While I find the Three Stooges act highly amusing, it’s all deeply undignified, and he should be embarrassed.
“Just a few weeks?” he asks, sighing so heavily I fear for his lungs.
“Sure.”
“You really think he’ll get bored?”
“Absolutely.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
I glance back at Chad, who is arguing with a body about their sign being upside down.
Then you can live with me forever.
“Then we’ll figure it out, Habibi.”
A car driving by honks and the driver shouts supportively at the protest, and the bodies wave at it like they’re the kings on a Mardi Gras float.
“Okay,” Sunshine finally agrees, closing his eyes in sad resignation. “Fine. But only a week or two.”
“Go pack,” I say, relief settling deep in my chest.
“Are you giving me orders?” he asks, his eyes narrowing at me, but I can see that telltale spark I love so much shining in his eyes.
“Yes, Habibi.”
“Why is that so hot?” he whispers to himself, blushing deeply and avoiding eye contact.
“THIS IS A FIGHT FOR JUSTICE!” Chad yells dramatically.
“Fight… Justice…”
We both watch as Sunshine’s brother sprints after a body that’s walking into traffic.
“I can’t believe this is my fucking life,” Sunshine says, chuckling manically.
The protest signs were still visible in the rearview mirror when we pulled away. Sunshine kept a tight grip on the steering wheel and didn’t look back, but I did. Not because I doubted our decision to leave, but to make sure Chad stayed where he was.
I have to keep reminding myself that this is temporary and that Sunshine will eventually need to go back to his own home, even if I don’t want him to.
“I can’t believe my own brother raised the dead to protest against me,” he mutters under his breath, speaking for the first time in about five minutes.
“Itwasvery resourceful,” I agree, chuckling at the glare he shoots at me.
“Donotcompliment him.”
“What? I respect strategic thinking.”
The car swerves slightly.
“Eyes on the road, Habibi.”
“Eyes on the road, Habibi,”he mocks in a deep voice. I try not to laugh, but he’s just too fucking adorable.
After that, we’re quiet except when I need to give him directions.
We reached the driveway without injury, and Sunshine parks very crookedly in my driveway, taking up both parking spots. The silence here is deafening; the lack of protesters a shock to the system. No ego-filled brother yelling into a mini karaoke machine, no broken chanting by the undead, and no misspelled signs hoisted high in the air.
