Page 65 of Stay with Me

“Why are you all so horrible at this game?” Rem laughs as everyone fails once again to identify what Bop has been trying to mime as we all play charades at Bishop and Saga’s.

She’s not wrong, everyone here sucks at this shit. It’s hilarious to watch. I have stomach cramps from laughing so hard. Game night has turned out to be extremely entertaining.

Bop needs to stick to playing guitar for Bishop’s band because he sucks at charades and dance revolution. Fendi and Thrush have been throwing him dirty looks all night. Their team has the lowest score of the evening.

“That was in no way Pitbull. Like, how were we supposed to get that one?” Isha says through a fit of laughter.

I would never have guessed he was trying to mime the rap artist, that’s for sure. There’s a full house tonight. My brothers are here, the band is here, my cousins are here, Legend and his wife are here, and Isha, Saga’s best friend has shown up as well. It’s good to see Rem and I can hang out as friends and things not be uncomfortable.

I think our night out at the bar may have helped out a lot. Although, I haven’t missed the strange looks she’s been giving me as if she has something she wants to ask me. I noticed it from the time I showed up, but I haven’t been able to get her alone to ask about it.

“I don’t know who’s worse. Prince or Bop. We should just put them on their own team together. What’s going on with you tonight, Bro?” Lord says, eyeing a distracted-looking Prince.

Prince cornered me as soon as I got here. I had planned to wait until the end of the night to send him the email with the information he asked me for. However, as soon as I walked through the door, he dragged me to the side and demanded I send him what I had.

“I’ve got some shit on my mind,” Prince mumbles.

“Well, swallow that shit. You have us out here looking like losers,” Lord growls and rolls his eyes at his twin.

Prince huffs and tosses Lord the finger. They both hate losing, but Lord will become unbearable as the night goes on if he doesn’t win. I sort of feel bad for Prince.

I cover my mouth as I try not to laugh at my older brothers. Rem comes to sit beside me. She then elbows me in my side.

“You know you want to laugh. Let it out,” she leans in to whisper.

Her scent fills my head. I want to lean over and take her lips, but I fight to stay right where I am. We’re friends.

“Hey, everyone, the wings and subs are here. Come eat,” Saga calls.

“Food,” Kegan croons.

I shake my head and stand as Rem gets to her feet. Everyone else files from the room before us. Reaching for Rem’s arm, I hold her back.

She turns to look up at me. I stare down in her eyes, searching for answers. A rueful smile comes to her lips.

“What? What’s that look about?” I ask.

“Nothing,” she sings.

“Rem,” I drag out.

“It’s nothing. I just had a talk with your mom, and I was wondering if you had something to do with it,” she says.

I knit my brows. “A talk with my mom about what?”

“About you of course. Don’t worry. I see it now. You knew nothing about it. I think she may have gotten the wrong idea about us,” she replies.

“What makes you say that? What did she say?”

“It isn’t what she said, it’s how she said it. I think she thinks?—”

“You guys better hurry up before everything is gone,” Bishop calls interrupting her words.

I pull a face annoyed that she’s been interrupted and that my mom has decided to meddle. I go to pry, but she holds up a finger. Then she turns to call over her shoulder.

“Save me some lemon pepper wings, please,” she says. Then she turns back to me. “I get the feeling your mom thinks you have feelings for me. She doesn’t get that we’re just friends. No big deal. I didn’t think too much of it. Let’s eat,” she says and shrugs.

My first thought is to stop her and tell her I do have feelings for her, but I don’t. Not now. There are too many eyes and ears. Instead, I nod to myself and move for the food to get whatever is left.

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