Page 38 of Screw Christmas
“Don’t push yourself. The doctor told you to take it easy.”
“He also told me to do things that might jog my memory, sitting at home won’t do that. I need to get out.” Frustration began to flow through me. “And I still can’t find my damn phone!”
“We’ll get you a new one tomorrow. Have you eaten yet?”
Food was the last thing I wanted right now. Between the anxiety and frustration of trying to remember what I’d forgotten and the lump that still remained on my forehead, I had a wicked headache. The painkillers were only moderately helping.
“Yeah, but I won’t have the information on it that might help me. I won’t have photos, or my notes, or anything like that.”
He threw up his hands, a hint of frustration in his eyes. “What can I tell you? It’s gone. All we can do is get you a new one and move on.”
“What about Dylan?”
“What about him?” Placing both hands flat on the countertop, he waited.
“I think it would be a good idea if I got in touch with him. I think that seeing him might spark something.”
“Spark what? He’s the reason you got hurt.”
“I don’t think he’d intentionally hurt me. He’s an asshole, but I just don’t think he would. I have a hunch something is up. I need the full story.”
“I gave you the full story Maya!”
Wincing at the tone in his voice, I eyed him with new founded suspicion. “Just as well.”
“There is no just as well. There’s a reason why I got a restraining order against him. He’s a criminal and he hurt you—end of story.”
Placing Buster to my side, I slowly stood, the anger within me escalating quickly to match his. “You know what Aaron? I think we need to take some time apart. I think you need to go home so I can sort some things out.”
His mood quickly shifted, the anger fading from his expression. Coming around the counter he strode into the living room to come stand before me. “Maya, come on. That’s crazy. You need someone with you. What if you have a relapse? You shouldn’t be alone.”
Lifting my chin up in defiance, I replied, “Then I’ll call my mother to come over for the night.” There wasn’t a lot that felt familiar between me and Aaron but fighting with him and the elevated emotions that came with it felt very natural as random memory flashes came to the forefront of my mind.
Annie… Annie… Annie… Who was Annie? The name popped into my head, but no face or reference came with it.
“Sweetheart.” Taking my hands in his he brought them to his lips, kissing the backs of them tenderly. “This is crazy. I apologize. I’ve had a long day at work, and I took it out on you. Maybe in a few days we can track him down and have a chat with him.”
“Okay.”
He sighed. “Okay. Now what would you like me to cook up?”
“I’m not hungry. Thank you. But I was serious, I think that you should stay at your place tonight. I need some time with my thoughts without everyone around.” Chewing at my lower lip, I looked up at him through my lashes. “You understand, don’t you?”
He looked reluctant, but eventually nodded. “Okay. I understand. I don’t want to push myself on you, you’ve been through a lot.”
“Thank you.”’
OceanofPDF.com
Chapter 19
Dylan
“You won’t regret this decision. Thank you again.” I gave the director of the television show hand a shake, feeling elated as we stood just inside the doors of the television station’s main office in Manhattan.
“I just want you to know, I put my neck on the line for you.” His brown, nearly black eyes narrowed at me. “The others didn’t want to wait around hoping to get hold of you. I called in a favor to have them give you this extra day because I think you fit this role splendidly, don’t let me down Dylan.”
“I swear, I won’t. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I won’t forget that.”
