by JA Low
“Will do,” Rainn says before hanging up the phone. The phone call must have exhausted me because moments later I am snoring happily, wrapped in my blanket cocoon.
The sound of banging wakes me, and I sit up too quickly, and my head spins. But I hear a crash and a deep-throated curse from the kitchen. There is someone in my apartment. I shake my head to clear the sleep fog from my brain. Who the hell would be in here? There is no way the bellman would let anyone up to our floor that isn’t on the list, so it must be someone safe. My family is halfway across the world unless…my dream of Miles coming to look after me is really coming true. Of course, my parents would call Miles to ask him to check up on me like they did when I hurt my ankle. Oh my god, this is it. This is the moment he falls head over heels in love with me. Then I look down and realize what a mess I must look like. I have stains on my shirt from wiping my running nose on it. I’ve scattered balls of tissues around my bed like confetti. My hair is a bird’s nest of knots tied up in a messy bun. No make-up on. On shaky legs, I jump up and head to the bathroom, I almost scream when I glimpse myself in the mirror. Wow, you look disgusting. I don’t have time for a shower, but I can splash my face, put a comb through my hair, clean my teeth, put deodorant on, and change my clothes. That’s all the energy I have.
I’m dressed and cleaned to some sort of normalcy. I chose a long-sleeve white tracksuit top, even put a bra on, black leggings, and my UGG boots. My hair is pulled up in a high ponytail, and I put some lip gloss on then spray some perfume; it’s all I can do without collapsing. I walk out of my stuffy bedroom and into the corridor and down toward the kitchen, where more grumbling and cursing are coming from. When I turn the corner, I let out a squeal because that is not at all who I thought would be standing in my kitchen dressed in a tux looking like a damn GQ model while he fumbles with the stove.
“Remi?”
“Oh shit, did I wake you?” he says as a frown forms on his face, looking at me with concern.
“Yeah, kind of.”
“Sorry. I was trying to cook up some chicken soup I picked up from Rhonda’s place. But I realize I don’t have the best culinary skills.” He stares at me, looking helpless and I don’t think he’s ever looked cuter. I must be sick because seeing Remi in my kitchen trying to cook me up some chicken soup has my heart beating wildly. I don’t think it’s him doing it. Must be my cold. “How the hell do you look so good when you’re so sick?” Remi asks, catching me off guard with his question. Because I thought you were your brother, no, I was hoping you were your brother. You’re such a bitch, Nell, look at him helping you like he is, he doesn’t have to.
“I don’t get why you are here?” I ask him.
“Your mom called my mom who called Miles, but he’s working, so couldn’t help. So, he called me because Stirling is out of the country, to go to Rhonda’s place in Queens to pick you up a batch of her flu busting chicken soup and bring it to you as I had an event to go to in the city and was the closest,” he explains, as if this was a normal request. “You look pale, Nell.” He stares at me with concern before rushing toward me as I stumble to the side a little as the room spins. “Hey, you, okay?” he asks, holding me by my arms. I shake my head weakly as I don’t feel great suddenly as my temp skyrockets.
“I’ve got you,” Remi says before he picks me up in his arms. I feel like a sack of potatoes, but I’m too exhausted to fight him. He walks me back down my corridor and into my bedroom. He places me ever so gently back in my bed and pulls the covers up. “You need to rest,” he tells me firmly. I nod in agreement because I don’t have the energy to argue and promptly fall back asleep.
I wake up a little while later and notice that I have curled up against something hard.
“Hey, you’re awake. Wanna drink?” Remi asks as he reaches over to my bedside table and hands me a bottle of water. I frown at him as he hands me the bottle, but I take it anyway because my throat feels scratchy. I sit up and unscrew the bottle and take a sip of the cool water.
“Remi, what are you doing in my bed?” I question him.
“Making sure you didn’t die in your sleep,” he replies with a shoulder shrug as if it’s no big deal. I notice my television is on, but he’s watching some reality TV show with almost muted volume. He’s taken his tuxedo jacket off, his tie, and his shoes. He’s rolled his white sleeves up, exposing his tanned, veiny forearms which are my kryptonite. Easy girl, you’re sick. There will be no extracurricular activities with Remi tonight.
“Thanks for checking in on me, but you must be late for your event,” I tell him, nodding my head in his direction.
“I canceled,” he states nonchalantly.
“You canceled?”
“Yeah, it was a boring event, anyway. Looking after you was a great excuse,” he explains to me as he flicks through the channels on the television. Am I hallucinating? This truly can’t be happening right now.
“You canceled your New Year’s Eve plans to look after me?” I ask, perplexed by his motivation.
“Looking after you is a bonus, but honestly I didn’t want to go to the event, so win-win,” he says, giving me a smirk.
“You know it’s creepy to watch people sleep,” I tell him, unable to plan any other thought in my brain.
“Normally it would be, but I was doing a public service making sure that you didn’t choke because you were snoring rather loudly.” I shove him, which makes him laugh at me. “Look, you were going to be alone for New Year’s Eve, sick. I also know it’s one of your favorite holidays and I thought I couldn’t let you be by yourself tonight.” Oh. That was sweet and nice of him. I turn and look up at him. He is watching me cautiously. “If me being here is making you uncomfortable, I can go. The last thing I want to do when you’re sick is annoy you,” he explains wholeheartedly. Now I feel like a moody bitch.
“I guess it wouldn’t suck if you stayed, but only if you wanted to.”
“Nowhere else I would rather be, babe,” he tells me with a wide smile, which makes my stomach flutter, but it could be a symptom of the flu too. “I worked out the microwave, so let me heat the soup for you. You’re probably starved,” he tells me, jumping off the bed just as my stomach rumbles loudly, which makes us both laugh. Awesome way to break the tension, Nell, I curse myself. I grab my phone and notice it’s almost nine. I wonder what the girls are doing at the moment. They must be at the club, probably drinking cocktails, dancing, having fun. I scroll through my feed and see everyone’s New Year’s Eve party photos, and I’m jealous of the amazing time they are all having.
“Here you go. Be careful, it might be hot,” Remi says, walking around the corner with a tray filled with a bowl of soup, some crusty bread, flowers, a mini bottle of champagne and he’s wearing a silly party hat on top of his head. Not sure why but tears well in my eyes at his thoughtful gesture. “Oh, babe, did I do something wrong?” he asks frozen in place, confused over why I’m now crying. I shake my head to let him know everything is fine.
“No. You did good, Remi,” I say through my sniffles. His face relaxes as he brings the tray closer to me before setting down the legs of the tray on the bed. “Thank you,” I wheeze through my snot bubbles. “Are you not going to eat?” I ask when I realize this is a meal for one.
“I ate earlier, all good,” he tells me.
I dig in and moan as the first drop of flavor hits my tongue. Rhonda’s soup always makes me feel better when I’m sick. I still can’t believe he went to Queens to get it for me. Emotion and confusion are swirling around me, but I’m too sick to investigate these stupid feelings. So, what? Remi did a nice thing for me doesn’t change the fact he’s a player and will never be a one-woman man. Friends, remember, you’re just friends. You can’t let him have your heart again, even if he is being cute.
“Shall we watch some of the New Year’s Eve countdown shows?” he asks. I nod in agreement as I slowly devour my soup. He changes the channel and settles in beside me and we both sit there in silence, just watching the ent
ertainment, happy in each other’s company, not needing to fill the silence. I’m all warm and toasty and place my tray on the floor and snuggle into Remi while we watch whatever is on the TV. It doesn’t take long till Remi wraps his arm around me and pulls me closer and not long after that, he’s stroking my hair, and everything feels right. I must fall asleep again because I wake to Remi’s lips pressed against my temple, wishing me a happy new year.
“Happy new year,” I mumble into his chest. I feel his fingers again in my hair as he continues to stroke along my strands. “Thank you for spending it with me.”
“There’s nowhere else I would rather be, Nell,” he confesses, kissing my temple again. I know I shouldn’t feel comforted by his words or actions, but I do, and then I promptly fall asleep again.
25
Remi
“Happy new year!” I scream, popping the crackers spraying confetti everywhere when Nell walks down the corridor and into the living room. She screams and ducks at the sound.
“Remi, what the fuck. Are you trying to kill me?” She yells at me, clutching her chest, but all I can do is smile because she looks so beautifully disheveled, and I like that look on Nell. I also enjoyed waking up to her in my arms this morning—what a great way to celebrate the new year with my favorite person wrapped in my arms.
“I was hoping you were feeling better this morning?”
“I do, thank you. Just wasn’t prepared for a ticker-tape parade entering the living room,” she says, giving me a small smile.
“Thought we could recreate New Year’s Eve this morning, seeing as you slept through it all last night. If you’re up for it, that is?” I ask her. I watch as her brown eyes widen in surprise. “Look, I’ve ordered brunch. There are mimosas. I have all your favorite pastries. We have party hats, more confetti cannons, balloons. All you need to do is go have a shower and come back and enjoy.” A frown forms on her face as she stares at me.
“You changed?” she asks me, pointing to my gray tracksuit.
“Oh yeah. I asked the hotel’s concierge to pack up my room and send my stuff over to here,” I explain to her. She stares at me for a couple more moments in silence, shakes her head and turns on her heel, and heads back to her bedroom. Once she’s gone, I rush out to the front door and open it to let Rainn and Audrey in, who brought the decorations. They messaged Nell throughout the night and while she slept. I may have used her finger to open the phone so I could text them back because I knew they’d be worried. As tempted as I was, I didn’t look any further into her phone.
“You are such a doll for doing all this for her,” Audrey tells me as Nell’s friends scurry in to help decorate the dining room.
“It’s nothing,” I tell them, uncomfortable with their compliments as they rarely give me any.
“No, Rem, it is something. You turning up when she needed you the most is something,” Rainn adds.
We get to work hanging up streamers and banners all around the dining room until we hear Nell’s footsteps down the corridor. The girls quickly hide and wait for the perfect moment to jump out and surprise Nell. When she turns the corner and sees what we’ve done to the dining room, Nell’s face breaks out into an enormous smile and that’s the moment Rainn and Audrey jump out and yell “happy new year” to her. Nell’s face when she sees her two best friends there has her bursting into tears as she rushes toward them. They all embrace, and I give them all their moment. Until I feel arms wrap around my middle and tits pressed up against my back.
“Thank you, Remi, for making this one of the best New Year’s ever,” Nell whispers into my back as she squishes me in a tight hug before joining her friends at the dining table. I sit back and listen to them chat about this person and that person, gossiping about who was hooking up with whom and who was drunk, who caused a scene, who cheated, it was rather fascinating, better than those reality TV shows I watched last night while Nell slept. As the girls continue, I pull out my phone and check my messages and DM’s until I feel someone watching me.
“She’s got nice tits,” Rainn whispers beside me as she reaches out and grabs a croissant, her back toward Nell.
“I didn’t ask for it, if that is what you’re thinking,” I explain to her.
“None of my business.”
“Feels like you still have more to say though?”
Rainn raises a brow. “Since you asked, I do. Probably not a good idea looking at other women’s nudes after spending the night in my friend’s bed.”
“Noted,” I say, placing my phone face down on the table.
“Is everything okay?” Nell asks, looking between Rainn and me.
“Yeah, it’s all good. I was telling Rainn that Dom’s been asking about her.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, Rainn turns her head and glares at me. I pick up my mimosa and raise it in her direction.
“Why is Dom asking about Rainn?” Nell questions me.
Rainn’s eyes widen with panic, and I’m surprised by her reaction, and now feel bad for dropping her in it.
“He said something about going to Bali and knew Rainn lived there or something and wanted to ask her some questions,” I explain to Nell.
Rainn nods her thanks in my direction for covering for her. Looks like I might have inadvertently stumbled upon something I shouldn’t have.
“Why would Dom want to go to Bali? He hates the sun,” Nell queries.
“Probably because some hot model asked him to go, and he wants to impress her or something.” Making up more lies, keep digging that hole, Remi.
“Does Dom have a girlfriend?” Nell asks. Oh, man, this is getting out of hand.
“Dom doesn’t do girlfriends,” I say, which Nell nods in agreement and accepts before turning back to her conversation with Audrey.
“What the fuck, Remi?” Rainn whisper yells at me. I give her an apologetic face, but she just shakes her head at me. Great, just when I thought Nell’s friends were warming up to me, I blow it again.
The girls have finished brunch and while I clean up, they’ve been chatting away in the living room.
“Thanks for looking after Nell last night. She seems a lot better,” Audrey says, giving me a warm smile.
“Don’t thank me. I think it was Rhonda’s chicken soup that fixed her,” I explain, placing the last of the pastries in the fridge.
“Or maybe it was a little of both.” Audrey winks. “Rainn and I are going to get going, we’ll catch up with Nell later, she’s looking a little tired. Thanks again for organizing this for her. I know she appreciates it so much. Always knew there was that dependable guy deep down inside. You should show Nell that more often,” Audrey tells me.
“I’m not ready for all that yet,” I tell.
“That’s honest. I can appreciate that. But remember, while you wait to be ready, someone else already is.” And with that pearl of wisdom, Audrey leaves me with much to mull over. Rainn gives me a wave from the living room as the girls exit Nell’s apartment.
“What are you doing, Rem?” Nell calls out from the living room. I wipe my hands on the towel and head on into the living room where she’s seated.
“Was just tidying up,” I answer her as I take a seat on the couch beside her.
“Thanks for today, it’s exactly what I needed. But I’m so exhausted.” She sighs, falling dramatically back against the couch. I grab her feet and put them in my lap, which makes her squeal.
“Relax,” I tell her as my fingers massage her feet.
“Oh, wow,” she whispers on a moan as she sinks back against the cushions and places her hand over her brow.
“Didn’t realize all I needed to do was massage your feet to get you on your back,” I joke.
Nell moves her hand away and glares at me, but I can see the corner of her lips twitching with a smile before she covers them again. I keep working my magic on her feet until the light snores from Nell can be heard. I get off the couch and grab the blanket which is hanging over the corner and place it over her. She snuggles in
to the furry thing and mumbles thanks and promptly falls back asleep again.
I must doze a little because I wake up on the armchair next to Nell who is snoring away happily. I stretch out, and it becomes painfully clear that my dick is standing to attention and doesn’t look like he wants to go down soon. I’m going to need to take care of this, especially with Nell curling up against me, he’s confused as to the reason he’s not inside of her. I head on over to the guest room where I put all my things, but the scent of Nell’s body wash calls to me. I peek over my shoulder to double check if Nell is still sleeping soundly. She is. My heart is thundering in my chest, worried about getting caught, but my dick is in control, and he does not care at all. I make my way into Nell’s bathroom and quickly strip off my tracksuit and underwear. My dick throbs with excitement now that I have set him free, but he’s going to have to enjoy my hand, not Nell's exquisite pussy. I step into the warm shower and lather myself up with her shower gel, and her scent instantly hits my nose and my dick throbs with need. I slide my hand down my body, where I wrap my fingers around my dick and lather it up. I hiss at the contact and before I know it, I’m lost in the sensations and thinking about all the things I want to do to Nell the next time we can get together. I can’t wait to savor her lips. Suck on her nipples. Lose myself between her thighs.
“Nell.” Her name falls from my lips, but I’m too far gone in my fantasies that I don’t know how loud I am. Nell is pretty passed out she won’t hear anything. My hands grip myself tighter imagining my hand is her tight little cunt and I’m disappearing inside her, losing myself to the oblivion that is her essence until I can’t hold it in anymore, and on a guttural moan, I call out her name as I come in large ribbons all over her shower’s tiles. I place my forehead against the tiles and take a moment to catch my breath.
“Impressive.”
Nell’s voice stills me. Shit. I thought she was asleep. Fuck, what do I do? She probably thinks I’m a creep jerking off about her while she is sick. Maybe she heard nothing. Next thing I know, the glass door to the shower opens and there, standing before me, is Nell, naked. My eyes widen. Taking in her naked form she’s literally rendered me speechless.