When we’re done with breakfast, Madix cleans up, while Remi perches on the counter, swinging her tanned legs back and forth and making me want to step between them and either wrap them around my face or my hips and take her right there. “While you sleepy heads were drooling into Madix’s mattress, I got up to listen to the local news,” she tells us, braiding her long hair over her shoulder. “Not only is it the end of our quarantine today, but the mayor called for a mandatory town meeting.”
“When?” I ask, pulling on my boots.
Remi grabs Madix’s wrist to look at his watch. “In about twenty minutes.”
Cursing, we hurry to clean up as quickly as we can, even though Madix bitches and complains about us not doing it right the whole time. Who washes the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher? It makes no fucking sense.
We walk out of the door, and it feels a little weird not to be greeted by someone and be officially cleared from quarantine. I guess that’s another perk to having the sheriff’s daughter with us. We all pile into the truck to head toward the high school, but I’m worried. What if the mayor called a meeting to give us more bad news?
So far from what we’ve heard, there’ve been no cases of the Handshake Plague confirmed in town. Apparently, there was a scare while we were gone and some outsiders wanted to get into the town, but it sounds like it was handled and whoever it was took off. We’ve still not been able to get any radio stations aside from the local one, and the cell towers are still down, which makes news of what’s happening outside impossible.
So now, we’re all in this weird state of limbo. The guys and I have talked about what we’ll do after our quarantine has been lifted. We are clearly the types that need jobs and purpose, but we can’t all agree on what that should be. We’ve talked about coordinating a hunting team to make sure everyone in Endstone is fed, but we’ve yet to decide if we’re all into that plan.
The parking lot is packed when we get to the high school. We pull into a space beside Nurse June and Dharla. Luckily, she’s not naked this time, but sheisholding a new can of soup in her hand and demanding that people pay up. June just leans against her car, smoking a cigarette, watching Dharla with an amused twinkle in her eye.
When Nurse June notices us getting out of the truck, she perks up. “Ah, there you boys are. I heard you were the heroes who finally managed to wrangle in Trouble and make her see sense,” her kind eyes move to Remi. “How you doin,’ sugar?”
Remi smiles and moves in to hug her. “I’m doing just fine, Junie May. How are you and Dharla? She keeping you on your toes?”
June laughs and drops her cigarette on the ground, crushing it beneath her shoe. “All ten of them, and my fingers, too,” she jokes, before leaning back and studying Remi’s face. “It’s nice seein’ you home. You look real good, Remington April. You remind me of your mama,” she says, and I notice that they both get a glossy sheen over their eyes.
Remi kisses her on the cheek and looks over her shoulder. “Dharla’s looking to get naked, Junie,” she tells her.
June sighs and pulls out another cigarette to light up. “I’m gonna need another smoke first. Besides, it usually takes her a good five minutes to take her knickers off.”
Remi laughs and reaches back to take my hand, threading her fingers through mine. Madix steps up and presses his hand against the small of her back, while Theo brings up the rear. A slow, wide smile spreads over June’s face as she takes us in. “Oh, lordie, you handlin’ all that?” June laughs delightedly.
“You know it, Junie,” Remi says, with a wink.
June shakes her head, the laughter still escaping with the smoke from her lips. “No, sugar. Not you. I meantthem.”She gives us all a curious look. “You sure you three can manage her? She’s more than a handful.”
Theo smirks. “You’re right. She’sthreehandfuls. And we got it, don’t you worry,” he adds with a cocky wink.
June tips her head back and laughs in her croaky, smoker’s tone, and it accompanies us as we start threading through the cars and people stuffed full in the parking lot.
“Yougot it,huh?” Remi teases.
Theo smacks her ass playfully. “Yup.”
“Well, that went better than I thought it would,” I observe. None of us really knew just what this small town would think about ourrelationshipwith Remi. This is our first trip out as a group, and even though it goes against all of my instincts, I’m trying to get on board with what Remi suggested we do.
“See, I told you, just to act like we normally do, minus the fucking, orgasms and nakedness. There are bigger freaks in this town than us, and not as many people will care as you think.”
I chuckle and watch as Theo leans into Remi. “So you’re finally admitting that you are, in fact, a freak,” he taunts.
“I wave that flag loud and proud, soldier,” she tells him with a smirk. “And don’t think that you aren’t a freak too, or are you forgetting the other night with the vibrator, the raspberry jam, and the milk jug?” she asks.
Theo laughs and adopts a faraway, dreamy look. Kinky fucker.
“We should do that with honey next time. I think that extra sticky element will take things to a whole other level,” he comments.
Remi nods her head thoughtfully. “That would be interesting. Let’s stop by the grocery store after the meeting and stock up on necessities. Oh, and don’t let me forget clothespins. I’ve got plans for those and Madix,” she adds, beaming excitedly.
Madix sputters at the revelation and glares at her. “No,” he growls, but Remi just pats his cheek as we approach the entrance to the gym.
“Whatever you say, sugar,” she tells him sweetly.
“I’m serious, Remington.”
