Page 169 of Tiger's Quest
After a moment, I pulled back and dropped my arms awkwardly into my lap. His surprised expression remained. He touched his lip and grinned. “Now that’s the kind of welcome home a man likes to get.”
I laughed, deliriously happy that he was back. I shrugged off my doubts and worries, realizing that he just probably needed some time to feel like a normal person before he could be part of a relationship again. He grunted in pain, and I quickly moved away to give him more room. He seemed much more comfortable after I’d moved.
“Can I ask you a question?” he said.
I took his hand in mine and kissed his palm. He watched my actions, intrigued, and then pulled his hand away.
“Of course you may,” I replied.
He reached out, tugged my braid lightly, and twisted the ribbon in his fingers. “Whoareyou?”
28
Worst Birthday Ever
With a pathetic giggle of nervous shock, I chided, “That’s not funny, Ren. What do you meanwho am I?”
“As much as I appreciated your proclamations of undying devotion, I think you may have hit your head while fighting Lokesh. I think you might have me confused with someone else.”
“Confused you with someone else? No, I don’t think so. You are Ren, aren’t you?”
“Yes. My name is Ren.”
“Right.Ren. The guy I’m crazy in love with.”
“How can you express love for me when I’ve never laid eyes on you before?”
I touched his forehead. “Are you feverish? Is something wrong? Didyouget hit in the head?”
I probed his skull with my fingers, searching for a bump. He gently removed my hands from his head. “I’m fine, um . . . Kelsey, is it? There’s nothing wrong with my mind, and I don’t have a fever.”
“Then why don’t you remember me?”
“Possibly because I’ve never met you before.”
No. No. No. No. No. No! This can’t be happening!“We’ve known each other for almost a year. You’re my . . . my boyfriend. Lokesh must’ve done something! Mr. Kadam! Kishan!” I yelled.
Kishan ran into the room as if his tail was on fire. He pushed Ren away, inserting his frame between us. Quickly scooping me up, he deposited me in the chair across from Ren. “What is it, Kells? Did he hurt you?”
“No, no. Nothing like that. He doesn’tknowme! He doesn’t remember me!”
Kishan looked away, guilt-ridden.
“Youknew!You knew about this and youhid itfrom me?”
Mr. Kadam entered the room. “We both knew.”
“What?Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We didn’t want to alarm you. We thought it might only be a temporary problem that would resolve itself,” Mr. Kadam explained, “when he healed.”
I squeezed Kishan’s arm. “So with the Baiga women—”
“He wanted to take them as wives,” Kishan explained.
“Of course. It all makes sense now.”
Mr. Kadam sat near Ren. “You still can’t remember her?”
