Page 54 of Wanted

“So you were planning on what, just staying here forever?”

“Seems that way, doesn’t it?” The attempt to keep him at a distance has me dizzy. I need him gone. “Since I only had myself to rely on, I found a place to stay. I even have a job.”

“You found a job? You already have a job in California.”

“Things changed.”

“You’re going to throw it away over a little fight?”

Pieces of information collect like raindrops in my hand.

I have a job somewhere.

We had a fight.

Those two fragments are new to me. New yet not very helpful.

“I’m not going anywhere with you, so you can leave.”

“Why would I leave without my fiancée?” He spits it out like a dirty word. Memories or not, no love emanates from this man. A frisson of fear bursts beneath my skin.

“I’m not your anything, Dillon. Not anymore.”

He laughs angrily. “You don’t just get to decide that by yourself. We were starting a life together.”

“Maybe we were, but that’s over now. I’m starting a life here.” I stab my finger toward the sticky ground I stand on. “You were right. We both needed a fresh start. It’s just that those new beginnings don’t involve each other.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” He rubs his hand over his messy red hair. The loose waves bounce beneath his irritated strokes. “We had plans.”

“So make new ones. I have. In fact, someone’s waiting for me right now.”

“Who?” he barks, and I move a reactive step back.

“M-my boyfriend,” I blurt.

Oh God.

If he wasn’t being such a shitty person, I wouldn’t be one back. Truly. I never set out to hurt him. But I have to trust my gut since I can’t remember, and right now, my gut screams at me to push him as far away as I possibly can.

Even if that means lying about the man waiting for me across the room who probably wouldn’t be caught dead being romantic with me.

He snorts in disbelief. “Yeah, right. You’re telling me in the past two weeks you not only found a job but also a new boyfriend?”

“I don’t owe you a single explanation.”

“I think you do.”

“Maybe you should tell me why it took you two weeks to track me down. If you can tell me why you dropped me off on the side of the road and didn’t come back for me right away, I’ll consider going back with you.”

His eyes glitter, and my stomach drops.

Oh fuck. I said the wrong thing, didn’t I?

I run through the last minute of conversation in my head. What did I say to give him the upper hand?

He’s looking at me like he’s holding the winning poker hand, and he knows it.

If you can tell me why you dropped me off on the side of the road…

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