Page 45 of Fade With Me

I smiled at his message, the playful tone easing some of the tension coiled tight inside me.

Me:I don’t know, you tell me…stalker.

Zeke:Hey, I had to make a quick exit! Tonight wasn’t the night to get caught lurking in the shadows…besides, I have a reputation to uphold as a suave and sophisticated operative.

Me:You forgot handsome.

Zeke:Oh, right! Devastatingly handsome. I was too busy being humble to remember that part. Thanks for keeping me grounded.

Me:How does one gain so much confidence?

Zeke:Oh, it’s easy. You told me how hot I am at least three times a day before you lost your memories. I’m pretty sure it’s a proven fact that excessive flattery leads to supreme self-assurance.

Me:That is a complete and utter lie. And are we really already resorting to amnesia jokes?

Zeke:Too soon?

Me:Probably. But don’t worry, I’ll likely forget about it anyway. Haha!

Zeke:HA! Oh God, I hope not! Speaking of which, we need to meet up soon and brainstorm some ideas. Want to get together tomorrow?

Me:I should probably go back to the diner tomorrow, keep things as normal as possible. I’m sure Sally will be thrilled. Lol. But, yeah, I’m usually off by 4. We can meet up after that.

Zeke:Perfect! I’ll pick you up at the convenience store across the street. See you then! Sweet dreams, Bryn!

Me:I’ll be there! Goodnight :)

I chuckled at the exchange, but the joy in the moment couldn’t quiet the weight of the world pressing on my soul.

After sending the last message, I tucked the phone back into my backpack, eyes darting around the room. Reggie’s habits were predictable, but I couldn’t afford to be careless, not when everything was on the line. I couldn’t risk him finding the phone, not like he had found that book. So, I took a deep breath, gathered my focus, and began to think of the best way to hide it.

I pulled out an old journal, its leather cover worn and faded with the time. With careful precision, I carved out a space inside, each cut deliberate. After a few minutes, I slipped the phone into the hollowed pages, ensuring it was nestled in a way that no one would think to look. Once satisfied, I slid the journal into my purse, the phone’s presence now concealed, secure in its new hiding place.

I closed my eyes, allowing myself to breathe deeply, as if trying to steady the whirlwind inside me. I couldn’t keep pretending forever. My life was no longer the normal, predictable existence I once knew. It wasn’t just the lies Reggie had fed me or the mystery surrounding my powers. It was the pervasive sense of wrongness that had seeped into every corner of my world ever since those dreams resurfaced.

I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to keep up the charade—living as if nothing had changed when everythinghad. My newfound knowledge felt heavy in my chest. Every step was a tightrope walk, and I was terrified I’d let something slip to Reggie, that he’d somehow sense that I knew the truth. But I couldn’t let fear control me, not anymore. I refused to let uncertainty, doubt, and the crushing expectations of others hold me captive any longer. It was time to take control, to stand up for myself, to embrace my truth. I had to confront this head-on, no matter how overwhelming it seemed.

And with that resolve setting in, I took a moment of peace before sleep finally overtook me.

sixteen

As I stepped into the diner the next morning, the silence hit me first. No hum of conversation, no clatter of dishes, not even the comforting scent of bacon on the grill, just a quiet that didn’t belong. The truth I now carried seemed to settle into the room with me, heavy and inescapable, turning the familiar into something foreign.

Every corner felt off, every detail tinged with unease. My stomach twisted, and their betrayal settled over me like wet cement, making it hard to breathe. Nausearose as the reality of their lies sank in—layered, deliberate, and all around me.

SleazySal stood at the counter, a hand towel tossed over his shoulder and that same arrogant grin plastered on his face. “So, you’ve decided to come crawling back to work, huh?” He sneered. “You’re late.”

A flicker of amusement tugged at the corner of my mouth, and I offered a sharp, mocking smile. “Reggie told me you wereso sorryfor upsetting me,” I said, my hand rising to my chest in a fake gesture of sincerity. “That you were absolutely torn up over the whole thing…”

The darkness I had uncovered about him lingered in my thoughts, gnawing at me. Was it wise to poke the bear? Probably not. But Zeke had told me to keep things “business as usual,” so I played my part. It was second nature now, slipping into the mask of indifference, hiding my true feelings behind a practiced smile.

But I couldn’t stop myself. The need to test his limits, to push back against him, against all of them, was almost instinctual at this point.

I took it a step further. “And I’m late,” I continued, “because I stopped on the way here to get you a peace offering.” My smile stretched wider as I reached into my pocket. Slowly, deliberately, I raised my middle finger, holding it high with a smug, unrepentant grin.

His face twisted into a scowl, eyes raking over me with thinly veiled contempt. “Your dress looks liketrash,” he spat, his voice thick with disdain. The insult was deliberate, aimed squarely at my pride as a designer. I had expected it, of course. With a dismissive snort, he spun on his heel and stalked away, leaving me to savor the small satisfaction of having provoked him.

Luckily, the diner was empty, just as it often was. The silence gave me a rare moment of peace, allowing me to focus on my next move. I needed to figure out what Sal knew, and the idea of sneaking into his office to find any clues about the ring, or anything else related to my situation, lingered in my mind. But there was a problem: Sal was meticulous about locking his office door whenever he wasn’t around. If I tried to break in, he’d catch me for sure.

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