Page 44 of Forget Me Not

“Excuse me, miss, how is it my fault? And if it is my fault, you should clearly be thanking me.” I laugh and Demi reaches out to playfully slap my arm.

“So not funny. It’s your fault because I was meant to be hanging with my brother and trying to form a better relationship with him. But then you went and fell in love with him, and now my brother and best friend spend every second alone they have together. Last week, I got home from work, and you were spending the night at Kaden’s. I was bored, so I went to Carl’s. Asher was there alone, and we just started talking. You guys have been busy, but not in a bad way. I promise I’m happy for you both, but it’s just left room for Asher and me to hang out. It’s been fun.”

“Well, I am sorry for monopolizing your brother and for not making as much time as I should for you. Even if we are happy together, that doesn’t mean I still don’t want to hang with you.” I smile at her, reaching across the couch and squeezing her hand in mine. “And as for Asher, I’m happy you guys are friends and hanging out. He’s a good guy. He should just be prepared for Kade to castrate him when it turns into something more.”

“After he went after my best friend? Please, the asshole has no leg to stand on.” She rolls her eyes.

“So, you agree? It is going to turn into something more?” I smile at her, knowing I have her trapped. She stares at me, confused for a second, before putting it together.

“Oh, fuck off.” She throws a throw pillow at me that I manage to dodge, laughter crawling its way up my throat. “We’re just friends. I mean it.”

“Okay, fine, sure. I believe you.” I keep laughing as she throws another pillow at me. “I’ve missed this.”

“I have too.” She smiles at me. “I’d ask how you and my brother are doing, but I don’t think I want any details.” She scrunches up her nose, the idea of knowing exactly what Kade and I have done disgusting her. I smile to myself, remembering every little detail that she doesn’t want to know.

“We’re really good.” I smile wider, the thought of Kade in general amplifying it. “I won’t give you all the details, but I don’t know. He’s just surprised me. He makes me really, really happy, Dem.”

“I’ve never seen you like this before. I know we don’t talk about the deep and dark stuff, but I know you, Lo. Anyone you could’ve maybe been happy with in the past, you’ve run from. But with Kaden, you run toward him. He’s the same with you. You guys are good for each other. I’m happy for you, Lo.” She’s silent for a moment before continuing. “I’m proud of you.”

Her words cause a lump to form in my throat that I promptly swallow down. The last time I heard those words was almost six years ago. I had just gotten accepted to med school. I was the happiest I had been in a long time, and Lennox was happy for me. It was one of her better days. I remember she hugged me tight and said them. “I’m proud of you.” I haven’t heard them since then.

“Thank you, Dem. I love you; you know that, right?” And I mean it. Demi has been my sounding board over the years. Quietly offering me strength even when I was too stubborn to ask for it. I’ve done everything I can to be that person for her too, and I’ll always continue to. She crashed into my life at a time I didn’t even know that I needed her, and she’s been a light in it ever since.

“Well, of course you do. Have you met me? Who wouldn’t?” I shake my head at her as she laughs. “I love you too, you dork. Now, what are we watching?” She reaches across the coffee table to grab the TV remote.

“You pick.” I lean back onto the couch as she scrolls through the channels. Lennox pops into my head, and for the first time in a long time, sadness doesn’t follow. I think about how much she’d love Demi, how much I think she would love Kade. I think about how she’d be proud of me. And for the first time in my life, I think I’m proud of myself.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FOUR

Kaden

“One” by Metallica blares through the speakers at Carl’s as I sit at a small table in the back corner. June must have gotten control of the playlist again. The woman loves her metal. Can’t complain about it though. I’d much prefer Metallica over whatever the newest trending pop song is.

I’ve been sitting at the table for about forty-five minutes now. Alone for about thirty of those forty-five minutes. Asher came with me but called me boring once I pulled out my sketchbook and left me to go try and pick up women at the bar. I may look bored sitting in the corner alone with my sketchbook on the table and pencil in hand, but I have limited time to work on this piece.

Logan is supposed to be meeting me here as soon as her shift finishes, which was two minutes ago, meaning she should be here in the next fifteen minutes. I’ve been working during every free second that I have when I’m not with her to get this tattoo done. Her tattoo. It’s taken me longer than any drawing I’ve ever done. I just need it to be perfect for her.

I’ve thrown out countless sketches since she first asked me to create something for her. Drawing has always come easily to me,the art creating itself, but this has been different. Trying to come up with this piece for Logan, it’s felt like I’ve hit a wall. It’s like when you’re trying to talk to someone and the words are on the tip of your tongue, but they just won’t come out.

That was until she told me she loves me. Since then, it’s as though the floodgates for creativity have opened and I know exactly what I need to design for her. Perfecting it hasn’t been as easy, but I’m nothing if not a hard worker. The biggest issue has been trying to keep it from her. I don’t want her to see it until it’s one-hundred-percent finished, something she fights me on every chance she gets. The woman is fucking stubborn, but I haven’t cracked yet and I don’t plan to.

“Hi, handsome.” The sweet sound of Logan’s voice fills my ears as I slam the sketchbook closed. “Anything in there you want to show me?” She smiles, raising her eyebrows at me as she comes into view, standing next to the barstool I’m sitting in.

“Hi, pretty girl.” I angle my body in the chair toward her, wrapping my arm behind her lower back and pulling her to stand between my legs. “And no, I don’t. It’s—”

“It’s not ready yet.” She tries, although failing, to mimic my voice. “I know, I know. It’s what you always say. I still want to see.”

“You will. When it’s done. Now, come here, I missed you.” I pull her closer to me, wrapping my free hand around the back of her neck to lower her lips to mine.

Her body melts into me, her soft lips instantly molding to my own. Each time I kiss Logan, it feels like coming up for fresh air after spending a lifetime drowning. She revives me every time.

“I missed you too,” she says after pulling away, a soft smile on her face.

Those beautiful green eyes that captured me at first glance shine brighter than ever, filled with love and happiness that didn’t use to be there. There’s no guard over her eyes, no hidingthings from me anymore. She knocked down her walls for me. The gut-wrenching feeling in my stomach reminds me of my guilt that I haven’t done the same with her. That I don’t know how I ever will. I will the thought away as she jumps up onto the barstool next to me at the four-top table, angling her body toward me.

“Get yourself a drink or get the hell out of my bar.” I look straight ahead, across the table, to meet the face of the raspy voice, already knowing who it is. Her eyes are focused on Logan though.

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