“It’s not silly to me, or Gran, or any of our ancestors.”
“But how can it even work? Does it work within the family as well? Can you forget your grandma? Can she forget you?” He tapped his finger on his chin as he moved closer. “How soon do people forget you? Is there a clean cut-off, or does it happen gradually? And once they forget, how do people rationalize—oh, wait, I can figure that one out …”
Morose as the topic was, she had to laugh at his animated interest. Feeling like she was a business trend to be studied should be demeaning, except that Simon, as a CEO, would love business trends.
“Wecanforget each other. I could forget Gran, but I make sure to call her every day and see her as often as possible. Seeing someone in person is the best way to keep the memory going, but if nothing else, hearing their voice will do. Texting, to a lesser extent. As for how soon … it varies. Some people forget me within days. At most, without refreshing the contact, they lasted three weeks. Most often their memory will start to slip in about a day, but at that point, I can still refresh it. If I were tocall someone whose memory of me is only starting to slip, they’d remember me again. But if they have already forgotten …”
She looked out into the forest, pressing her lips together. “Then there’s no way back. They’ll never again remember what was lost.”
“Like me.” His tone had turned back serious.
“Like you.”
“So when we break the bond tomorrow and I leave for San Francisco, I’ll forget you in a few weeks, at most.Again.”
“Yup.” She gripped the railing. Oh, how she wished he’d say he wouldn’t let it happen again. That he’d invite her with him, and they could start anew. But he didn’t, and she didn’t blame him. That was why she usually didn’t tell people about the curse. Who on this Earth would ever want her, knowing? She was achore. She was the definition of clingy if she wanted a serious relationship—and anyone would grow tired of that eventually.
“But it’s okay.” Her voice shook. “I’m used to it.”
“Shanna …”
Please, no more pity.“Now you know. See you in the morning.” She slinked back inside.
Chapter 5
“I’m breaking up with you.”
Simon looked up from his laptop. Jenny leaned against the open archway of his living room, twirling the belt of her silk dressing gown.
“What do you mean?”
Rolling her eyes, she waved her hand at him to emphasize her point.
Did she think he wasn’t paying enough attention to her? “We went out to dinner last night.” And had a pretty good time afterward.
“Yeah, to Mersea. I thought you rich people only ate at the most prestigious restaurants.”
“But they have the best fish and chips. And you said fish and chips were your favorite …” Back on their first date. Whenhe’dsaid it.
“Anyway, I’ll go pack.” Jenny disappeared behind the wall, leaving Simon sitting there like an idiot.
***
Simon had a miserable time falling asleep that night; not so much the fault of being in yet another unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar house, but rather of what Shanna had told him. After a few hours of twisting and turning, stuck in a decision limbo of whether he wanted that light blanket or not, he got up and snuck to the kitchen for a glass of water. He didn’t turn on any lights, not only because it might wake up Shanna and Dolores but also because the dark felt less disturbing to his stream of thoughts.
He forgot Shanna because of her curse, but what exactly did he forget? The most amazing night of his life that led to them marrying on impulse …
Or a deception?
Because as nice and innocent as Shanna appeared on the outside, the little doubtful voice in his mind wouldn’t shut up.When was the last time someone cared for you because of you, not because you were Simon Montague?
He didn’t know. He didn’t know what he had told Shanna that night and whether she had known who he was from the start. Perhaps she’d put a love spell on him. She didn’t seem to be doing that hot financially; a catch like him would have been …
Stop it.It didn’t matter now. If she had a sneaky plan, it hadn’t worked out. And that was the end of the story.
He drank the water, stared into the blueish-gray night beyond the window for a few more minutes, then headed back to his bedroom. Instead of preoccupying his mind with Shanna, he should think of Aries and how he was going to make his comeback. Maybe prepare some lines. Should he go for angry boss—because someone had severely messed up—or mildly amused boss? He imagined himself sauntering up to the front door with some on-liner about coming to interview for the next CEO …
Something moved in the dark, further down the hallway. Simon froze, watching a figure creep toward the open door to his bedroom, then slip in.Oh, for god’s sake.If Shanna was about to hang another protection symbol above his bed …
