Chapter 31: Memories

I brush off his words.

“I remember the water being so cold,” I say, shivering as the memories wash over me. “It was pitch black, I could hardly see anything.”

“I was shaking my mom, screaming at her, saying I was sorry again and again, but she didn’t move, not even a little.”

“I inhaled water when I tried to breathe, squirming in my seat, clutching her hand tight, but it didn’t last. I don’t know when I passed out.”

“Addy…”

“I woke up in a hospital bed, my mind a blank slate. I couldn’t remember anything. I didn’t know who I was, where I was, or anything about what happened.”

“My aunt and uncle took me in. They said they were my family and I had to believe them. I don’t know when it happened, but I started calling them mom and dad after a while and they never corrected me.”

“They treated me like their own, gave me everything,” I continue.

“When did they tell you?”

“That’s just it. They never did. My memories came back a year after they took me in. I fell into the pool at a friend’s house and ended up in the hospital soon after.

“I was confused—my mind was filled with memories I couldn’t understand at first. But they became clear later.”

“Why didn’t you ask them?” Asher runs a hand through my messy bed hair.

“Part of me wanted to ask, but I also knew they couldn’t have children. And I...I didn’t want to lose my connection with my parents.

“They were my parents now. Telling them I remembered...I was only eleven then and I thought that meant I couldn’t be their daughter anymore. That scared me more than I’d like to admit.

“And after that, I just never brought it up, and neither did they. But that doesn’t mean they ever forgot her. Dad brings home a cake from work every year on her birthday and we sit around the table and eat it together.

“I hear Mom crying to Dad sometimes, saying over and over that she misses her. And they talk about her, so lovingly. I can’t even be mad at them for not telling me,”

“I’m sure it wasn’t easy for them either.”

“Yeah. I spent a long time thinking it was all my fault, that I had killed her—if I had just noticed how tired she was that day…”

Asher tries to say something but I keep going.

“I quickly realized that my mom wouldn’t have wanted that. She wouldn’t have wanted me to blame myself for something I couldn’t control.”

Thinking about it that way helps me. My mom wouldn’t have wanted to see me sad, and I know that no matter what, she’s always there, watching over me.

And then there’s Asher, who showed up about a year later. Having a crush on him also helped distract me from the deep, dark hole I was in without my mom.

I didn’t feel so alone after that. I suddenly had a reason to get up in the mornings again.

But I’m not going to tell him that.

“You’re the strongest and bravest person I know. You rock!”

“‘You rock,’ really?” I raise an eyebrow at him, amused.

“What? I’ve never comforted anyone before?”

I reach up to wipe away the moisture under his eyes. “You even cried for me?”

“Did not!”

“Hmm…”

“Does Kaylee not know?”

I shake my head.

“I already told you, no one knows, or at least knows that I know.”

I smile at him.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because it feels good to talk about it with someone. I’ve kept it bottled up for so long.” I giggle.

“You can talk to me whenever you want to talk about it,” Asher wipes under my puffy eyes.

“Thank you!” I look into his eyes.

“Do you want to stay home today? I’ll stay with you.”

“Huh?” I ask, scrunching my nose.

“Skip school. We can just stay in bed, watch a movie?”

“School? What are you talking about? Today is Sun—” I start, loosening my grip on his hand to grab my phone.

~Monday, 9:49~ ~a.m~.

~Two missed calls from Baby.~

Kaylee

Are you sick? If you are, get well soon and call me later! Xoxo.

Kaylee

Seriously bitch, where are you???

“Oh, shit!” I leap out of bed.

“We’re going to be so late for school! Kaylee is going to kill me!” I shriek.

“You thought it was Sunday?” He looks at me, amused.

I give him a sheepish grin.

“I still have your shirt and you can use your jeans from yesterday.” I blurt out before rushing into the bathroom.

He laughs.

“Buttercup, you really are something else.”

“Yeah, Mom says that too. Now get moving. We have to make it for second period.”

“Man, I wanted to stay in bed and cuddle.”

I blush.

~What the hell.~

~What is wrong with him.~

“Stop messing around and get up. I’m giving you five seconds. I got my bike back from my friend yesterday and you should be able to ride Dad’s.”

“Or we can take my bike.”

“Doesn’t your dad leave at ten?” I ask, and he groans. I throw a pillow at him, avoiding looking at his abs before rushing out of the room.

~Kaylee is going to kill me.~

***

“Can you go get the water bottle I left in the kitchen?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

“Get it yourself?”

I wave him off, heading toward the garage.

“I’ll get the bikes. Give me the keys.”

I roll my eyes and toss him the keys before I jog back into the house. I kick off my shoes quickly and hurry into the kitchen.

I can’t stand having to go back inside once I’ve already left.

~Pesky little…~

I spot the bottle on the counter. “Gotcha!” I say, grinning as I head back outside.

I place the bottle on the porch and then retie my loose shoelaces.

“I had to retie these because of you!” I complain as I walk into the garage.

“Just get shoes that don’t have laces. It’s not that difficult.”

I stick my tongue out at him before I notice my dad’s bike in his hands.

“Hey, where’s mine? You were supposed to bring out both!”

He shrugs. “I went to get it but your tires are flat.”

I frown.

“What are you talking about? I rode it yesterday. It was fine.” I walk over to my blue bike and sure enough, the tires are flat. I groan.

“I’ll just walk, like always. I hate being late!” I grumble, walking past him when he stops me.

“What?”

“Who said you’re walking?” He pats the seat behind him. I gape at him.

“No way, people will see!”

“And you care? Because I don’t.”

I bite my lip.

“People are going to think that I was the one who kissed you that night. You never let anyone sit on your bike. Imagine the rumors that will start if they see us riding to school together like this.”

I let out a nervous laugh.

“Meh. As long as you’re the girl in the rumors, I don’t care. Let them think whatever. Besides, we’re going to be late anyway. Everyone will be in their classes.”

I blush at his words.

~Did Cupid shoot him with an arrow?~

~Is he flirting with me?~

~As long as I’m the girl in the rumors, he doesn’t mind?~

~So he doesn’t care about the girl who kissed him anymore?~

“What are you still thinking about? I don’t bite.” He climbs onto the bike and looks at me.

“But I do,” I say.

“Huh?”

I feel my cheeks heating up again.

~I need to tape my mouth shut.~

“Nothing, nothing. Give me your bag,” I say, taking it from him. I hold it loosely against me as I sit behind him.

He balances the bike with his feet before taking my hands and wrapping them around his waist.

“Hold on tight.”

I smile at his words, pressing my palms against his shirt-covered abs as he starts pedaling.

His abs tense under my touch and I can’t help but grin.

~Hot.~

~Hot.~

~Hot.~

I’m going to enjoy this.