With Caution

his side. “You did? With Jake?” He smiled.
    Remi groaned, turned over and sat up. Climbing off the bed, he headed to the bathroom. It was way too fucking early for this. He couldn’t remember all of what he’d said to Jake last night. Then there was that dream… He kept having it. Why?
    “Hey. Where are you going?”
    Crazy. I’m going crazy. “To take a piss.”

    * * *

    Sterling snagged his helmet off Remi’s white laminate kitchen counter and, with the football under his arm, took off out the door.
    Remi followed at a much slower pace. Goddamn he didn’t have the energy to keep up with Sterling today.
    What all had he said to Jake last night? Remi winced thinking about it. When he was drunk he didn’t hold anything back, everything he thought just flew right out his mouth.
    It was why he never got drunk unless he was with someone he trusted completely. And while he did trust Jake, he hadn’t planned on getting drunk.
    What the fuck happened? Oddly, he wasn’t really hung over. He’d had a bit of a headache when he first got up, but it was gone now.
    He tucked his helmet under his arm, put his sunglasses on, turned the lock on the front door and shut it. He checked to make sure it locked and descended the steps. No 92
    www.samhainpublishing.com

    With Caution
    telling what Sterling was getting into while he was up here trying to figure out what all he’d said and done last night.
    The apartment door downstairs and across from Remi’s opened. Mr. Morris stuck his head out. “Morning, Remi.” Mr. Morris dipped his gray head toward the parking lot, where Sterling was already sitting on Remi’s bike. “Looks like you have a big day planned.”
    “Yeah, he’s going to make the team next year or kill us both trying.”
    Mr. Morris chuckled. “Well, he’s a good kid. If anyone can teach him how to play, it’s you.”
    “I’m sure going to try.”
    Mr. Morris nodded. “You’ll do fine. Listen, have you noticed any bums hanging around here lately?”
    Remi shook his head. “No, I haven’t really noticed.”
    “Well, I’m going to talk to the super this morning. I swear the neighborhood is going to hell.”
    “Remi,” Sterling called from the parking lot.
    “Thanks, Mr. Morris. I better get before the kid takes off without me.”
    “Have fun playing ball.” He waved and went back in his apartment.
    Bums? Remi surveyed the lot, but didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. Wait .
    There was a homeless person, across the sidewalk where the next apartment building began. Interesting.
    “What’s up?”
    Remi jumped at Sterling’s voice. “Nothing.” He glanced at his brother and put his own helmet on and fastened it. “Let’s go.”

    * * *

    Smiling, Sterling ran the ball back. “Did you go home alone?”
    Remi snagged the ball and growled. “Would you stop?”
    “No. I wanna know.”

    www.samhainpublishing.com 93
    J.L. Langley
    “You are too young to know.”
    Sterling’s eyes widened. “Holy shit, something happened.”
    Remi groaned. “Nothing happened. We went out for a few drinks and I met Jake’s friends there.” Jesus, the kid had a one-track mind. And why the hell did he seem to want something to happen? “Where did you go? Was Jake there? Did you have fun?” And why did his questions sound so…suspicious?
    “Hi, Jake.” Sterling waved, looking over Remi’s shoulder.
    Jake? Remi turned and, sure enough, there was Jake. Not only Jake, but Tank, Dago, Gadget, Zack, Nick and Rhys. Remi smiled, feeling a warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with the heat of the summer day.
    A gasp sounded from beside him. Sterling’s mouth was hanging open, his eyes wide.
    Then he whispered, “Oh. My. God.”
    Remi followed Sterling’s gaze all the way to Rhys.
    Rhys stood right behind Jake, in a pair of cutoffs and a tank top. He had a cooler on his shoulder, carrying it like it weighed nothing. He was limping slightly.
    “I know, scary as hell, ain’t he?” Remi asked.
    Mute for the first time in his life, Sterling simply nodded.
    Remi knew how the kid felt since he’d had the same reaction.
    Stepping up to them, Jake furrowed his brow at Sterling, then met Remi’s gaze.
    Remi shrugged. “Rhys.”
    Jake nodded. “Ah.”
    Gadget walked up to Remi holding out his hand. “Hey, man, how’s it going?”
    “Good.” Remi slapped Gadget’s hand, then made a fist and hit Gadget’s.
    Nick did the same thing. Tank and Zack slapped him on the back.
    Dago