I cringe. “It’s complicated.” Isn’t that what Julien and Ryder keep saying to me?
“So you can’t remember being Jayson’s girlfriend before and now you’re dating Ryder. You’re telling me that not one, but two guys want you. Girl,” she drawls out. “Did you like have a magic pussy or something?”
“I wouldn’t remember if I did.” Meredith snorts and starts laughing like a hyena. When she calms down, I turn to look at her. “Ryder and I are trying to keep things private right now, if you understand what I’m saying. I don’t want to hurt Jayson or Julien, but…”
“But you can’t help who you fall in love with. I get it.”
“I never said I was in love,” I counter even though it’s the truth.
Meredith goes back to doing my hair. “You don’t have to say it, Elizabeth. It’s written all your face every time you look at Ryder. Hell, even Trevor sees it. And I promise I won’t say anything. Are the other guys as hot as Ryder?”
I bite my bottom lip and nod yes. Meredith squeals. “You are absolutely inviting me over the next time you guys hang out.” She sticks one last pin in my hair and pats my shoulder. “Okay. Done. What do you think?”
I look in the vanity mirror. Meredith has created a gorgeous intricate mass of twisting hair on the back of my head, leaving a few tendrils hanging down. “I love it,” I tell her. “Thank you, Meredith. It’s nice having a girl to talk to.”
Meredith bends down and gives me a squeeze. “Even if you don’t remember who you are, I think you’re a really cool girl, Elizabeth. I hope we can hang out more. And if you ever need anyone to talk to, I’m a great listener. Really, I am. I may talk a bunch, but I am loyal to the core. Since we’re sharing secrets, the reason I may seem like a hyper chihuahua all the time is because I have ADHD. I don’t like taking medication as it makes me feel awful. But that’s a story for another day.”
“Meredith, I wouldn’t change you for the world. I like you just the way you are.”
“That means a lot to me. Now, let’s find some shoes to go with this rocking dress and wait for your man to pick you up.”
Chapter 17
The First Date
Elizabeth
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
We’re driving in Ryder’s car down a quiet country road, my fingers twined together with his right hand on my lap. Every once in a while, he releases his hold to shift gears but always brings his hand back to mine. For our first date, Ryder took me to an outdoor concert at the local botanical gardens. We walked around the grounds while a four-piece ensemble played classical Baroque music. The gardens had strung lights in all the trees and more lights along the pathways making the whole experience enchanting, like being in the middle of a forest oasis surrounded by twinkling fairies peeking at us from the foliage as we walked by. We held hands the entire time and Ryder would press kisses against my temple, my hair, and my shoulder. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I pressed him up against one of the trees and kissed him madly. After my impromptu attack of his lips, we walked back to where folding chairs had been arranged for people to sit and watched the sunset as the ensemble playedConcerto for Two Violinsby Bach. Ryder told me he was fulfilling my “would you rather.”
As we drive, I look out the window. The sky is cloudless tonight, the moon casting shadows inside of the car. I look over at Ryder’s profile. He really is so very handsome. Strong. Sexy. The butterflies in my stomach take flight once again like they usually do when I look at him. It’s been a month since we ran into each other at the student center. Such a short amount of time, but also a lifetime between us. Whatever feelings I had for him before I lost my memory are just as strong now, possibly even more so. My mind may have buried my memories six feet under, but the way my body reacts whenever I’m around him, the way my emotions take flight and soar, the way he makes me feel… he is becoming my everything, the thing I look forward to everyday, and it both scares me and exhilarates me.
I lift our twined hands up to my mouth and press my lips to his knuckles. “Where are you taking me now?”
He glances at me and the yellow in his golden eyes reflects off the moonlight coming through the windshield. “It’s a surprise. Patience, baby.”
I give a tiny girlie sigh. “I love it when you call me that.”
“What? Baby?” He cocks his brow at me.
“Yes.”
“I’ll make sure to use it more often then.”
He hands me his phone. Without thinking, I open his music app and select a song which starts playing from his speakers. A memory flash of me doing the same thing at some other time flits across my eyes. Just another one of those something else that tie us together. “The Distance” by Cake starts and I turn up the volume.
“Nice,” Ryder tells me when he hears it.
“I was going to ask you if I could come back out to the racetrack with you again sometime.”
“Baby, anytime you want. I would love for you to come out again. I was impressed with how well you handled your car last time.”
I beam at his praise. “I had a good instructor.”
“I want to take a look at your car and check out your engine, if you don’t mind. I have some ideas for a few improvements you might be interested in.”
“Seeing as my car is basically your car.” I laugh, because it really is a carbon copy of his but in a different color. “Do whatever you want with it. I trust you.” His hand squeezes mine and he leans over to kiss my temple.
