“Come on man, don't be sour!” The brother said as he tapped Miguel's shoulder. “I was a bit worried about you all, having a close friend come back into your life isn't something to react like this about.”

The two brothers were in a stopped limousine outside Miguel's apartment.

“Micheal, having a woman sent to my apartment isn't exactly what I'd call a pleasant surprise.” He answered as he looked outside.

“Really?”

“(He really does think about nothing but women. This is the type of thing he'd want and he just assumed I'd want it as well. I swear when it comes to stuff other than business, where's your head at bro?)”

“Tch, damn, I guess she's still bitter and taking it out on you. Want me to call some guys to get her remo-”

“Woah, wait a second bro, what are you talking about?” Miguel quickly added as he heard something very worrying exit his brother's mouth.

“I mean, I can imagine her acting like she runs the place and bossing you around. She's at least a pain right?”

“Not really, she knows when to back off on certain stuff and honestly for someone that smokes and drinks she doesn't really make the place feel any worse by leaving stuff around like you used at your old pl-”

He quickly placed a finger over his brother's mouth and began whispering.

“Easy Miguel, I don't want my driver to hear this. Besides, we were both a bit rough after what happened to mom and dad, don't act like I still live like that.” He said in a very defensive tone.

Miguel honestly couldn't blame him. By the time he got his act back together, he had to sell it off as the ingrained smell of tobacco and weed alone made it unsalvageable for any sane person.

He removed his finger and cleared his throat.

“Then why the hell were you giving me shit for it?” He asked.

“Michael, like, at least give me a heads up before you send someone to my apartment.”

“Oh, that's what you're pissy about.”

“Would you like it if I sent some random woman to your place?”

“As long as Victoria’s not around.”

Miguel shook his head and gave him a light punch on the shoulder before leaving.

“Stay safe little bro!”

“Yeah, you too.”

----------------------------------------

Miguel rested alone in his apartment in nothing more than his undies. He lay on his couch with a phone in hand and placed it back on his coffee. On its screen was the text he received from Louise before he left.

(“Worried? What does that have to do with sending a woman I haven't in ten years to my place?”)

He thought.

(“It's night now and she hasn't come back. Maybe I should just… not call her. I mean if she doesn't return then maybe she doesn't need to freeload me anymore. Like, why the hell am I even entertaining her? Why don't you just go back to your parent's house or something? I mean she's… she's fine I guess but I'm no charity. What if she just invites her friends over to stay with me, or worse a boyfriend? I don't want her to think this place is just a free out for her to stay whenever she wants.

And my brother's another one. Worried about me? Do you think sending a random woman to my place is any way to express any concern you dickhead? What the fuck is this concern even about? I've been fine for the past few months on my own, I don't get what the fucks changed for him to get this concerned. Even Louise has given me some odd looks on occasion. Do you guys think I'm a freak or something? Maybe it's because people like you wouldn't know normal if-”)

He calmed himself down and rubbed his head for a few moments. He sighed and picked up his phone.

(“Why am I assuming the worst in her? Forget it, I'm mad at my brother, not her. Besides, she needed a temporary place, it's not like she's gonna stay here forever.”)

(“But would that be so bad?”)

A thought at the far reaches of mind wondered. He quickly brushed it aside and texted her to come back.

As he waited for a reply, he noticed a call from the same number he texted.

He answered it and “Hello?” He asked. He heard nothing on the other end and wondered if she butt-dialled him, but it couldn't have been accidental. There was absolutely nothing heard on the other end. No talking, no background sounds of the city, not even the sound of walking.

“Hello?”

“Hello?”

He heard something but it sounded off. He spoke again and realised what it was. His own voice.

He quickly turned around and had a hand placed over his mouth.

(“Shitshitshitshitsshitshitshjt!”)

Before he could struggle and scream for help, a hand slid down his chest and grabbed one of his pecs with a bit of force.

“Hmm, could use a bit of work don't you think?”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

He turned in his phone's flashlight and pointed it to the miscreant. It was Lousie with a smug look on her face.

“How did you?”

“You left the door unlocked.”

Living in a safe community had its drawbacks, he supposed.

(“Thank fuck I kept my thoughts to myself.”) He thought as he tried to bite one of her hands.

“Behave, boy, my hand isn't a treat.”

“Well I'm not a cow either, but the way you held my chest made it seem like you were trying to get some milk.” He commented as he rubbed the now sore pectoral.

As he looked down he realised he was still. in. his. underwear.

He pursed his lips before quickly trying to cover himself with his arms.

She tilted her head before taking a better look at his body.

“What's wrong, got a tattoo or something?” She asked.

“C-could you turn around for a moment?”

She looked down at his crotch but it didn't seem to be acting up. Why was he acting so sh-

“Oh come on dude, you're basically in swimwear, what's the point in being embarrassed about that?”

“I don't go to the beach for that exact reason!” He answered as he tried to get off the couch.

“Huh, you are kinda pale.”

As he scrambled to the ground to try and pick up the suit he discarded on the floor, she shook her hand.

“Dude, I'll just go get your clothes. They're still in your room.”

“Oh, uh, thanks.”

After getting his t-shirt and sweatpants back, she made a sly comment before walking off.

“Well, at least I won't have to worry about it hurting if I ever become your wife.”

It took a few seconds for Miguel to realise what she was talking about.

----------------------------------------

“Miguel…….” A voice akin to nails on a chalkboard asked.

Miguel took his headset off and looked at his bed to see her lying on it with her upper half hanging off it.

“No, it doesn't have a funny smell, can you stop asking that now?”

“It's not about you nutting on your bed, Miguel,”

He rolled his eyes and continued listening.

“Make me something.”

“Huh? What do you mean? Like a boat?”

“Can you make a boat?”

“No,”

She slumped off the bed and slithered towards him like a boa stalking a gazelle.

“Make me food Miguel, I'm tired of eating the same old shit. It's nothing but cereal, wings and pizza with you.”

“I also have some salads in the fridge.”

“I don't care about that shit! I want a home-cooked meal.”

He looked at her suspiciously. “And why would I be cooking?”

“Don't act dumb you bastard, I remember you cooking whenever I headed over to your house back then.”

“Why don't you cook for me? You treat the place like you live here, it would do you good to do something nice for your landlord every now and again.”

“(Ah, he's well and truly comfortable with me if that mouth of his has got its venom back.) Fuck off telling a woman to get in the kitchen, what is this, the 1940s?”

Miguel got off his chair and crouched down to the floor and started poking her cheek like she was an animal lying on the roadside.

“Don't give me that, you'd beat the shit out of me if you felt offended.”

“Whatever, just make me a meal. I'm tired of putting shit in your oven.”

“What would you even suggest, huh? The only things that don't go in the oven or microwave I have are rice, bread and other ingredients.”

“Bread… why don't you make some bread pudding.”

“Bread pudding, I thought you said you wanted a meal?”

“Make me something, man, I don't care what.” She said as she blew in his face.

Miguel looked unamused and helped to lift her up.

“Fuck, what are you eating to make you so heavy?”

She flexed her tricep, which was more toned than Miguel imagined, before turning to him. “It's all muscle baby, now make me some bread pudding.”

“Tsk, Do I even have the ingredients for that?”

“Isn't it just bread and milk?”

“If you're eating like a 12th-century peasant, maybe but if you want it to taste good, it'll take some more stuff I don't think we have.”

As much as he dragged his feet, Louise forced him into the kitchen and scoured through the fridge and pantry for ingredients he shockingly did have available.

“Butter, eggs, cinnamon, icing sugar, peanuts and some walnuts I forgot about, yeah this can work.” He said as he looked over the ingredients.

“Chop, chop, now get to it.” She commanded.

“Just know if you don't help me, I'll take it for myself.”

“Ugh, fine I'll help you.”

(“You're the one who asked for this you bitch.”)

It honestly wasn't something difficult and within fifteen minutes they had something in the oven.

“That easy?” She asked.

“You wouldn't believe the amount of stuff you could bake if you took a quick look in your pantry.” He answered like a knowledgeable housemaid.

As they headed back to the living room, a question came to Miguel that left him somewhat antsy as he silently bided his time beside her.

“What is it?” She asked. “You're shaking like a stripper's ass.” She unnecessarily added.

“Oh, uh, I was just..”

“You're wondering how long I'm gonna stay right?”

He nodded. Even if they were “cool” now, they were certain questions he knew he had to approach with caution. The tension made it a bit hard for him to speak.

“Don't worry, if my apartment isn't clear by the end of the month, you can kick me out whenever.” She answered.

“Come on, you know I wouldn't do that.”

“Who knows, maybe tomorrow some blonde babe comes to your door and says she is going to marry you. What then?”

“Eh, I'm good with one random woman coming to my door, thank you. Honestly, I don't think I could have taken this if it was anyone else.”

“Any other woman would have snatched you for themselves if they heard what you said about your bank account. Be glad money alone doesn't sway my thoughts or I'd be riding you like it was a full-time job.”

“Y-yeah.” He responded, red-cheeked. He quickly got up. “Why don't I go check the pudding, I think It'll soon be ready.”

He quickly escaped to the kitchen to hide his embarrassment.

She had a faint smile as she watched him walk off. (“Maybe… maybe he won't disappoint me.”)