Betrayed

It's my first time here

As we got closer to town, my phone gained signal and several messages popped up on my screen. Voicemails, text messages and emails all blinked at me. Remi smiled at all the notifications I was receiving.

"How long has it been since you left the camp?" he asked.

"Since I got here about 6 weeks ago," I replied.

"Wow, you're tough!" he said with a laugh. "Most people can't go an hour without checking their facebook". I shrugged.

"I'm not like most people," I replied.

"No you really aren't" he said with an adoring smile.

Remi lived in a new apartment building in town with fantastic views. The place was neat but nearly empty, I guessed he hadn't been living there very long. "Sorry, I don't have a whole lot in here yet, I just got the place a month ago" he said, confirming my suspicions.

"Where did you live before that?" I asked curiously while checking out the view.

"With my parents" he admitted sheepishly.

"Hey, that's okay." I said gently wrapping my arms around him. "I don't even have a place to live." I smiled up at him before realisation dawned on me. "Holy shit, I don't have anywhere to live!!"

"What do you mean?"

"I quit earlier," I admitted.

"No! Harper, why?"

"Urgh, cause I'm sick of being made out to be the bad guy. Gabriel always berates me for going over budget and I've been doing the work of three people by myself most of the summer. I'm tired."

"Yeah, that really surprises me. Mr. Mason speaks highly of you, and is constantly disciplining guys for looking at you the wrong way or making lewd comments about you. I'm surprised he would let Maria get away with everything she got away with this summer.''He said. I looked at him in surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you mean what do I mean? Mr. Mason is very protective of you" he answered, shrugging.

"He is?" I asked. Remi smiled at me.

"Remember that day you accidentally drifted down the river to the men's quarter?" he asked.

"How can I forget?" I mumbled.

"He was so pissed that Jim had made that comment and that a few people whistled at you. He lectured us for half an hour about respect and not shitting where we were eating or something like that" he recounted. "He even refused us our mid afternoon break" Remi smiled in disbelief at the memory. I was speechless, I had no idea Gabriel had done that, but I was silently thankful. "You can stay here as long as you want, Harper, I won't be here during the week though" he continued. I weighed his words as I returned to the present and realized he was asking me to move in with him.

"Are you serious?" I asked testing his words.

"As serious as a heart attack" he deadpanned. A shocked laugh escaped me and I shoved him playfully. He smiled down at me watching me in awe as he always did, like he couldn't believe I was real.

"I will try to find a job and a place as soon as possible, I promise. Oh, Remi, thank you!"

"Of course" he ran his fingers through my hair as he cradled me into his chest. He made me feel like a rag doll against his massive body. "Let me grab a shower and change, then we can go out for some groceries for the weekend."

"Yeah, sure, I might grab a shower after you're done too" I said.

"Or..." he suggested.

"Uhm, no not right now" I said, letting him down gently.