The sun shines brightly through the curtains, but Remmi is still sound asleep. I get out of bed and make my way to the bathroom to wash the sleep out of my eyes and get ready for the day. I’ve learned to walk quietly in enemy territory. It’s saved my ass many times and allowed me to have the element of surprise on my side when needed.
My phone buzzes to let me know that Rebel is outside. I go to meet him, and with him is Sadie, his fiancée. Sadie met Remmi in the hospital where she works. Although that’s not how Rebel and Sadie met. Rebel was shot on a mission, and before starting her job at the hospital, Sadie was working for a private company that takes care of patients in their homes. Sadie was assigned to Rebel when he was recovering from an injury, and he was a miserable patient. We didn’t know it at the time, but he had it bad for Sadie and was being a total jerk because he hated to have her see him when he was incapacitated.
It was a good thing Sadie was at the hospital the night Remmi was admitted, because we weren’t given any information on how she was doing, not even by her parents. Sadie was able to slip into her room and take a look at her chart, and fill us in. She also made sure to go by Remmi’s room often and spend time with her.
Unfortunately, her parents wanted to hide themselves and Remmi away after the ordeal they’d been through, and Sadie hasn’t seen her since. Nobody has, except me. But that’s all going to change because, as wonderful as her friend Mina is, Remmi needs to be around others and get back to a normal routine.
“Hey, man. How’re you doing? How’s Remmi?” Rebel asks as he gives me a brotherly greeting, slapping my back.
“She was shaken up but seemed better when I got her home. She’s still sleeping.” I drop a kiss on Sadie’s cheek. “Hey, Sadie.”
“Hi, Wire. I was hoping to visit Remmi. Do you think she’s up for it?” Sadie asks.
“I think it’ll do her a world of good.”
Sadie’s face brightens immediately.
“Give me the keys, and we’ll go get her car and come back with donuts from Krispy Kreme. If that doesn’t make Remmi smile, I don’t know what will,” Rebel teases.
I chuckle. “Yeah, Remmi’s all healthy and shit most of the time, but donuts are her weakness. And every once in a while, she goes all out with junk food galore. She’ll appreciate it, I’m sure.”
“We’ll head out and give you time to ask Remmi if she’s cool with us coming by for a visit,” Sadie says. That’s the kind of woman Sadie is. She’s unobtrusive and worries about others before herself. It’s what makes her a great person and a wonderful nurse.
“I’ll check, but I’m sure Remmi would love to see you again,” I tell her. I toss the keys to Remmi’s car to Rebel, who catches them midair.
As they drive off, I go back inside to find Remmi walking into the living room with her hair disheveled, rubbing her eyes. She’s not an early morning person. It takes several teas to get her day started, but once she’s fully awake, Remmi is go-go-go all day.
“Hey, babe,” I call to her. She lifts her head, her eyes still half closed as she stumbles farther into the room, stopping right in front of me. She tilts forward, and her head hits my chest. Instinctively, I pull her into my arms.
“Thank you,” she mumbles against my shirt. I feel the laughter building inside me. Remmi’s fucking cute as hell in the morning.
“My pleasure. I’ll get the kettle going for you. I’m making myself coffee. Tell me you have some, or I’ll have Rebel bring it.”
Not moving anything but her arm, she points to the cupboard on the far right. “Coffee and coffeemaker.”
I gently let her go and move her to the stool at the kitchen counter, then I fill her kettle before making my coffee. “Rebel and Sadie stopped by to get the keys to your car. They won’t be long and want to stop by with donuts to see us. Are you up for that?”
“Donuts!” She perks up, and her eyes open wide. “And Sadie’s coming!” Remmi smiles, and it’s plain to see that this makes her happy.
“I see that this works for you,” I tease.
She looks down at her wrinkled clothes, the same ones she was wearing last night, and runs a hand over her bedhead. “I’m a mess.”
“Go shower and change, and I’ll bring your tea to you.”
“Why are you so sweet to me?” she asks.
“That’s a talk we’ll have later. Right now, you have less than half an hour before they’re back, and I’m a sugar fiend, so the gloves are off when the donuts arrive.”
Without batting an eye, she climbs off the stool and takes off for the bedroom.
Remmi
As promised, my cup of tea is sitting on the bedside table when I come out of the bathroom. It tastes divine, and between the shower and the tea, I feel almost awake.
I choose wide-legged, baby-blue yoga pants and a matching long-sleeve top. I like to be comfortable when I’m lounging at home. I take the time to put on some mascara and lip gloss and tie my hair up into a high ponytail before rejoining Wire in the living room.
He’s coming in from outside with an overnight bag in his hand. “Is it okay if I take a quick shower and change?”
