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“I don’t know,” she whispered, her voice dipping with emotion. “I don’t know, but it’s temporary. The doctor said he could have his memories back within twenty-four hours.”
“And the confusion? Does that go away?” My shoulders jerked in a hasty shrug. “Do I just pretend that she won’t always be in the back of my mind now?”
Before Bree could respond, the sliding doors opened next to us, revealing her family.
“There you are,” her mom said as she hurried over to us, opening her arms and pulling us both into a hug as she fought her own tears. “He’s awake. He’s going to be okay.”
I nodded at her hushed words, my eyelids squeezing tight when I could no longer see through my blurry gaze.
“Can we go back in?” Bree asked, sounding at once hopeful and hesitant.
When no one responded, I pulled from Claire’s hold and glanced between her and her husband, Robert.
“The doctor asked that we give him today,” Robert began, then cleared his throat. His stare flashed to me before falling to the ground. “But he won’t see any of us anyway.”
“Because he thinks we’re playing a prank on him?” I asked, recalling what Chase said.
Robert’s head listed, his face scrunching on one side in a way that looked so like Chase. All hesitation and unease.
“He only wants to talk to Harper,” Claire finally answered, giving me a remorseful look.
But it was clear in their tones and expressions that none of them understood this. None of them had known—if there had ever been anything at all.
My gaze slid past our small group to where Bree’s boyfriend was talking to Harper and her husband, Brandon...Chase’s best friend.
I had a feeling my expression closely matched theirs. Drawn. Bemused. So fucking lost. And full of doubt.
Except I was sure I was the only one whose doubts included Harper.
As if she could feel me watching her, Harper’s head turned and her eyes met mine. Chagrin and guilt swept across her features before she forced her stare away, her chest heaving as if the action had taken effort.
Then again, if Brandon woke up from a coma and thought he was in love with me, I’d be uncomfortable facing her too.
“I need to get out of here,” I said before I could do something stupid...like ask Harper if there was any truth behind the memories.
“Scarlet, wait,” Bree hurried to say when I took a step back just as Claire reached for me, looking more apologetic for me than concerned for her son.
I squeezed my eyes shut, needing to escape all those looks that made this new realityreal. Needing to go back an hour to when I’d been waiting and praying for Chase to justwake up.
“Why don’t you come home with Konrad and me?” Bree continued. “You shouldn’t be alone.”
“I’m fine,” I hurried to assure her as I focused on the concrete beneath my feet. “I just...I just need to go.”
I needed to run. To clear my head.
I needed to erase from my mind the way he’d looked at me like I was a stranger.
I needed this not to be happening.
I hurried through my goodbyes, then rushed to my car. But instead of going home, I just drove.
For hours and hours, I drove aimlessly until I ended up on a random beach at dawn. My torn heart shattering and stitching back together as I hurled pebbles and shells into the ocean, screaming at the water and any god listening.
Thanking them for this second chance.
Damning them all for this new nightmare I was trapped in.
She was there.
