It felt so damn good to be touched so gently. And I wondered what regrets Roe had. “I do think about him. All the time. For years I buried myself in my work because I couldn’t face the guilt and life and how empty I’d become. The past year, since reconnecting with Ross and moving here, I’ve begun to come to terms with it, so instead of a stab in my heart every time I think of him, it’s more of a dull ache.”
The sweep of his thumb across my cheek sent shivers through me. “That’s called healing. Though the ache will always be there, even after the cut heals.”
The overhead lights in the meeting room turned off, and we were left in darkness. “Guess that’s our sign to leave.” I buttoned my coat. “Going home?”
“Yeah.”
Cool night air brushed against our cheeks, and I noticed the leaves on the trees had begun to fall. As we walked down the street, I said, “I’d like to see Nettie. Is that okay?”
A smile tugged at his lips. “I was going to suggest you come with me. She’ll want to see us together, and I think it will help settle her mind.”
Happy that I would get to spend part of the evening with him, I suddenly wondered about his personal life. “Whatever happened to the guy you were seeing, the younger one you brought to Flashpoint?”
“Colin?” We paused at the corner until the light changed, then crossed Broadway. “We were never exclusive, and we decided to be friends rather than friends with benefits. He’s dating someone now.”
A pleasant glow settled over me. “Good for him.”
Roe side-eyed me but said nothing, and we remained companionably silent the rest of the walk. When we entered his apartment building, Roe stopped at the foot of the stairs. “I’m taking your lead on this, Ezra. I’m still not sure if this is the right way to handle it, but I’m willing to try.”
More confident now than at the meeting, I nudged him. “Let’s have Nettie give us our clues. We’ll sit and schmooze with her a while so she can see we’re getting along, and that should satisfy her.”
“I hope so,” Roe said, mounting the stairs.
Shoulder to shoulder, we walked down the hallway, and Roe knocked on the door. Hurried footsteps sounded on the opposite side, and Deborah greeted us, a smile lighting up her face. “Hi, honey. And Ezra.” She hugged me. “I’m so glad you’re here too.”
“Is that Monroe and the boyfriend?” Nettie called out from the living room.
“Ever since Ezra started coming around, she’s been happier.” Deborah lowered her voice. “I’m not sure what you two are up to, but it’s working. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before her memory returns.”
I didn’t want to think about what would happen when it did. Were we on the road toward something more permanent, or would Roe toss me aside?
“Stop being a grouch.” I patted his cheek. “Let’s not keep her waiting, right?” I slipped off my coat and laid it on the chair by the door, then took his hand.
A satisfied smile curved Nettie’s lips when we entered the living room, and I caught her quick glance at our clasped hands.Damn.She didn’t miss a thing.
“There you are. I thought you forgot about me.”
“Grandma, I come here every night after work.” Roe kissed her. “Ezra works too, you know.”
“Nettie, I’m sorry. I’ll try and stop by more during the week.” I bent down to kiss her wrinkled, soft cheek, and she held my wrist, surprising me with a fairly strong grip.
“I figured you and Monroe were together and forgot about the time. I remember what young love was like.” She laughed and let go of me to pinch my cheek. Hard.
Roe coughed up a lung behind me.
“Well, it’s been a busy time for both of us,” I said weakly. “We’re taking it slow.”
“Slow, quick, as long as you’re together, it’s all good.”
“Grandma, you’re sounding better,” Roe interjected, and I retreated to sit on the couch.
“I’m okay. How are your classes going? Studying hard?”
The light died in Roe’s eyes, and I knew he’d hoped Nettie had gotten her memory back.
“Grandma, I’m a professor now, remember? I teach psychology.”
“Oh.” Her brow furrowed. “It’s cloudy in my head. I can see you’re older, but to me, you’re still young.” Her small hands shook, and Roe took them in his strong ones. I knew how close Roe was to her, and my heart squeezed tight. It also wasn’t lost on me that maybe this had started out as a fake-boyfriends thing to us, but my wish was to see where it took us. More importantly for Nettie, it was a hope she clung to that could affect her recuperation.
