Page 12 of Stay with Me

I could drop in on my brothers, but they know me too well. I’m not ready to talk about any of this. Most of it I’m unable to, which just makes the situation more awkward.

“Good to see you, man.”

“I’m glad to see your face. I was pissed over that shit. We were blindsided. We were supposed to have your back. I can’t believe they were trying to send you back in,” he says tightly.

“Yeah.” I nod. “But you know how it is.”

“Some days I have to ask myself why I still do this shit. You know? It’s like they put us out there and it’s whatever.”

“I hear you. I questioned a lot in that hospital.”

“So, this might be it? The biggest case of your career is going to be the last?”

I shrug. “Not sure yet. Could be. That’s yet to be determined.”

He looks me in my eyes, searching. I don’t look away. I have nothing to hide. I have mixed feelings about all of this, but I’ll be honest with myself. I don’t know what I want when it comes to the job.

“Come on. Let’s get those beers.”

I’m grateful to my friend. I don’t want to talk about this shit. I need out of my head for a while. Between the job and Rem, I’m not in the best of places. I have five months to sort this mess out.

We head out to the bar around the corner from his place. We’re laughing and talking as a couple walks by with a toddler. The kid drops her little red shoe off her foot and neither of her parents notice. I stop to snatch it up and run them down.

“Hey, hey, bro. Excuse me, Miss.”

The couple turns and I jog over to them. I hold the shoe up and they both look at the little girl’s feet. I stop before them and slip the shoe back on, strapping it closed.

“There you go, sweetheart.”

“Thank you,” the young mother says.

“No problem.”

“Tell the nice man thank you, Leila.”

“Thank you,” she says.

“You’re welcome, gorgeous. You hold on to that shoe. It’s so pretty.”

She gives me an adorable smile that reveals two dimples. I immediately wonder what little girls with Rem would look like. Would they have my dimples? Her brown eyes and pretty brown skin?

Leila reaches out to touch my face and coos. I go to tell her I have to go but it was nice meeting her, but my words are cut off as she sneezes right in my face. I mean, she gets me right in the mouth.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” her mother says apologetically. “Leila, you have to cover your mouth when you sneeze, honey.”

“I’m sorry about that, dude,” the guy says.

“No worries.” I shrug it off.

I wave and turn to head back over to where Harris is waiting by the entrance of the bar. “Always the gentleman.” He chuckles and pats me on the back as we enter the doors.

“Whatever.”

We spend the next few hours getting lost in old times and beer. Women try to pull my attention, but I let Harris have them all tonight. I have one woman and one woman alone on my mind. As much as I try to push her out, I can’t seem to make it happen.

“Look, man, I think I’m going to call it a night,” I say when drinking doesn’t seem to put me in a better mood.

“Already? Come on. Don’t bail on me now.”

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