Page 24 of Don't Regret Me
“Then, what’s the problem?”
He hadn’t talked to anyone about finding Sherrie in Franklin’s house, hadn’t told anyone the truth of her pregnancy. How she’d deceived him since his accident, made him believe he was going to be a father. It was the reason he’d stayed with her despite so many reasons to leave. He wanted to be a good dad, something he’d never had.
But he had to remember who he was. Anything he said could get back to the gossip media. They’d salivate over a story like this.
“We had a falling out.”
She stared at him for a long moment before resting back beside him. “It’s okay. You don’t have to talk about it.” She heaved in a breath. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Everything. Yelling at you in front of an entire restaurant. Kissing you.”
“I quite enjoyed both.”
She laughed, a breathy sound that had him turning his head to watch her. He couldn’t help feeling like he’d heard that before.
“Yeah, well, you won’t be quite so entertained once you see how many views we’re getting.”
“Because you kissed me?”
She elbowed him. “No! The scene at the restaurant. It’s all over social media.”
“Not the first time I’ve gone viral.” It was the nature of fame.
They fell into silence, watching the stars.
Stephen’s voice rang strong in his ears.Mostly, what we remember is how a moment made us feel, not what we saw, what we did. It’s like the stars.
Was it possible?
From the very first moment he saw Liz, something drew him to her, some invisible tie he couldn’t explain.
“Liz?”
“Mhmm?” Her voice was sleepy.
“Please tell me the truth. Before my accident… we knew each other, didn’t we?”
12
ELIZABETH
Panic. Pure, unadulterated panic.
Liz had spent the better part of a year imagining the moment Nick remembered her. When she could smile at him and welcome him back. She would have waited her whole life if she had to.
But it wasn’t like this. He didn’t have his memories back, didn’t know what they’d been through together. If she tried to tell him, he probably wouldn’t even believe her. Who would?
A million responses flitted through her head, sending her into a tailspin of desperation. Everything inside her wanted to reach out, to tell him she loved him. Yet, this wasn’t right. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
“No,” she finally said, her heart squeezing. She sat up, glad the night hid her tears. Stuffing her phone in the pocket of her jeans, she jumped from the table. “We should probably go.”
He reached for her, his long fingers wrapping around her wrist. At his touch, her eyes slid shut. “Liz.” His whispered word carried on the breeze, wrapping around her. “I need to know. Please.”
She hated lying to him, hated not being able to give him the answers he sought, at least answers he’d accept. Drawing in a deep breath, she pulled free of him and turned. The shadows hid his expression, but she knew what she’d see there. A need for something, anything, to tell him he wasn’t losing his mind. She couldn’t give that to him.
“In this world, we’d never even met before the night you came for poker. I promise I’m not lying. I am a stranger to you, just an odd woman you have some kind of fascination with. Don’t worry. That will pass. Can you take me home now?”
