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“You probably already heard. I lived in a foster home for a couple of years,” I start.
“Yeah, I heard. Did something happen there?” he asks quietly. His voice is full of concern, but I can’t bring myself to look up at him.
“No. I was thirteen, so it was a group home, but it was probably the most peaceful two years of my life. Not all foster care facilities are nightmares. Mine felt a lot like home,” I tell him.
“So, then, when did you get in trouble?”
“When my mom came to get me, we moved to Third Ward. I started kinda talking to this guy. He went to my high school. His father owns this restaurant over on Wheeler Avenue. He’s kind of a big deal in the neighborhood. I don’t know what I was thinking, really. I think I just liked the attention,” I admit.
“Okay.” Remi takes my hand.
“One day, he came and picked me up from school and we were on our way to get something to eat and we got pulled over. He had some weed in the trunk. A lot of it. Enough to sell, they said. I didn’t even know it was in there. But they took us both in. He told them it was mine. Former foster kid, my mother just out of the state penitentiary… so basically, they believed him. He wasn’t even charged. I didn’t get any time. I was a minor. It was my first offense. But I have to do community service.”
“That’s so fucked-up. There is something wrong with a system that doles out justice like that.” He runs a hand over his face in annoyance.
“Yeah. Well, it is what it is. And I’ve got to serve my sentence. And that’s why my mother wanted us to move here. This is a fresh start. For both of us.”
“I’m happy for you. But, what’s that got to do with us going on a date?”
I drop my eyes and swallow down the ball of nerves in my throat.
“My community service. I’m doing it at my old foster home. Casa De Los Ninos De Esperanza. I go Friday and Saturday nights.”
“Okay. Then I can go with you.”
I give him a skeptical glance. “Um… it’s not exciting or fun or anything… I just spend time with the kids. Read to them, cook them dinner, put them to bed.”
“I’ll go with you,” he repeats.
“There’s a ton of paperwork. And you have to get a TB test and have a criminal background check done.”
“That’s easy. I can get those to you in a day or two,” he says as if it’s nothing.
“Remi, it’s not a joke. I take it seriously and those kids, they get my full attention. It won’t be like a date.”
“I’m taking it seriously. And from now on, we’re always on a date.” He pins me in place with his eyes and I would do anything he said right now.
“Always?” I say with a smile.
“As long as you want to be.” He presses a kiss to my hand. And just like that, my butterflies are back.
“Okay, I’ll call Lupe, the director, tomorrow and we can arrange for you to go by and fill out their paperwork.”
“Sounds great.” He leans in to kiss me again.
The door opens and my mother sticks her head out.
“Kal, come on in. Remi, you need to get on.” Her frown is deep and disapproving before she goes back inside.
Remi looks at her and nods and then looks back at me. The expression in his eyes makes my entire body shudder. Oh my God. Yeah, maybe my mother is right because I am totally going to give him whatever he asks me for.
He leans in, kisses me again swift and hard before he stands up.
“Night, Will. See you tomorrow.”
“You’re making deliveries again?”
“No, the schedule won’t change,” he says and I can’t help the disappointment that flares.
