Page 23 of When Forever Stays

“So you’re CPR certified, a social media influencer, a popular barista, a mentor to teenage girls, and now you’re going to lead a retreat. What can’t you do?”

My lips tilt up into a smile at his praise.

“I actually also love to crochet.” I point at the crochet hook in my hair.

Rhett shakes his head with a flirty smile. “You crochet too? Aren’t you just full of surprises?”

“I’m full of surprises?” I laugh. “Says the man who I found washed up on shore.”

“Touché.” He pours two mugs of coffee and hands me one.

“So what are your plans for today?” I ask after washing down my bagel with a healthy swig of coffee.

He shrugs. “I don’t know. I figured I’d spend it with you.”

“Would you be up for visiting your old job and maybe meeting with some of your previous coworkers? I could take you over there before my shift. They’ll probably be excited to see you.”

He doesn’t look convinced by my statement, and his next words confirm my suspicion. “I guess we’ll have to see.”

As we finish our breakfast and coffee, I can only hope this idea won’t completely blow up in my face.

To say Rhett’s old coworkers were leery of his return would be a massive understatement. When he worked at the resort, he was well-liked by the customers and staff. But now it seems as though their friendliness is forced. I assume it’s because he vanished without a trace and they’re not sure what to make of his sudden and unexpected return. Similar to how I have felt since finding him.

We’ve walked through a few places at the resort, worked our way into the lobby, and are heading toward the pool walking down the hall of offices. Anxiety tightens in my chest when the concierge stops Rhett right in front of West’s office. West is still on his honeymoon with my sister, but it’s a reminder of another obstacle I’ll need to tackle at some point. Soon, I’ll have to tell my sister and new brother-in-law that my old flame literally washed back into my life.

West and Olivia may have approved of pre-ghost Rhett, but I have no idea how they’d react if we somehow got over this massive hurdle to rekindle what we had—not that I’m ready to entertain that idea. I’m remaining firmly in the camp of an anti-romantic relationship with Rhett. Even if every interaction we’ve had since I found him washed up on shore has pushed me closer to the edge of falling for him again.

“So are you going to be attending Faith Alive again?” Rhett’s old co-worker asks.

“That’s my plan,” Rhett answers.

Rhett told me on our first and only date that West was the one who invited him to church and ultimately helped point Rhett to his Savior. Even though West was technically Rhett’s boss, he didn’t allow business to come between his duty of witnessing to the lost.

It’s one of the things I envy about my sister—that she landed a man living fully for Christ. That was the first thing that originally drew me to Rhett…well, after the burning attraction.

“I’ll see you Sunday then,” Rhett tells his co-worker as we open the double doors that lead to the pool area.

A small group of his old coworkers are gathered by the outdoor food area taking their breaks. At least that’s what I assume the group in uniform is doing.

I take a seat at one of the outdoor tables and encourage Rhett to mingle. While he does that, I pray God gives Rhett his memories back and that He will guide me to do the right thing when it comes to Rhett.

Glancing over at where Rhett stands among a group of his old coworkers, my heart aches for what we could have been. He turns his head and meets my gaze from across the room, motioning with his head for me to come over. I hesitate for only a second before I oblige.

“Dana!” the group shouts as I come to stand next to Rhett.

One of the many consequences of being the resort owner’s sister-in-law is that everyone knows my name, but it helps ease some of the tension in the room with their uncertainty about Rhett. We stand and talk as the other tennis instructors reminisce with Rhett while trying to jog any of his memories of working here.

I don’t have much to add to their conversations so I remain an observer, watching the way they interact with Rhett. Any lingering doubts I had about believing Rhett actually has amnesia go out the window as frustration etches across his face while his coworkers continue bringing up the past. If he remembered anything, he’d be engaging with them and not growing more irritable by the second. I grab his strong wrist in an attempt to ease his discomfort. His fist unclenches, and he looks down at me, giving me a grateful smile.

Soon after that, we say our goodbyes and head to my car. This attempted trip down memory lane didn’t trigger anything for Rhett, and when we asked, none of his coworkers knew where he lived. He must have been a private person.

“How much time do you have before you need to be at work?” he asks.

“I still have a few hours. Why?”

He grabs my hand and pulls me toward the beach, a genuine smile on his lips.

NINE

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