Page 72 of For a Goode Time Call…
Because that—thatwas rejection.
I slid out of bed, knowing I couldn’t sleep anymore.
I had to get out of this place for a bit.
I wasn’t sure where I was going. My feet wanted to take me to where I knew she was, but I couldn’t do that. She had to figure herself out. I couldn’t do it for her. I knew I was right. I knew she was avoiding figuring herself out, and if I let her use me as a distraction, she never would. And it would fester. And, eventually, she’d resent me.
I knew, deep in my heart, that I had to put the truth out there, and accept the consequences.
And consequences can really suck.
A few minutes later I found myself at the door of the apartment building where Juneau and Remington lived. I knew it was late but I pressed the buzzer anyway.
A pause.
“It’s one thirty in the goddamn morning.” I heard Remington’s sleepy, irritated growl. “Who the fuck is it and what the fuck do you want?”
“Sorry, Rem,” I murmured. “It’s Ink. I—”
“Shit, sorry brother,” he cut in the moment he heard my voice. “Come on up.”
The door buzzed and I padded up the stairs to the third floor, and saw Juneau standing in their open apartment door, waiting for me. She was dressed in a short black silk robe. Barely covering anything. But she was my cousin, and I wasn’t bothered by it in the slightest.
I leaned down to hug her. “June Bug.”
She breathed me in, rubbed my back. “Ink.” She pulled back, grabbed my hand, and led me inside. She closed the door and pushed me toward the couch. “What’s wrong?”
Rem was leaning a shoulder against the hallway wall, watching, wearing nothing but a pair of boxers—all muscle and tattoos, a ripped IG model/trainer physique covered in gorgeous ink. “Sorry about the shitty welcome, Ink. Don’t like getting woke up.”
I waved at him, dismissing his apology. “I wouldn’t be here like this but I’m just…”
Juneau was bustling in the kitchen. Pulling something out of the fridge, stuffing it into the microwave, beeping it into humming life, waiting—when it dinged, she brought me a glass container full of my aunt’s incredible elk stew. “Here. Talk and eat.”
I laughed. “You know me too well, June Bug.” I took a few bites, savoring the flavors. “Thanks, cuz.”
A few more bites.
Juneau sighed. “It’s Lucas’s girlfriend’s daughter, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Cassie.”
Juneau sat beside me, tugging futilely at the hem of her stupid little robe. “Did she hurt you?”
I laughed, bitterly. “It’s complicated.”
“If she hurt you, I’ll kill her. You know I’m not a violent person, but you’ve been through enough.”
I reached up behind me and grabbed the knitted throw blanket off the back of the couch and spread it over Juneau’s lap. “I must’ve interrupted somethin’,” I muttered, “you dressed like that.”
She ducked her head, but was grinning like a fox leaving an unguarded henhouse. “You didn’t interrupt anything.”
“Nah,” Remington said. Then chuckled. “We were between rounds.”
Juneau threw a pillow at him. “Remington Badd! Don’t be gross.”
I just laughed. “You’re in love. It ain’t gross. You’re my cousin, so I don’t need details, but it don’t bother me. Just glad I didn’t interrupt you in the middle of something.”
Another laugh from Rem. “Don’t worry, bub. I wouldn’t have stopped.”
