“We—we argued.”
“Who argued?” Dr. Kadambi asked.
Her eyes flickered to the corner. “Jonah and me.”
“That’s not true. That didn’t happen.”
She nailed him with a look. “Yes, it did. I remember very clearly.”
“What did we argue about then?” He searched her face. Where was all this warmth and concern coming from all of a sudden?
“I didn’t wear a life jacket. You got all bent out of shape.”
His lips parted. Otherwise his features froze. Then he glanced at the doctor, who in turn glanced at her.
“What?” she said. “It’s true. I know I’m a little fuzzy, but the memory’s very clear.” Why was Jonah disputing this?
“Is that what happened, Jonah?”
He blinked. “Yes.” He stared at her again, those blue eyes holding secrets she was suddenly sure she didn’t want to hear. He cleared his throat, his focus like a laser beam on her. “The argument on the pier did happen. But it didn’t happen today.”
The doctor returned his attention to Lauren, and his gaze sharpened on her. “Can you tell me the date?”
Seriously? She huffed. What kind of trick was Jonah playing on her? She glared at him.
“Humor me, Lauren,” the doctor said.
“It’s Sunday, April twenty-eighth.” She rattled off the year for good measure.
A beat of silence passed. The clock ticked away the seconds. Something shifted in the room as the doctor made eye contact with Jonah.
“What?I know it’s Sunday, but it could be the twenty-ninth, I guess. I’m a little foggy, remember? Cut me some slack.” She sometimes lost track up here—something she’d never done in the city. But why had Jonah insisted they hadn’t argued that very day? She was still peeved about it. He could be such a pain, a real stickler for the rules. She was a perfectly good swimmer, for heaven’s sake.
The doctor touched her arm. “Lauren... You seem to have lost a bit of time, which can happen with a concussion. We’ll need a few more tests, and I’d like to keep you overnight as a precaution.”
Her thoughts got hung up on his first sentence. “How much time?” Her gaze toggled between the doctor and Jonah. Had she lost a few days? Was that why Jonah said they hadn’t argued that day? That made sense, didn’t it? When thinking was like slogging through mud, it was hard to tell.
“Lauren...” Dr. Kadambi said. “It is not April. Today’s date is September seventh.”
***
Jonah sat frozen to the chair. Lauren thought it was the end ofApril. That would’ve been only about a month and a half after her arrival. If Lauren didn’t remember the past four months, she hadn’t just forgotten about the barn and Graham.
She’d forgotten aboutthem.
“I’m not his girlfriend.”
She didn’t remember all the weeks they’d spent working their way from antagonism to love. She didn’t remember their first date or her steady slide into his heart. She didn’t remember when he’d professed his love or when she’d finally vocalized her own feelings.
No wonder she was behaving so strangely. She was still neck-deep in animosity. Dread seeped into his bloodstream.
“That—that can’t be true.” Lauren’s eyes, full of confusion, darted from the doctor to him. “It’sApril.”
Dr. Kadambi pulled his cell phone from his pocket and held it up for Lauren. “This is my home screen. Can you read the date?”
She blinked. Gaped at the screen for a full five seconds. Then she lifted a hand to her face. “I don’t understand. How can this be possible?”
“Jonah, this memory Lauren had of the argument on the pier. When did that occur?”
