“The Apple Cup?” Hannah asked.
It was weird having to explain everything to her. Stuff he knew she knew. It must be very frustrating to lose your memory.
“It’s the football game where the UW plays WSU. It’s the weekend after Thanksgiving, and it’s a pretty big deal around here.”
“Sorry. I must sound like an idiot. I’m sure I really do know all this stuff. It’s weird that I know New York and Washington are on separate coasts, but I don’t know my own school mascot. How do I remember some things but not others?”
“Hah. Beats me. Maybe general knowledge and memories are stored in different parts of the brain, and only one part is damaged. Don’t quote me on that, though. I’m talking out my ass and have absolutely no idea.” She laughed. “Idoknow you took a serious knock to the head, and you’re lucky to be alive.”
“I know, and I’m grateful for that. It will just be nice to remember things. Anyway, keep going with your family,” she said.
“Oh, well, so Sam and I live out here, and the rest of them still live in New York City. My youngest brother Mitch was a police officer, but he recently quit the force to open a retirement home. Long story. He just got married a few months ago and is the only one of us that’s hitched. Alex is a firefighter, and Johnny is an ER doc. My mom does a lot of charity work and lives for the weekends when we’re all together.” He smiled.
“Do you go home a lot?”
“Once every couple of months at least. Sam uses his company jet to go for business, and I often tag along.”
“Sounds cool. I wonder if I’ve ever been there,” she mused.
“I’m not sure about that, but the next time we go, you should come with us. Once you’re feeling better.”
Knowing Hannah needed rest and not wanting to wear her out, Jake only stayed for about an hour. He told Hannah he’d be back the next day, and if they released her, she was welcome to come and stay with him. Before leaving the hospital, he texted her friend from work to ask how Hannah liked her coffee. He’d been curious ever since he left the grocery store and thought the information might come in handy, in case she couldn’t remember.
CHAPTER TEN
The next day, the doctor gave Hannah the all clear to go. The swelling in her brain had returned to normal, and her head no longer hurt. They had double and triple checked for internal injuries and found none. The cuts and bruises on her face would heal without plastic surgery, and her arm would be fine in a few weeks.
“All things considered, you got off easy,” the doctor told her. “I’m sure the amnesia is frustrating, but that’ll resolve itself eventually.”
Hannah had attempted a shower, which turned into more of a sponge bath and dressed in some of the clothes Jake had retrieved from her apartment. There was no way to wash her hair, which was verging on grimy.
Kate asked if she was okay leaving with Jake, saying if not, they could find an excuse to keep her for another day, but Hannah said she was fine with it. She was also worried about the costs she was incurring and thought that leaving sooner rather than later would save her some money in the long run. Since Jake was the only person who’d offered to take her in, she didn’t really have a choice on where to go. Kate gave Hannah her cell number and told her that if she needed anything, or if she changed her mind about staying with Jake, to call her.
Jake met her at the front entrance and helped her into his Jeep Cherokee. He put her bag in the back, and they were off.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“A little. I could use a good cup of coffee,” she said.
“Sounds good. You wanna go to your coffee shop? It’s not too far from here.”
“Sure. Maybe it will jog my memory.”
Jake was a smooth driver, which made sense, considering that’s what he did for a living. They made it to the coffee shop and parked.
“Oh, Jake. I forgot how awful I must look,” she said, using her good arm to touch her eye, which was black and blue and still swollen. “This was a bad idea. My hair is gross, and I feel like death warmed over. Could we go somewhere else? I’m sorry to be such a bother.”
“Hey, I get it, sure. There’s one of those little drive-thru only shacks on the way to my place.”
They left Grinder’s, but when he pulled up to order at the coffee shack, she started crying.
“What’s the matter? Are you hurting?” Jake asked.
“No. It’s not that,” she stammered. “I can’t remember how I like my coffee!”
He chuckled. “I’m not laughing at you,” he clarified quickly. “I thought that information might be vital, so I texted your friend at work to ask. I know what you like. No worries.”
He ordered for her. Apparently, she liked almond milk lattes. He’d ordered them each a breakfast bagel, which she scarfed down, none too ladylike, all of sudden starving.
