“So you did!” he squealed. “How was it?”
“We didn’t,” I whispered. “I couldn’t do it, Rem. I haven’t slept with either of them. I just—I don’t know.”
“You have to focus on yourself,” Rem said, finding the words for me.
“Yes. Exactly. And I don’t know what I want.”
“Honestly, I think you should just ditch your ex-fiancé and move back to Denver to be with the hottie millionaire. Then we both win.”
I laughed. “Not yet, Rem. For now, I’m here, and the future is wide open.”
Sensing that he wouldn’t get any more from me than that, Rem sighed and changed the subject. “How is Susan? Your text yesterday said she had an appointment today to see the progress. Did treatment help?”
“She’s in remission,” I said, and the words alone made me smile to myself. “Doc said she’ll be okay; we just have to stay diligent in case it tries to come back.”
“I’m happy for you, Peyton,” said Rem, and I wished I were there to see him. “I’m happy for both of you.”
“I miss you,” I said, heading towards the couch. “It’s not the same here without my best friend.”
“I am your best friend, Peyton, and that’s why I hate to be the one to ask this, but here it goes. Do you plan on coming home?”
I took a seat on the couch, knowing that this question was bound to come up eventually, but eventually seemed far too soon.
“Why?” I asked, curling down into the couch cushions. “You’re getting my rent payments, right?”
“Of course, sugar, but it’s not the same as having you back,” said Rem. “I’m not a one-person household. I get lonely.”
I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the back of the couch, breathing deep, unsure of what to do or say. I hadn’t thought this far ahead. I hadn’t had time. I’d come home to take care of my mother while she was sick, and now, as of today, she was better. I could go home. Go back to work. Live in my apartment with Rem again.
“Is someone else interested?” I asked finally, already knowing the answer before he spoke again.
“I’m dating a new guy,” said Rem. “He’s been spending a lot of time at the apartment with me, but he’s a good guy. He doesn’t think it’s fair to live there while you pay rent. He’d rather move in and pay it himself. But I told him he couldn’t do that because I already had a roommate.” Rem paused, chuckling a little. “At least, I used to.”
I sat up on the couch, rubbing my temples with my fingers. “I don’t know what’s happening yet,” I told him. “Can you give me until the weekend to give you an answer? Is that okay?”
“Take your time,” said Rem. “And keep in mind that I’d rather have you back over some hot, gay guy, but I won’t be angry if you stay, either.”
“That sounds convincing,” I said with a laugh, and Rem chuckled too.
“I hoped it would.”
“I’ll call you this weekend,” I said, getting up from the couch as the doorbell rang. It was ten to six, so it must be Korbin. “Talk soon, Rem. Loves.”
“Loves.”
I shoved the phone into my pocket to go get the door, but my mother was quicker, and she was across the room in mere seconds, moving impressively quick for a woman who just had cancer. But when she opened the door, it wasn’t Korbin. It was Amanda.
“Oh, hello, dear,” my mother said, stepping aside at once so Amanda could come in. “I didn’t expect you to come today.”
“I’m not on the schedule,” Amanda said quickly. “I just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing.”
“Much better,” my mother said as I rose to my feet and pocketed my cell phone. “I seem to be in remission.”
“That’s wonderful news,” Amanda said steadily, her gaze flickering away from my mother to land on my face. She smiled, but it was a weird smile. Fake, almost.
“Hi, Amanda,” I said, moving up to stand beside my mom. “We don’t need your services tonight, but thank you.”
“Peyton,” Mom scolded. “Don’t be rude.”
