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JUSTIN

December…

When I hear the chime alerting the front door, I don’t even twitch in the bed. Julia left like five minutes ago. She probably made it all the way to the lobby only to realize she forgot her cell phone or something.

A small smile slides onto my face, even if I don’t open my eyes. She’s so cute. She can list (in alphabetical order, mind you) every color on the spectrum, but can never remember where she last had her keys.

I don’t pay any attention to the air pressure changes as Jules comes into the bedroom. I’m still disgustingly depressed after the revelations at Madam Maxine’s last night. I don’t want to face Julia until I have my wits back under control and can look her in the face without crying.

But…I can feel her standing there. Staring at me.

It’s weird.

“What, Jules?” I groan with my face buried in the pillow. I’m a stomach sleeper when I’m in bed alone. “Does my ass lookthatgood this morning?”

“It’s not Jules,” a deep bass voice rumbles, and—it whips through me like static. My body reacts as if I’ve been electrocuted. Goosebumps break out over my skin, and my stomach clenches in anticipation.

Either I’mwaydrunker than I thought or…

I roll over slowly, half afraid of what I’ll see.

Remi…

Remi ishere.

Red Nikes. White hoodie. Black jeans. He has a black gym bag slung across his chest, a rolling suitcase in one hand, and a thickly packed garment bag dangling from his fingers.. His face is scruffy, and his eyes are bloodshot.

I—

I think I stop breathing because when I finally suck in air again, it's loud and wet and makes my chest burn.

Remi…

I can taste my heart in the back of my throat. It’s a struggle to keep my eyes from spilling over. I push up on my elbow, and then use both hands to ease myself into a sitting position. Slowly. Even though he's here on his own, I feel like if I make any sudden movements, he’ll flee as fast as his legs will carry him.

Or maybe I’ll discover this is really a dream.

He starts to fidget when all I do is stare.

I can’t help it.

He’s here.

He’shere!

I thought after last night…I drag my hand down my face with trembling fingers. I thought the next time I heard from him; it would be bad. Real bad. Like, identify the body, bad. But then, I wouldn’t get that call either because I’m not his emergency contact anymore. I’d bet my trust fund that was one of the first things he did when he left. Or that his father did for him. Either way, I was sure…

“Jules slipped me my house key—” I startle, sitting forward a bit more.He’s seen Jules?! “—in one of the first care packages she left me. When the door was locked, I used it to let myself in. I hope that’s okay?”

Oh.

Of course, she did. I wondered where that key went. Lord knows I didn’t touch it. I thought that Mrs. Jones had maybe stashed it somewhere. But that doesn’t matter now because—

He’s here.

Again, I drag my hand down my face, blinking to ensure that he’s not simply a figment of my imagination. My palm stops over my mouth, hiding my expression. The muscles in my face twitch, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry. Remi transfers his weight from foot to foot, looking around before meeting my eyes again.