The One Left Behind (The One Series) (9 page)

Lexi has a look on her face and I’m not sure if I should be nervous or not. “Was this by chance on a Thursday?” she asks with her head tilted to the side, examining the both of us.

I think back to the day I went home from the hospital and it was in fact a Thursday, but I still didn’t know where she’s going with this. With slight hesitation in my voice I respond, “Yes, it was actually.”

Lexi snaps her fingers, “I knew it! You were late to our family dinner because you were with a girl! How long have you guys been dating?” Her eyes are wide with excitement.

“Oh, Pierce and I aren’t dating, we just met that day.” I don’t want Pierce to feel awkward so I hope this correction helps alleviate that.

Lexi puts her hands on her hips. “You guys don’t have to hide it from me. I won’t spill the good news to Mom. It’s just been forever since Pierce dated. That bitch Samantha really did a number on him. We never thought he would get over her.”

I can now see why Pierce was keeping silent. Once Lexi had an idea, she clearly ran with it. I notice Pierce rubbing the back of his neck when Lexi is accusing me of being his girlfriend, but I see anger flash across his face when she mentions Samantha.

“Lexi, that’s enough,” he says in a stern voice that leaves no room for argument. “We’re not dating, we met once. She was having a hard time and I helped her. We’re just friends. Can we please get you into a bed now?” My eyes quickly snap over to him. I wince at his small outburst and have a slight pang of disappointment settle over me with how easily he dismisses the idea of a relationship with me. I’m not sure where these feelings are coming from since I’ve only met him once, but the more I think about it the more it stings.

I walk them over to an empty bed and get her settled in. Cameron comes back to find me and tell me it is time for our break. He asks if I want to join him but I politely decline. Cameron has had a crush on me since we were in nursing school and I don’t want to put myself in any situations that will lead him on. I have enough on my plate as it is.

“Okay, Lexi, that should do it. You’re all set, so if you need anything you can either hit the call button or send Pierce out to go get a nurse.”

Lexi has a mischievous glint in her eye. I’m not sure I like it. “Pierce, I’m feeling really tired. Why don’t you go with Addison on her break and keep her company.”

Before I can say it isn’t necessary, Pierce surprises me with his response. “I would love to. If it gets me away from you and your horrible match making skills I’ll go. Shall we?” I look at Pierce and see he has a small grin on his face which shows he’s just teasing his little sister. I’m a little confused by his shift in attitude. He goes from quickly dismissing the idea of being with me to being excited to go on break with me.

He holds out his hand and, staring at it, I replay what just happened in my head. How did I go from turning down Cameron to accepting Lexis’ invite for her brother to accompany me on my break? I need to start paying more attention. I grab his hand and turn to walk out as Lexi shouts, “Have fun kids!”

I shake my head and continue walking. “Is she always like that?”

“Worse, much worse. I tried to keep quiet to spare you the match making wrath of my sister but she is ruthless. Every time I have to take her here she always embarrasses me asking nurses if they are single. I love my sister and she means well, but sometimes she’s just too much.” Hearing him explain his silence at her question sends a wave of relief through my body. It also explains his sudden outburst if he has to endure this type of thing from Lexi constantly.

We get to a sitting area by the twenty-four hour coffee shop that’s in the hospital. I get a French vanilla coffee with a sesame bagel. Pierce also orders a French vanilla coffee but with a blueberry bagel.

“So, as I was saying before Lex cut me off, I wanted to call and see how you were doing but I didn’t have your number. So how are you? How are you adjusting since the day I saw you? Have you remembered anything?” He’s staring intently into my eyes waiting for my response.

“Sadly no, but you gave me a different outlook on the situation and I can’t thank you enough for that.” I start to play with the bottom of my shirt feeling the need to keep my hands busy.

Pierce gives me a big smile. “No need to thank me. What are friends for?”

Friends. He considers me a friend. That is nice to hear I guess. I don’t know why, but hearing him put me in the friend zone feels kind of like a letdown.

I don’t have a long break – only twenty minutes – so the rest of the time flies by. Pierce asks me a lot of questions which makes me happy that he’s showing so much interest in getting to know me. He wanted to know everything from my favorite color, my favorite movie, even my favorite superhero. He got a good laugh when I told him my favorite superhero is Harley Quinn. He informed me that she’s a villain and doesn’t count. The next thing I know we are back at my desk.

“Thanks for keeping me company on my break. I’m sure you will hear an earful from Lexi. Try and let her down easy.” I wink at him as I nudge his shoulder. He grins, looking at me from the corner of his eye.

“Well, it’s not her fault she’s a hopeless romantic. It runs in the family, so I better get back to her before she starts planning our wedding. But how would you like to grab lunch with me this week?” He’s looking at me straight on with a hopeful sparkle in his eyes.

I don’t even have to think about my answer. I have a good time in Pierce’s company and it will be nice to have a friend I can just relax with.

“Definitely, how’s Saturday?”

“Saturday is great. I’ll see you then.”

He starts to walk away and I realize I still haven’t given him my phone number.

“Pierce, wait.” As he comes back to my desk I say, “I forgot, let me give you my number that way if something comes up and you can’t make it you can let me know.” I give him my number and don’t see him or Lexi for the remainder of my shift.

IT’S EARLY SATURDAY morning and I’m sitting on the deck of my house looking at the ocean above the roofs of the other houses with a coffee in my hand. It’s a gorgeous day without a cloud in sight, which is exactly what I need to help get me in better spirits.

It’s been three long days since Addison gave me the ring back. I haven’t looked at it since I stored it in my desk. I feel like it’s boring a hole in my drawer, but I refuse to dig it out and open up that fresh wound again. It’s best to just leave that one alone.

Addison said she wanted to be friends, but she hasn’t reached out to me at all. Friends call each other to talk, right? So why wouldn’t she call me just to chat? Because she doesn’t know or remember you, idiot. After I give myself a scolding and take a deep breath and set my coffee down, I decide to call her.

The phone is ringing as I begin to bounce my knee up and down nervously. I have to wipe my hands on my jeans because they’re so sweaty. I want to see her, but what if she doesn’t want to? I’m not sure how much more rejection I can take from her before my heart stops beating all together.

On the third ring she answers, “Hello.” She says it a little hesitantly and it hurts that she’s not comfortable with me.

“Hi, Addison. It’s Colin. How are you?” I say, trying to keep my voice upbeat and hide the pain.

“I’m fine, just waking up. How are you?” The image of her just waking up with her hair messed up and her eyes half shut from sleep is enough to make me weak in the knees. She would always do this cat-like stretch, arching her back with a small smile on her face and her eyes closed. I really miss waking up to her face in the mornings.

“I’m doing pretty good, just staying busy with work, you know?” She doesn’t need to know that I’ve picked up drinking as my new hobby.

“That’s good.” There’s a long pause. God, why is it so awkward every time I talk to her? I know this woman inside and out. I know her likes, her dislikes. Hell, I know her intimately. The problem is she doesn’t remember those things about me. I have to keep reminding myself of this fact. I really hate this.

“So, I was wondering,” I say as I start to rub the back of my neck, “would you want to get some lunch with me today? I know it’s kind of late notice and all, but if you’re available I’d love to get together with you for a little bit.” Sound desperate much? I roll my eyes at how pathetic I must sound to her.

“Uh, I can’t today. Sorry.” Not the answer I was really expecting.

“Oh, okay, no worries. Maybe another time.” This time, I can’t hide the pain in my voice.

“It’s not that I don’t want to,” she quickly adds. “I’ve just already made lunch plans with another friend today.”

I feel a little better now, so I say, “Oh, are you and Colby getting together for a girl’s lunch?”

Again, I hear the hesitation in the answer that follows. “Um, no,” she says quietly.

I’m curious to know who she’s going with. It feels like I don’t really have the right to question her since we aren’t technically together, but it’s killing me not knowing. I don’t want to come across too pushy, overbearing, or intrusive with her either. So, against my better judgment, I ask her anyway, “Oh, with who?” I try really hard to come off as nonchalant and sound like I’m just asking as a friend. I’m not quite sure it works.

“It’s just a friend I met randomly on the beach. His name is Pierce.”

I’m clutching the phone so tightly I think it might snap at any minute. I feel hurt…no, I feel rage. I can’t even speak for fear of what might come out of my mouth. I instantly get up and start pacing to try to calm myself down. Seriously, she’s going out with another guy? What. The. Fuck?!

“Maybe we can get together next weekend. Do you have any plans?” she quickly adds in. I wonder if she could sense I was about to lose my shit.

I swallow the large lump forming in my throat from the pure resentment coursing through my body. “Sure, sounds good. I’ll call you. Look, I just remembered I have something to get to at the office, so I better go. Have fun with your new friend.” I try to be sincere but I can’t. I’m sure she can hear the disdain dripping from my words. At this point, I couldn’t give two shits. We hang up and I’m left here with my thoughts.

How the hell is she dating already? Is she not going to give us a chance? It’s like she’s accepted that her memory is gone and she’s not expecting it to come back. I feel like she is moving on and that thought slowly turns my anger into despair. I sink back into my lounge chair with my elbows on my knees. I lean forward and put my face in my hands as I shake my head at my new realization.

The distance is growing between us and I feel it every day her memory doesn’t come back. I squeeze my eyes shut and run my hands through my hair, tugging at the ends out of pain and frustration.

I do the only thing I can do at this point and pick up my phone and dial. He picks up on the second ring. “Hey, Colin, what’s up?”

“Hey, Jeremy. Are you busy? I really need to get out of here.”

COLIN HAS BEEN through so much already. If we’re going to be friends and build a friendship, it needs to be based on trust, not lies. I hear the hurt in his voice when I tell him about Pierce. Should I have lied about it? Maybe, but it just wouldn’t feel right with me. I loved this man once and he deserves the truth. I will just have to make it up to him when I see him. I could tell he was upset by the way he was rushing to get off the phone, but we end the call making plans to see each other next weekend.

Looking at the clock I realize I have just enough time to shower and get ready to meet Pierce.

Two hours later I’m dressed and ready to go. I throw on a maxi dress, some sandals, grab my purse and head out the door to meet up with Pierce. Since it is a nice day, I put the top down on my Mustang. A Train song is on the radio, so I crank it up and pull out onto the road to make my way to Cup of Joes. Pulling up to the coffee shop, I am able to score a parking spot right in front of the building. I leave the top down and see Pierce through the window. He waves at me and I walk in.

I walk over to the table Pierce is sitting at. When I reach him, he stands up and gives me a hug. Being that close to him gives me a chance to take in his scent. He smells musky with a hint of spice. I could stand here all day soaking in his delicious smell. I snap out of my trance and step out of his embrace resting my hands on his muscular biceps. I know he has a nice body since I saw him without a shirt on at the beach, but seeing and touching are two totally different things. I have to admit, it felt good being wrapped up in his big arms.