Page 15 of He Will Come for Me

The occasional party?How occasional is that, exactly?I don’t ask because I don’t really want to know. At least not right now.

“There’s also another refrigerator here.” He walks me around a corner and I look from it to him and then back again. It looks like one of those refrigerators you see at a liquor store that holds beer. From the glass door, I can see it’s stocked with anything and everything we could possibly need.

“You’re going to have to kick me out of your kitchen,” I tell him.

He chuckles and shakes his head. “I would never do that. As long as I get to taste test everything you make.”

I hold my hand out to him. “Deal.” He grins and extends his hand to shake mine. We walk out of the pantry. “Especially since you’re making me stronger every day with all the meals you cook.” I wish I could express how thankful I am for everything. Even if I am a prisoner, at least I’m not chained to a bed laying in my own filth.

Phoenix isn’t in the kitchen any longer. I ignore the twinge in my chest as I take out the ingredients I need for the cookies.

“I’m off to do my chores for the day,” Clara says as she walks back into the kitchen carrying an empty bucket filled with cleaning supplies. Phillip meets her halfway and kisses her on the forehead. Something close to feeling homesick hits me in the stomach, and I look away.

I want someone to look at me like that. Has anyone ever looked at me like that?I had one boyfriend at the academy, but he was more of a friend than anything else. He was convenient, but there wasn’t passion or anything even close to it. We never even broke up, we just went our separate ways after graduation.

“I’ll save you a cookie.”

Clara smirks at me. “Just one?”

I return her smile. “Maybe two.” I squint my nose at her and she shakes her head at me in amusement. She and Phillip begin doing their daily routine while I measure the ingredients to mix everything. After I’m done, I turn the oven on to begin warming up and take out the cookie sheets.

I don’t have a recipe I read from. I know this one from memory. It’s the same recipe my mom taught me when I was a little girl and where my love of baking first began. I turn the mixer on after I add the ingredients. I lean against the counter as I watch it.

Arms wrap around my waist and pull me against a strong chest. “Mmmm. My favorite.” I place my hands on his hands and chuckle.

“The cookies or me?”

His lips latch on to the sensitive spot on my shoulder. “I think I need to taste both to make that decision.”

A flight of a thousand hummingbirds takes off in my stomach as he licks my neck and pulls my earlobe between his teeth.

“McKenzie!” My eyes fly open and I look up at the voice.How did I end up on the floor?Rex kneels down in front of me, his eyes assessing me.

“What happened?” His voice is rough, but not booming like it did yesterday. I open my mouth and close it again. I don’t know what happened.Did I just have a memory?I try to bring it back, but it evades me like a cloud of smoke.

“McKenzie? I need to know you’re alright.” I focus on Rex and realize he has a phone to his ear.

“Is she alright?” Phoenix barks. Rex puts his phone on speaker.

“I’m… I’m alright.” I swallow, trying to get rid of the dryness in my mouth. “I think I had a memory.” Rex goes perfectly still, and Phoenix is silent for several seconds.

“What was the memory?” Phoenix asks. I close my eyes, still remembering the feeling of strong arms wrapped around me and the swoop of my stomach, knowing I was about to feel amazing. “McKenzie?” Phoenix’s voice is strained.

“I was baking cookies.” Opening my eyes, I study Rex to see what his reaction will be.

“You were baking cookies?” Phoenix asks. I run my hand through my hair, but my fingers get tangled in the messy bun I put it in earlier. Yanking the hair band out, I take a deep breath. The passion I was just wondering about, have I experienced that?Who was it with?

“Yes. Someone was with me, but I don’t know who it was. I know I knew them, though.” There’s another long stretch of silence.

“That’s good,” Phoenix finally says. “We’ll tell Dr. Chamberland when he checks on you in a few days.” There’s a slight pause. “I’ll call Dr. Pearl today to schedule an appointment with her.” I put my hand on the floor and push myself up. That feeling of being homesick hits me again.

“Will you be back today?” I ask Phoenix. I blink my eyes quickly.Why do I feel this way?

“Yes. I’ll be home in time for dinner.” I think he already told me that, but I guess I needed to hear it again.

“Okay,” I whisper. “I guess I’ll save you some chocolate chip cookies for dessert.”

He chuckles. “My second favorite dessert.” There’s someone talking in the background. “I have to go. I’ll see you tonight.” He hangs up before I can respond.I wonder what his first favorite dessert is?Rex pockets his phone and looks from me to the mixer that’s still going. I turn around and cut it off.

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