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I am startled out of my flashback as the glasses crash to the floor. I feel sick, bile rising in my throat. I don’t understand what I just saw! Why was Cole’s face there?! He couldn’t, no, I can’t even go there. How would it be possible? I run to the bathroom just as he walks out of the bedroom.
“Mia? Is everything okay? I thought I heard glass break.” He sees me running toward the bathroom and catches me in three steps. “DON’T TOUCH ME!” When I scream, his face looks as if I just slapped him. I shut myself in the bathroom and get sick into the toilet. I grab a hand towel and wipe my mouth as I sob. I have to get out of here because I don’t understand, and I cannot take the idea that he played any kind of part in this last awful two years. I only know that I need to get away from him. I feel disgusting!
Cole is pounding on the bathroom door. “Mia! Unlock the goddamned door or I’ll break it down. What’s happening? Did you remember something? Let me in, Amelia!”
Suddenly, another shock. Cole Parker knows my real name?? I need to get the fuck out of here.
“Cole! Please stop, don’t ask me to explain. The doctors said the memories can be intense. I just need to call my mother. Please, if you want to help me, just get my purse and leave it at the door!!”
“Okay but are you hurt? Glass is everywhere.”
Only then do I look down at my feet and see small cuts and blood. “I’m okay,” I lie, “please just get my phone.” I hate this feeling. I can’t trust anything until I make sense of this.
“Okay.” I hear him walk away and my heartbeat starts to settle. When he knocks at the door, he tells me my purse and phone are waiting and he will leave me alone before adding, “I’m here for you Mia, please come out, baby. You never have to be afraid of me.”
It’s silent for a moment before he walks away. I open the door, grab my purse, and immediately make a call. No answer. I make another.
“Mia?” Says a groggy voice.
“Yes, please don’t ask questions. I need you to come and get me.” Hearing the panic in my voice, my only hope answers quickly. I send the address and clean my feet. I look in the mirror, trying to figure out this insanity. None of this makes sense.I can’t believe Cole was there!I refuse to believe he hurt me, my heart knows better, but he is somehow connected to that horrible night, and I feel betrayed. I told him everything and he never said anything. He never confessed his truth. He let me bare my soul to him and kept me at arm’s length, and he knows my name. Nobody that I just met knows my name.
After that night, I insisted everyone call me Mia. I haven’t been able to bear my name since hearing Carter saying it. That one memory I’ve had has been the way he said my name over and over.
It is now painfully apparent that Cole is not a new acquaintance. I need to know more, so I gather my resolve and open the door to see him wiping up the last of the glass. He stops and looks at me, eyes wide with fear. Lies have a way of producing fear. He approaches me cautiously. “Mia, please talk to me.”
I hold up one hand to stop him from getting too close and try and look him in the eye, but I fail and look to the side. “I had another moment, a memory, they seem to be increasing since we met. How do we really know each other, Cole?”
He looks at me like he feels sorry for me. His brow furrows and he holds up his hands as if to calm me. “Mia…” I cross my arms and level my stare.
“Don’t you mean Amelia? How do you know my name?”
I can see the worry on his face. He rubs his hands down his cheeks and looks up to the ceiling. Letting out a deep breath he says, “Amelia, since that night, nothing’s been the same. There is so much I want to say to you, but we thought to ease you in or just let you remember on your own would be the best choice. I was selfish and stupid tonight. I’m so sorry, baby. I know you’re confused but I love you and everything will be okay.”
My breath comes out in a rush. “What. The. Serious. Fuck?!” My mind is reeling. He just admitted that he knows me from before. He also said “we…” which means I’ve been right, they are all trying to coddle and control me! My mother, Richard, even Alex, and now Cole? I can’t do this. I start to back away from him.
“Mia, let me explain, please!” His words are pleading and his voice is cracking. I feel like I’m going crazy.I’m a stranger in my own life.
“What do you mean, sincethat night… and what do you mean, you LOVE ME?!” The end comes out as a scream and I realize I am consumed with anger. I have finally hit my breaking point.
Timing is a funny thing, because it’s always really bad. The phone rings. We stand looking at each other, neither of us moving. The ringing stops and then starts again. We both remain motionless. By the third time, Cole yells, “Fuck!” He walks over to pick up the phone and his eyes fix on me as his jaw tightens. “Send him up,” he growls and slams the phone down, destroying any chance of using it again.
Cole walks to the couch and sits casually. I know what he’s doing, so I take the opportunity to go and gather my things from the room. When I come out, the elevator doors open and out walks Jack. “Where is she?” he yells. “Mia! Mia!” I round the corner to see relief wash over his face.
I find myself standing equal distance between them, looking back and forth. Cole interrupts the irony by holding my clutch in his hand. I’d left it on the end table earlier. I walk over to snatch it up and he holds his grip. “Stay,” he growls. “Stay and I can explain. I can help you, Mia.”
Irritated, I bark, “I think I’ve had enough of your help tonight.” He stands but still keeps his grip on my purse.
“Have you really had enough of me?” His voice is suddenly different, intimate, familiar. It’s more than sensual. As he moves closer to my body, I look up at him and can’t help wondering if I should stay and listen. I don’t know what the vision meant, but I don’t know if I can trust him. Deep down my hearts says I can, but it all makes no sense.Why is he lying?Maybe it’s myself I don’t trust.
“Keep the stupid purse.” I let go of it and turn to Jack. It’s not right that I called him, but Alex didn’t pick up when I tried her first, and when you are forced to realize that everyone close to you has been lying and manipulating you, Jack is the only one who feels sincere right now, and I knew he would rush to rescue me. Jack likes to be a hero. When I walk across the room and reach him, he comforts me and kisses the top of my head.
“Get your fucking lips off my girl!” Cole is beside himself.
Jack levels his stare and says, “Your girl ismygirl. She doesn’t look like she needs you anymore.”This is not happening right now!This isn’t what I wanted, I should have known better than to call Jack. I don’t want these two egos fighting over me! I see the look on Cole’s face and know I better put a stop to this before he kills Jack. There is no doubt in my mind as to who would win this fight. I owe Jack enough to not let him die tonight.
Cole starts toward us and I break away from Jack. “Stop, Cole! I’m not interested in a pissing contest between the two of you. I belong to myself, I’m not anyone’s fucking girl, so both of you pay attention.” I look between them. “I need time to think. I can’t be around either of you to do that.” Cole looks at me like I just ripped out his heart.
“Don’t, Mia, I can’t do this again… I’m not strong enough for this. I need you to choose me.” His vulnerability crushes me. I don’t understand anything but it’s obvious that what I don’t know is a pretty big deal. Jack is still standing there. This whole scene is wrong, and I’ve had it.
