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Jake tipped his head back and forth. “Sort of. I mean, no one ever came out and asked us flat-out. We were really good at pretending there was nothing going on. Too good, actually,” he said with a wry smile. “After your accident, the only person with any memory of this relationship is me.”
I shook my head. “And Bryce? He didn’t know? You two are together all the time.”
Jake waved a hand. “He was pretty distracted with the whole Krystal coming back to town thing and preparing for the Spring Sparks Auction with her.” He hung his head, then tipped his eyes up to meet mine. “We were planning to tell everyone that day. You were going to bid on me.”
I straightened. “The money! Mom asked me why I had so much cash in my purse when I was in the accident. I, of course, told her I had no idea.” I buried my face in my hands. “I think she thought I was buying drugs or something!”
Jake laughed heartily. I felt his hand on my arm and let him tug my hands away from my face. His hand enveloped mine.
“Monica, I’m willing to take this as slow as you need me to, but I want another chance.”
“What do you mean?”
His jaw tensed, and instinctively I knew it was a sign of inner frustration.
“We were really happy together. You were happy with me. Even though you don’t remember falling in love with me, I think we can be happy again together.”
My head was spinning. “L-love?”
He nodded.
I shook my head to clear the confusion. “This is crazy, Jake. How do I know this isn’t just some awful joke? You’ve always been a prankster. You never take things seriously!”
Immediately, his hand pulled away from mine. I could see the hurt on his face.
“I should go,” he said, standing up and turning to the door.
I stood up too. “I’m sorry, Jake. I just… How can I know? To me, it’s like it never happened!”
Jake ran a hand through his hair, and I suddenly had the feeling I was seeing the same gesture, but from a different time. We were outside… hiding somewhere? He had one hand braced on the wall next to me and the other running through his hair.
A sharp flash of pain made me wince and the vision was gone. I pressed my hand to my forehead. Had that been… a memory?
Jake’s expression was suddenly one of concern and he rushed back to my side.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m okay.”
“Here, sit down. Let me get you some water.” Jake led me to the couch before disappearing into the kitchen. A moment later, he returned with a glass of water. No ice, just how I liked it.
“So, we were really dating?” I asked.
He nodded. “We were. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I know it’s a lot to take in.”
That was an understatement. That little memory of Jake was the closest I’d come to remembering anything from the six months I’d lost.
“It’s okay. I think we’ll just need to be friends though… for now,” I added at his pained expression. “I’m not saying the feelings won’t come. It’s just a lot for me.”
He nodded. “I understand.”
In the silence, I glanced up at the TV, where the screen was paused on the handsome face of the Korean actor playing a broody billionaire. “So, you were saying what I thought about this show?”
Jake just shrugged and gave me a sly smile. “Sorry, I don’t think I should tell you. It would be like robbing you of the experience.”
I wasn’t sure if that meant I was going to love it or hate it.
“Hmm, that’s an interesting thought. I wonder if there were any books I read last fall that I loved. I always said I wished I could read some of my favorites again for the first time.”
