinks were shared—a perfect ending to summer in Shattered Cove.
Over the next few weeks, Mikel was extra attentive. He showed up at work surprising her with small gifts and planned dates. She didn’t see any sign that he was doing drugs. Just like he’d promised. Everything was better than it had ever been. She could tell he was working hard towards bettering their relationship. He was more open about things, and not as distant.
It was time. She wanted to take the next step and help them connect in a way she had never done with anyone before. Mikel would be her first.
