Page 54 of Dylan
“What?”
“Now you look more like my little buddy,” he murmurs.
“Is that a good thing?”
“You’re gorgeous either way. I was a little taken aback to see it in those loose waves when you first came to the gym, but I knew it was you.”
“I had it cut before we left San Diego. I wanted to keep up with the maintenance for my job interview, so I went for a trim and had it blown out and put in waves,” I ramble.
His brows knit. “You were in San Diego?”
“Yeah, we lived there for a year. That’s where I ran to. Theo seems to be scared of someone who lives there. I thought it would be the safest place to be.”
“It was you. You were the girl in the bar. I thought I was dreaming or making shit up in my head. That was you and Daliah.”
I gasp. “The guy before the fight broke out.”
He nods. I look down at my feet as I try to process this. As my mind pieces it all together, he tugs me into him and holds me close. I wrap my arms around him and hold on tight.
This feels like where I belong. I can’t deny the fact that it seems like fate has been pulling us together. Running my hands up his smooth back, I pull away and look into his eyes.
“Come, let’s get into bed so you can tell me who you are now. We can play twenty-one questions.” He gives a little smirk.
Dylan
“Wow,I can’t believe you remember so much about me. I mean, some of that stuff I didn’t remember until you said it,” Ciara says from where she’s lying on her back.
We’ve been up talking for hours. It’s been so easy and effortless to fall back into our friendship. I’ve been lost in the sound of her voice a few times.
Like now, I’m sitting with my head back as I lean against the headboard with my eyes closed and my arms folded across my chest, her voice bringing a sense of peace to the room. Her words cause me to laugh and open my eyes to turn and look down at her. She has her eyes closed with a smile on her face.
“I remember more than you know. You were my best friend,” I say.
“I wish I could remember everything. Like, did I change after the accident, or am I still me? Do you know what I mean?”
I can’t imagine what this must be like for her. I’m happy I can trigger so many memories for her, but the really important stuff isn’t coming back as easily, like what happened to her father.
While that’s frustrating me, I’m happy to hear the hopeful sound in her voice. She’s the most relaxed I’ve seen her since she walked into my gym.
“Yeah, I do. Let me see something,” I say and move to find the spot I know she’s most ticklish in.
I find it right away and she begins to squeal and laugh just as I remember. It’s music to my ears. I begin to laugh with her.
“Dylan, oh my God, please stop,” she gasps as I tickle her.
“That squeal is priceless. You haven’t changed as much as you think,” I breathe into her ear through my laughter.
She pushes a hand into the front of my hair as I let up and settle beside her. I look her over and my breath catches. My T-shirt is swallowing her. One shoulder has slipped down her arm, exposing her smooth-looking skin. Her hair is wild and splayed all over my pillow.
“You take my breath away. I’ve missed you so much.”
She runs her hand through my hair and then back down over my neck to my shoulder. Locking eyes with me, she begins a path down to my bicep. I reach for her bent knee and begin to trail my hand up her thigh.
She swallows hard as her hand begins to shake. “Youhavechanged a lot. Your voice, your body, you’re all man now.”
“Aye, and you’re all woman. Ciara?”
“Yes?”
