Back to you

 "But I don't want to talk about him," Maddie said right away when Harley called to talk about Raney. After all, life was like a new chapter with Boone.

Of course, it was awkward meeting up in the livingroom ready for a real date. But it had happened and it was invigorating. Oh, she felt like dressing up now. She felt the need to hold hands where ever they went. Yes, it was a blissful September.

They'd been apple picking and movies and just the coffee shop, but it was great. And it felt so real. She was where she wanted to be.

"Please, just hear me out," Harley said about the Raney and Kimmy matter.

"I don't have time for this," Maddie was ready to silence the call and then Harley mentioned Kimmy was taking drugs.

"What kind of drugs?" This startled Maddie.

"Well, I don't think it's pot," Harley told her her cousin didn't even smell of nicotine. That's when she told Maddie her cousin's confession. "I think we need an intervention."

"Intervention?" Maddie said it should be with her cousin Kimmy not Raney.

"He just needs to get away from her," Harley said.

"Well, I can't." Maddie abruptly told her. "I won't. I don't want anything to do with him."

"But he doesn't deserve this," Harley said he needed to know about Kimmy.

"Then..then you tell him," Maddie sighed. "Didn't he go back to art school?"

"His mom has been in the hospital again," Harley knew.

Maddie pressed her lips tight. She felt bad for Raney, but not that bad.

"I'm sorry," Maddie said with the slightest regret. Sure, she felt sad for Raney, but this would not be her battle.

You've been in a deep coma

Alfie thinks about what Remi said to him in private. Their one-night stand all so long ago wasn't about him at all but about Melissa.

"I wanted to get back at her," Remi tells him that she and Melissa were lovers, only Melissa would never admit it. "I loved her then," she sighs about the matter. Evidently, it was a mad love. 

Honestly, he tries to imagine his own mad love. Did he ever have one? Before he can think on it he gets a call from Gage.

"So how was that party?" He apologizes about how they couldn't make it. Work has been a hassle after getting a new route and they didn't want to take the baby out with a chance of sniffles.

"Oh, we would have loved to see you guys, but it was pretty much a full house anyway," Alfie understands. "But it was good. Even Remi had a good time."

"How do you know?" Gage cracks up as if Alfie might be a natural liar, even if it's white lies.

"Well..." Alfie leaves it hanging for a moment as he helps Zoey with putting away the dishes from the dish washer. He walks down the hall then so he can be alone in the bedroom to discuss a few things with Gage about Remi. Although, its a moment expired in his life and he should let it go. And he does.

"I know, everything isn't about me," Alfie tells him he knows he's an idiot, but there was guilt back then, and it's taken an effort to change. 'I just know, I would never go down that road again."

"I'm glad you've figured that out."

It's a comfort to hear Gage's words. Alfie smiles as if he's better now hearing from Gage.

"You know, we've got a few leftover," Alfie says. "I could run them by tomorrow." He mentions all the bread that Boone brought from the bakery. Some untouched.

"So  how is that little brother of yours?" Gage wants to know.

"Boone?" Alfie smile is open as he guess it's OK to tell his best friend the news. "Maddie has decided they should date."

"Huh?" Gage makes it sound kind of funny. "But they live together?"

"Well, it can happen," Alfie sats down on the made bed. "If anyone can do it, it's Boone."

"Did you tell him that?" Gage wants to know. 

Alfie laughs and says he didn't have to.

Pluck up the courage and invite him nowhere good

 "Well, I'm just saying, it's about time," Kimmy shrugged back about her new situation in Lawerence, Kansas with Raney.

Harley looked at her as if she was as flighty as ever. One romance after another. Although, Harley didn't exactly call them that. Kimmy still found the time to come and see her while she was in town with Raney, who was seeing his mother. 

"Is it?" Harley wasn't so sure about anything her cousin had to say. Once upon a time she'd pounced Rafe and now she acted as Who's That?

"He's an artist," she played with the cupcake that Harley brought her at the diningroom table at her parents. "When are you moving out?"

Harley leaned in to watch her cousin not even take a bite. Of course, if Harley was allowed she would have devoured it already. Truly, she thought it best if she lived by herself. This way should wouldn't have to be around all the food that was bad for her, but she knew that wouldn't change anytime soon.

"Why?" Harley looked at Kimmy as if she had an answer for everything. She was always good at assessing the situation. Of course, Kimmy never went through with her own notions. Now she was in art school too. Only not exactly where Raney was. But they were living together.

"You need to be out on your own. You know, how else will you know how to be a grownup?" Kimmy sipped her tea. She had no need for a cupcake.

Harley nodded. "Well, this is me now. I'm going to be a first-grade teacher. Maybe. And I'm working. Brick is on the basketball team at UNL. He's busy."

"You're so young," Kimmy winced as if Harley was missing out. 

"You'd think you were a good eight years older than me, you are only two," Harley felt the need to stand up for herself yet she supposed she was putting down her cousin now. "You've been to so many colleges? And you still can't decide?"

"Well," she shrugged, but let her in on a little secret. "A lot of times I was high."

This alarmed Harley as she glared at her cousin. There was no one in the family to hear this but Harley. How could she not know?

"You know, I just play along until I can't anymore," Kimmy's smile was open.

"Are you high right now?" Harley's eyes lit, hoping Kimmy didn't harm Raney. Harley felt so sad for him, but she doubted he knew of her bad habits. She wanted to know what Kimmy was taking, but she was a clean mystery, keeping it all to herself.

Kimmy laughed at her. "Don't worry about me. Just worry about your boring life."

Harley sighed. Was she supposed to call Maddie and see if they could have an intervention? She guessed it was an intervention. Only it was for Raney to end it with Kimmy.

Want me to spell it out for you?

 

"What? We're in the same apartment complex?" Wolf looks stunned as if he doesn't understand.

"What? You thought we were going out on the town," Remi smirks back as she leads the way. It's only a few doors down. 

"It's just, you know, we.. we stay home," he looks as if he wishes she'd left him home.

"Oh, we need to get out more," Remi turns to him and loops her arm in his as if they are in it together. "It'll be fine. Besides, remember he's the one who told me about the pharmacy classes."

Wolf nods as if that has to be a good sign. It isn't long until they get to the elevator and go to the top floor, but in spite of how quick the elevator is, Wolf is a little queasy.

"You know, I think you've had more morning sickness than I have," Remi tells him as they wait for the elevator door to open. 

She hears his nervous laughter. Remi hangs on to him. Really, he's always had a sheltered life, and yet he remains timid even on his own with her.

Finally, they arrived, and its like a party. Now Remi feels a shot of nerves, but she smiles at every introduction. First, it's Alfie's little brother and he's with his roommate which Alfie stresses. Although, from the looks of it, Remi doubts it.

And Zoey, Alfie's wife. "You know, I'm the one who introduced these two," she says later as they settle to the dinner party of pasta, meatballs, and salad which everyone gets a good laugh.

 Of course, they squeeze around the table. Alfie invited the neighbors across the hall who already have a baby.

She sees that Wolf finds it easier than he even knew to talk to strangers. Boone and his girl are sweet. "Next time, let's bring some games," Boone says he'd like to try the Friends Trivia game that Wolf mentioned.

"Save that for winter," Alfie says as they are finishing up, so there will be room for coffee and brownies. "Right now we need more on the court."

Boone shakes his head, no. He looks to Wolf. "Oh, I don't know." Wolf shakes with laughter. "If anyone can play, it's Remi."

She sighs. "Not anytime soon." She holds her stomach waiting for the bundle of joy that will be much sooner than she wants to admit.

"Right," Alfie nods. "We'll teach you." Alfie assures Wolf he'll be making a lay up in no time.