Page 3 of Trust Me

“Riveting stuff, my guy. Next, you’ll tell me you went to the moon and it was pretty okay. Like, what about the color? It looks grey, but I don’t believe it’s that simple. Did you fall into a crater? Were there mysterious eyes watching you?”

“My god,” he groaned, but he followed it up with a chuckle. “Didn’t you know it’s made of cheese?”

I smacked myself on the forehead, which almost made my sushi tray fall off my lap. “Duh! Can’t believe I forgot. Did you taste it? Take a big ol’ bite?”

“Yup. It tasted like feet.”

“Best kind of cheese,” I said before popping the last piece into my mouth.

“Well, for your information, the bar is really good. It’s not in the red anymore, so I’ve saved it from the hell the last owner put it through.”

“That’s what’s up.”

“I might look into hiring someone part-time soon.”

“I feel like that’s the true mark of success. Before you know it, you’ll have a chain.” Tapping the back of my hand against his chest, I grinned. “And your own line of booze. What’s the catch phrase?”

“A drink for you, a drink for me. Pay what’s due, or I’ll break your knee.”

With a laugh, I shook my head. “Just don’t put your face on it. That’s weird.”

“My face could sell booze.” He flipped his hair and painted on his sauciest smile.

“But I’d lose all respect for you, Rem. And we all know that’s the most important thing in the world.”

He snorted before he turned away from me. After kicking his feet out, he leaned back so that his head was in my lap. I looked down at him, trying not to notice the tiredness on his face again.

“Thanks for always being here,” he said.

I cocked my head. “You were there first.”

With a smile, he shifted his gaze to the ceiling. “Why are you still sleeping in the living room, anyway?”

“The pullout is comfortable.”

“Pulling out is boring.”

I shoved him off of my lap, which just made him laugh.

“Seriously, though,” he went on. “You have a whole bedroom. What are you using it for?”

“Guests.” When he continued to stare at me, I shrugged. “I like it out here. Somehow, it feels less lonely, you know?”

“Yeah, I know.”

I grabbed his shirt and tugged him down again, letting him lie on me while we watched the show. In this moment, the unease that plagued me settled a bit. When I was with Remi, I almost felt like I belonged somewhere.