Page 111 of Challenge Me

By Odin’s one eye, and Thor’s fine beard,

I saw things that were downright weird.

You call it love, I call it crime;

My therapy bill just hit its prime.

But hey, if love’s a war, you’ve won the fight;

Er, next time, keep your hammer out of sight.”

Everyone laughed, even Dean, and I was overcome by a sudden wave of warmth. These people right here in this room were all I had, and they were more than enough.

If the gods gave me nothing else, I’d die a fulfilled man.

Chapter 29

Amir

As the driver turned into my neighborhood, I felt more nervous than I’d expected. Florida was one thing; the bar was another. Both had their places in our timeline. This was entirely new territory, and it opened things up further between us. Right here and now, I was inviting him inside—not just into my house.

“Mal will be here tomorrow,” I said.

Remi sat up straighter. “Really? What . . . I mean, is Avery cool with it? Does she know I’m staying here?”

“Yeah, I won’t hide things from her anymore. She feels bad, actually.”

“Why?”

“Because she thinks that she was unfair to you. That she acted too harshly.”

To my surprise, he smiled. “I’ll never fault a mama bear for defending her cub.”

“Maybe you could say that to her. She’s more sensitive than she lets on.”

He took my hand and held it in his lap. “Yeah, sure. I don’t want Avery to worry on my account.”

It was getting dark out, which cast the streets in the blue hue of coming night. Some kids were still outside playing, and there was a group of them blocking the way while they played basketball. One of them waved for the others to move, letting us pass.

“This is . . . different,” Remi said as he stared out the window.

“Different how?”

“Quaint, for one.”

“And for two?”

“Normal.”

I breathed a laugh. “You didn’t expect it to be normal?”

“You signed for, what, six million this season alone?” He scoffed as if it was preposterous. “I expected a mansion on a hill. Big ol’ front yard to tell the peasants, ‘I can afford to waste space.’ A driveway that loops around because backing out is for cottiers.”

“I don’t really like living lavishly.”

“You have a Maserati.”

I grimaced. “Yeah, I got it after the divorce. I was a bit depressed.”