Page 39 of Home Town

“Did you find something?” Josie asked in lieu of a normal greeting.

Obviously she thought this call was about the compass. He was about to disappoint her.

Although maybe not too much. Given her current attitude toward him, Josie might enjoy seeing him collapsed in the street, helpless and in desperate need of her assistance.

“No. Um, I need you… to come get me.” That admission was harder than he thought it would be.

He waited for her tirade. Something in the order of why should she do anything for him? She wasn’t his chauffeur.

The rant didn’t come. His request was met with an uncharacteristic silence from his usually chatty neighbor—an eternity of quiet—or at least it felt that long considering this was Josie.

“Where are you?” she asked.

This was going to be even harder to admit. He’d have to do it anyway.

The only other alternative would be to make this curb his home until his brain decided to cooperate. Or wander aimlessly and hope to hit on someplace he recognized. Or someone who recognized him.

“I don’t know.”

He thought he heard her bite out a low cuss before she said, “Your cell has GPS.”

Of course. He should have remembered that.

He could have opened the map app to lead him home…if he wasn’t also having trouble remembering the exact street number of the house he’d grown up in.

Was it 207? 702? Crap! He was screwed. His brain. His career. His future…

Panic later. Get off the street now.

He managed to remember how to navigate to the text app and drop a location pin. Apparently the brain was selectively random about what it would allow him to recall.

At least he was still able to speak. And he remembered the people who loved—and loathed—him.

“Got it,” Josie said. “You’re not far. I’ll be right there. Two minutes. Okay?”

“Okay. And Josie?

“Yeah?

“Why are you being nice to me?” All he could think was that it was because he sounded as shitty as he felt.

She laughed and said, “Good question. When I figure it out, I’ll let you know.”

Her snark made him feel better. Thank God, because he really needed to.

She found him shortly later still seated on the curb with his head in his hands.

Sliding out of the car, she walked to where he was and said, “Someone call for an Uber?”

“Josie.” Her name escaped him on a weak whoosh of air as he still struggled to hold down the panic and not hyperventilate.

He tried to stand and swayed to one side. He caught himself with one hand and plopped his ass back onto the curb as he grumbled a lengthy cuss worthy of the sailor he was.

Squatting down in front of him, her face close, the look of concern on it clear, Josie said, “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing. I’ll be fine.”

He avoided meeting her gaze, but when he finally did glance up, he saw her dark brows were skeptically high.

---