Page 30 of Forever Love-Reimagined

“Good! Because guess what? I looked in the library right after you left, and I have the perfect idea of how you can figure out who your mystery dream girl is.”

I took a sip of my drink but stared at him expectantly.

“Hypnosis.” He leaned back in his stool and waved his hand in a there-you-have-it way like he’d solved all the world’s problems.

I repeatedly blinked, waiting for his actual response, but when he didn’t continue, I said, “Have you lost your ever-loving mind? I’m not getting hypnotized. What would I even ask them to do? Can you help me find this stranger in my dream? I don’t know anything about her except she has tattoos, which don’t ask me what they are because I haven’t seen them in detail, and she has short, messy brown hair. In fact, I’m not even sure she’s a real person, but if you could conjure her up in my mind, that’d be tits and gravy, thanks!”

“Okay, snarky ass. I thought the hypnotist might help open your mind so you could explore the hidden parts. You might have met this person, but your subconscious has blocked it. Under hypnosis, you’re more susceptible to let your inner wall down and discover what is hiding.” He sounded confident about his idea, but I wasn’t buying what he was selling.

“Yeah, that sounds absurd. I’m rational so there has to be a reasonable explanation for what’s happening. I want to figure it out, but I don’t need someone controlling my thoughts and actions to do it.”

“Blake, don’t be so stubborn. How about this? You let me take you to a reputable hypnotherapist and see what happens. If it doesn’t work, you’re only out an hour of your time and probably a couple hundred bucks—not the end of the world. But if it does work, you might find this time-sucking mistress.” He drank the rest of his champagne and pushed his glass away as if signifying that was his finale.

I gulped down my drink and ordered another round. If I was going to agree to this sham, I needed to be plied with lots and lots of booze.

Chapter Sixteen

Leia - Thursday

Iwoke up wondering if I would regret doing something so hasty last night. But as I stared at my fresh tattoo through the Saran Wrap, I was at ease.

I always enjoyed being spontaneous, but I’d never gotten permanent ink on a whim. Every tattoo I’d ever gotten had meant something to me, and when this one popped into my mind, I had to look up the definition because it wasn’t even English. But I had a Field of Dreams moment that if I got this, she would come to me.

The foolishness of that idea wasn’t lost on me, but there were so many unexplainable things happening, so I decided not to question it. Regardless of whether the tattoo would be a beacon for my green-eyed dream queen to find me, I still loved it, and I was glad I did it.

Technically, I didn’t have to go to work today, and I told Haley to take the afternoon off. But sometimes editing was easier on my big-screen monitor than on my laptop. And since the place should be quiet, I might get more work done.

After putting on presentable clothing, I walked to the studio. It was another sunny day, which always gave me an extra serotonin boost. The food trucks were cooking up a cacophony of flavors, but somehow they were appetizing. Maybe it was because I hadn’t eaten yet, and my stomach was tricking my nose. Regardless, after passing several places, I decided to feed the beast that was grumbling so loudly I would have been embarrassed had I not been on a crowded sidewalk in New York.

I wasn’t sure what to get, but something caught my attention, and I had to check it out. A little truck I had never seen before was off to the side. It was painted green, white, and red and called “Into Italy.” As I got closer, the fragrant notes of garlic and fresh bread had my mouth watering.

After perusing the menu, I settled on a Pizza Napoletana because I thought it would hit both savoriness cravings and a baked doughy treat. Now, I wouldn’t have any interruptions when I began my editing. I made my way to Full Exposure, ready to start my day.

When I unlocked the door, I noticed the alarm was disabled, and the place was still a mess. I wasn’t upset that Haley hadn’t come in, but I was almost certain I had set the alarm last night. With everything that had been happening, I might have misremembered.

I flipped on the lights and tossed my pizza toward them before I realized who was coming at me.

“Oh, my god. Leia, what are you doing?” Haley swatted away the box, and my food fell to the floor. The gooey cheese dripped on the tile, and my stomach protested as the smell of basil permeated the air.

“Me? This is the second time you’ve scared the shit out of me when I didn’t expect you to be here. What are you, a ninja?”

She laughed, but it sounded more nervous than humorous.

“By the way. What are you doing here? Obviously, not work.” I cocked a brow as I scanned the place, trying to figure out what she was up to.

“I was about to start working, but I arrived right before you. Then you came in, startling me. Why don’t you get set up in your office, and I’ll bring you a cup of tea before I clean up?” She was more fidgety than a squirrel on a caffeine high.

I walked toward her and looked over her shoulder as she grabbed me by the elbow, presumably steering me away from something she didn’t want me to see.

“Whatcha hiding?”

“What do you mean?”

I gave her a look, and she crumbled.

“I’m sorry.” She broke down, but I was confused.

“Sorry?” Finally, I sidestepped her and saw props on a messy bed.

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