Page 182 of Challenge Me

However long it takes, I’ll be here.

The words weren’t anything outlandish, but they struck me right where it mattered.

I shoved the bill back at Oli. “You can have it. For covering last night.”

He tucked it into the waistband of Dean’s sweats. Judging by the look in both of their eyes, there was probably some disgusting roleplay in their future.

“Here you go, Remi,” Mrs. Kennedy said as she passed me a plate piled with food.

I took it, feeling almost too shocked to respond. “Thank you, Mrs. Kennedy.”

“How many times have I told you to call me Teresa?”

I smiled and offered her a nod, though I wasn’t sure that I’d do what she asked. It felt strange to be on casual terms with Dean’s parents. For some reason, they’d welcomed me with open arms the moment they met me. I understood why they loved Oli so much, but I was just the friend who came around sometimes. They didn’t have to be so nice to me.

Tearing a piece off of my chicken, I discreetly tucked my fingers under the table. Kevin, the wrinkly little boxer that had been part of their family for four months now, took it politely like I’d taught him to. Maybe they’d taught him, but I’d still take credit for it. That was my nephew, after all.

Everyone but the two of us moved to the couch to eat their dinner. Dean was covering the bar tonight, and as he hurried to scarf down his food, I felt bad about it.

“I can go to the bar instead of Dean.”

Oli lifted a brow. “Why?”

“He should be here with you. He has his own job, and with your grad program, I know you don’t get enough time together.”

“We don’t mind, otherwise we wouldn’t do it. Besides, you let us keep the tips, and that helps out with fixing this place up.” He glanced around with a wrinkled nose. “This wallpaper has to go.”

“I like the wallpaper.”

“It makes it look like an American Horror Story house.”

I chuckled, unable to say that he was wrong. “The right wallpaper can be incredible, especially in this old place. If I show you some good replacements, will you take them under consideration?”

“You do have impeccable taste, but I have a feeling you’ll make it look very Art Deco.”

“Nothing wrong with that.”

“For a bar, no. For a house where I plan on raising half a dozen kids, yes.”

“Half a dozen?” I laughed. “I thought you agreed on two.”

“God damnit, Oli,” Dean called from the living room. “I said maybe three.”

Oli winked at me and took a large bite of his food, probably to avoid answering. “I want to foster a few after we adopt,” he explained, quietly enough for it to stay between us. “If we end up adopting more than we planned, then . . .” He shrugged.

It seemed crazy to me, but if anyone could make it work, it was him. The idea of it threatened to make me tear up, so I focused on my food until it was gone. I hadn’t had much of an appetite, even before I left Amir’s, so my stomach felt full to bursting.

“How’d he look?” I asked finally.

“Good lord, Rem.”

“Never mind.”

“He looks wrecked, obviously. I don’t know if he’ll ever recover.”

“Let’s not be dramatic.”

“Fine, but he’s clearly struggling. I don’t think he’ll give up. And that’s not being dramatic.”