Page 33 of Forget Me Not

I look down at my phone to check the time, almost forgetting how late I am for a second. “Shit,” I say, grabbing my purse and running out the door. It’s 5:54 by the time I get outside and see Kade standing there, waiting for me. I practically run up to him.

“I’m so sorry I’m late. A little girl threw up on me, but she also threw up on herself, so I had to clean her up, and then she was lost. Then I had to shower because I was covered in vomit, and I lost track of time and now we’re late and you’ve been waiting here for me and I’m never la—”

His lips press against mine, effectively shutting me up.

My mouth instinctually moves against his, my body pressing against him as he pulls me closer. It’s not a long kiss, not dominant or fiery like the last one. It’s gentle but also urgent. It’s sweet but sinful as his tongue dances against mine. It’s perfect. He pulls away and I immediately feel the loss.

“Why’d you do that?” I ask, looking up at him. He has a small smile on his face, an emotion I don’t recognize from him in his eyes.

“Because I wanted to.”

I don’t respond, unsure what there even is to say.

“You look beautiful.” It’s not the way he says it but the way he looks at me that makes me feel exactly that.

“Thank you.” I smile up at him. “You look really great also,” I say, and I mean every word of it. He’s wearing an all-black suit that looks as if it’s perfectly tailored to him. All of his tattoos are covered except for the ones that peek out at his wrists from under his sleeves. Most people may want tattoos covered for a formal event, but I find that I miss seeing them on him. As though they’re an extension of him and without them, a part of him is missing.

His face looks like he shaved a day or so ago, light stubble covering it in a way that only makes him look hotter. His hair is still a beautiful mess on top of his head, as if he’s run his hands through it just the right number of times. Even dressed like a gentleman, he still exudes a roughness that only adds to his appeal.

“You ready to go?” He holds out his hand for me and I intertwine my fingers with his like it’s the most natural thing.

“I’m ready.”

I was not ready. Not for all of these people, not for the fake smiles, and definitely not for the death glare from Ryan across the room. As if he has any right. And people wonder why I’ve avoided men for so long.

“Is there a reason the frat boy over there looks like he wants to kill me?” Kade whispers against my ear. His voice sounds somehow deeper in the hushed tone. A small laugh falls from my lips at him referring to Ryan as a frat boy. Although, I have no doubt he was.

“Not a valid one,” I say, and he looks at me to continue. “He sleeps around the hospital. A lot. He’s been begging to take me out for over a year now, claiming I’m different. He doesn’t take rejection very well.”

“Well, I guess I can’t entirely blame him. Who would take rejection well when it comes from you?” He sounds so earnest as he says it, making me feel like more than just another woman in his orbit. I smile softly up at him.

“Fancy seeing you here, big brother.” Demi’s voice cuts through the moment and I turn to see her walking in front of us, her arm looped through Theo’s.

“You were supposed to bring a date, that was the deal.” I look at him accusingly. I’m not surprised. I should have figured any words out of his mouth were half-truths to convince me to bring Kade here.

“I did bring a date. I brought Doomsday.” He smiles brightly at me. “You never said it had to be a date I was attracted to.”

“Hey!” Demi slaps him on the arm.

“Oh shush, you know you’re hot. You just don’t have the physical attributes I’m looking for.” Theo waves her off, his eyes wandering toward Kade. “But you definitely do,” he says, looking Kade up and down.

Most men would be uncomfortable by the perusal, but Kade surprises me when a deep chuckle leaves him.

“I’m assuming you’re Theo. Dem’s told me about you. Nice to meet you.”

Theo contemplates him for a minute before a wide smile encompasses his entire face.

“I like him,” he says, looking at me. “If you don’t marry him, then I will.”

I roll my eyes at him.

“Oh my gosh, Lo. We could be sisters!” Demi squeals. “You better not fuck this up,” she says to Kade who looks more amused than anything else.

“Okay, this has been fun. Goodbye.” I grab Kade’s hand, pulling him toward an empty table. My cheeks feel like they’re on fire from embarrassment. Theo and Demi individually can be a lot to deal with, but together they’re the chaos of the century.

I go to apologize to Kade for their craziness, but the second we sit down, one of my attendings and his wife take the seats across from us. I introduce Kade and make polite conversation.At some point during the conversation, Kade slips his hand under the slit of my dress, placing it gently on my bare thigh. I have to fight the shivers that attempt to rack my body.

After about twenty minutes, they stand up and leave the table. I look over to Kade to find his attention already on me.

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