Page 35 of Forever Never
“Don’t wear those shorts again.”
“Why not?”
“You know why and because I said so.”
It was her least favorite reason. Remi let out a growl and released her hold with one hand to flip him the bird.
His soft laugh followed her back up onto the roof and in through her window.
She waited ten whole minutes, practically a lifetime, before her second attempt.
“Still here,” came the gruff whisper.
She peeked over the edge of the roof. “Damn it, Brick.”
He edged closer to the porch. “You’re gonna fall and break that face, and then I’m going to be pissed.”
“I’m not going to the island. I’m supposed to meet Audrey at the dock. I don’t want her to get in trouble.”
“Then call her,” he said dryly. Brick crossed his arms again and looked as immovable as an oak tree.
“I can’t. We decided not to take our phones.”
“Why?”
“Well, if you must know, nosy. If anyone’s parents or annoying big brother called, we could say we forgot our phones.”
Obviously not impressed with her ingenuity, he muttered something under his breath. It sounded like it involved the words “be the death of me,” but she wasn’t sure.
There was a weary sigh, then silence for a beat. “I’ll go tell Audrey,” he said finally.
“That’s fine and all, but if you leave to go tell Audrey, I’m just gonna go liberate Spencer from your house and see what trouble we can get into with the entire police department busy off-island.”
“God damn it, Remi.”
* * *
“I can’t believeyou talked me into this,” Brick groused, five minutes later.
“Oh, come on,” she said smugly, bumping his bulging bicep with her shoulder. “Have a little fun. I’ll buy you an ice cream if you cheer up.”
“Sneak attack!” Spencer raced past them, a wicked grin on his face. He was a leaner, shorter, happier copy of his brother. Remi didn’t know if Brick realized it, but the happy part was due to him. With one parent serving time and one permanently on the road, Brick was the reason Spencer was so well-adjusted.
A musty, cheesy scent reached her nose, and she clamped a hand over her face. “Spence!”
“Did you justcrop dustyour girlfriend?” Brick asked.
“Andmy brother,” Spencer announced proudly, jogging backward in front of them.
Brick moved like lightning, putting Remi’s own ninja moves to shame. In half a second, he caught Spencer and wrapped an arm around the boy’s neck. “I can’t believe you’re almost allowed to vote. You’re just a tall, skinny five-year-old,” he said, ruffling Spencer’s hair.
“Man! Do you know how much gel it took to get the style right?” Spencer complained.
“I do. You’re gonna need a second job just to pay for hair products.” Brick released him.
Spencer paused and held up a finger. “I only have one thing to say to that.” He farted audibly this time and then took off at a dead run.
Brick chivalrously nudged Remi out of the fart cloud. “You could do a lot better than my idiot brother, you know.”
