Page 17 of Lust & Lies
“I’m heading to my car,” Ethan stated.
“Alright. But...” Aiden started to whisper. “Don’t say anything you shouldn’t. Her memories are truly gone. I don’t want to confuse her.”
“But when they come back, she’ll remember that...” Ethan said, only to be cut off by Aiden.
“I don’t think you should talk to her right now, Ethan. You’re already fucking up.”
“Okay. I won’t say anything I shouldn’t.”
I frowned. What was it he shouldn’t say? What was it that they were afraid I’d remember?
“I’ll take her the phone now. If you piss me off, Ethan...” Aiden warned.
“I know, I know, you’ll kill me. Give her the phone. I’m tired of looking at your frown.”
Oh, shoot.He was coming back. Moving as fast as I could on my tiptoes, I quietly rushed back over to the stove, put the wok back on the front burner, and began stirring again. I waited until I heard him behind me, then glanced over my shoulder.
“Did you finish your call?” I asked as if I hadn’t been listening in.
He shook his head.
“Is that Noe?” the guy on the phone said, his voice clearer now. “Turn the phone around so I can see her.”
“Be quiet,” Aiden muttered, half under his breath.
Placing the phone behind his back, he walked toward me.
“I know the doctor said for you to have your memories return on their own. And I’d hoped to keep my family away until youremembered them. But my youngest brother is a hot head, and he’s demanding to talk to you.”
“I’m not a hot head. Don’t tell her lies, Aiden,” Ethan called out, his tone annoyed but playful.
I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling.
“If you’re not up for a video call, we can wait until you are,” Aiden told me, sounding concerned and a tad bit nervous.
“No. I’m fine. I can talk to him. I just don’t know what to say since I don’t remember your brother.”
“I’m your brother, too,” Ethan called. “Aiden, raise the phone so I can talk to her instead of the wall.”
Aiden exhaled hard, eyes shutting briefly. Though his brother seemed to be annoying him, I could tell they were close. Chuckling, I moved the food to the back burner and turned the stove off. Facing Aiden, I stuck my hand out and wiggled my fingers.
“Let me talk tomybrother,” I said.
Maybe this brother would let something slip. Something Aiden didn’t want me to know. Maybe he’d revealed whatever it was that Aiden thought would confuse me.
“I hope I don’t regret this,” he mumbled as he brought the phone back up to his face and aimed a scowl at the screen. “Five minutes, that’s all you get. And then it’ll be time for us to eat.”
“I got it,” Ethan agreed.
Aiden handed me the phone, his fingers brushing mine. Swallowing down my nervousness, I turned the screen toward me and froze with a fake smile plastered on my face. I stared at the man who was smiling back at me.
That face, those eyes, that smile...
I recognized them. This was the man from my memory. He was talking now, but his words weren’t penetrating the fog in my brain. My mind was racing, stumbling through questions itdidn’t know how to form. What it boiled down to was,why was my husband’s brother the man in my memory?
“You okay, Noe?” Ethan asked.
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. Not until Aiden’s fingers brushed my arm, pulling me out of the haze.
