Page 72 of Noctis

We returned downstairs, where Remy lapsed into silence while I made coffee. “So,” I said once we sat down with steaming mugs in front of us, “where’s the speech you promised me?”

Remy nodded and took a gulp of coffee, only to grimace at the heat and quickly set the mug back down. “I’m lucky you’re even talking to me.”

“You are,” I agreed.

“I don’t deserve your forgiveness.”

“You don’t.”

Remy managed a weak smile, his fingers toying with the handle of the mug. “He pursued me, just for the record. I know it doesn’t make anything better because I should have said no, but it’s important to me you understand I’d never considered him in that way before.”

“You said on the phone that it started a couple of months ago.”

He nodded. “You remember George’s birthday?”

I thought back. “I got absolutely shitfaced and you and Tyler had to get me home.”

“Yeah.”

I didn’t like the scenario his words conjured up: me passed out while my boyfriend and best friend explored their attraction to each other. “You know what,” I said. “I don’t need to know every single detail.”

“No?” He sounded surprised.

I shook my head. “I have some questions, though.”

Remy inclined his head. “Go on.”

“Did you ever have sex in my bed?”

“No!” Remy frowned. “No, I would never.”

“Good to see there were some lines you wouldn’t cross.” I took a sip of coffee, going for a second when the temperature proved tolerable. “Did you know about his plan to dump me in rehab?”

Remy winced. “To a degree.”

“What does ‘to a degree’ mean?”

“I knew he thought rehab was a good option for you. I kind of agreed, to be honest. You were taking too many drugs and drinking a lot. But I thought he meant one in London. I didn’t know he was going to dump you in the middle of Timbuktu, and he made it sound like he’d talk to you first.”

“He didn’t. He just packed a bag without me knowing, told me he was taking me to a restaurant, and drove me there instead.”

Remy grimaced. “That sucks.”

“Yeah, it did.” I took another sip of coffee. “Did you know he wasn’t answering any of my calls?”

“Sort of. He said he wanted to give you time to ‘immerse yourself in the therapy available without distraction.’”

“I think I could have handled Leaf Identification 101 just fine without everyone cutting me off.”

Remy frowned. “What?”

I waved the question away. “Never mind.” He didn’t need to know about Edward’s forest walks. Besides in retrospect, as much as I’d mocked them, there’d been something almost comforting about them. “Did you know he planned to kick me out of my house and had the locks changed?”

Remy leaned forward, confusion spreading across his face. “He did what? You’re shitting me.”

“Unfortunately not. I got back from rehab and discovered that my key no longer worked.”

“The fucker!”