Page 4 of Lost Love Found

“You smell like a forest and a little like soap,” she continues. “Gary smells like peppermint. And you’re tall. Like really tall. Gary is short. Why am I still talking and grabbing a stranger’s arms in my best friend’s kitchen?” She lets go abruptly. “I’m sorry, it’s just that I can’t see right now and I’m a bit of a babbler when I’m nervous. Uh. Anyway, thanks for catching me, umm… who are you?”

I smile to myself at her rambling, silently wishing she would keep going. Her smile is gone and her lips are parted, her breathing is a little heavy and god, I’ve never wanted to kiss a stranger more in my whole life.

Wait. What? No. I don’t do that. That’s weird, man.

I let her arms go gently. I miss her touch the moment our contact is broken.

But why?

Before I can answer my own question, she takes a step back and I come back to the moment, clearing my throat. “I’m Adam. I arrived a little early and Charlie let me in. My friend gave me the wrong time, so here I am very early for a party I didn’t really want to come to. I’m sorry if I startled you.”

Now, I’m the rambling one. What the fuck is happening?

She still seems a bit stunned and begins to respond, but no sound comes out of her mouth. A small frown forms on her face and she seems a little paler than before.

“Uh, I think I need to sit down.” Her voice is quiet and a little grainy. “I just had eye surgery and I can’t really see. Also, even with these ridiculous glasses on, it feels a little too bright in here. Do you think you could lead me to the living room, Adam? Please? It’s just over there.” She points to the left at an open door to a darkened room. Her sweet voice saying my name and please playing over in my head. I want to understand what this feeling in my chest is, why the vulnerability in her voice is doing strange things to my insides. Instead, I push away my thoughts and move to help her.

I take her by the right elbow and guide her toward the living room. I want to just pick her up and take her, but that would be beyond weird and inappropriate, so I just nudge her along, making sure she doesn’t get too close to any walls or bump into anything. When we get inside the room, I don’t turn the lights on, remembering they were bothering her in the kitchen. I keep guiding her toward the couch in the middle of the room. “You’ll feel the couch next to your knee now. You can sit down right here.”

She sits, slowly and whispers, “Thank you, Adam.” And damn, I feel a tight knot tugging at my chest, hearing her saying my name like that. I want to hear it again. In an effort to snap myself out of this… whatever this is, I let go of her arm.

“I’ll be right back, OK?”

She nods and sinks into the couch. I rush back into the kitchen and grab the unopened bottle of water off of the island and a bowl of strawberries someone left by the sink and get back to the living room.

As I enter the room, I see her sunglasses lying on the coffee table and her head has fallen back against the cushions of the couch. Her eyes are closed, and her face is relaxed.

“Hey, I brought you a snack and some water.” I set the water and strawberries down on the coffee table. “Are you OK? I didn’t even get your na–”

Huh. She’s asleep. Gingerly, I step closer, my heart thudding against my chest. The beautiful stranger is fast asleep, and her neck is bent at an awkward angle, her long lashes fluttering in slumber. I try nudging her shoulder gently to wake her, but she only stirs slightly, so I move the pillows and carefully ease her back so she can rest more comfortably. She looks so peaceful, her breaths slow and deep.

There’s a blanket draped on the back of the couch, so I put that on her and brush the hair off her face. She doesn’t stir, completely still and silent apart from the soft puff of breath from her slightly parted lips. I stare for a moment too long, considering this is a complete stranger.

Get a grip, dude.

I leave before I creep myself out any further. Walking back into the kitchen, I hear a familiar voice.

“Ah, River. Have you seen a tall, auburn-haired girl in jeans and a black tank top? She’s wearing very large sunnies inside, so she’s hard to miss. She can’t see very well at the moment and I’ve somehow lost her!” Charlie is pacing around the kitchen, looking frazzled.

“Uh yeah, actually. She’s asleep in the next room. Is she OK?”

I don’t know why I’m asking. I do not know this girl and it’s none of my business.

“She just had surgery and her eyes are a bit sensitive. She’s probably a little loopy from the medication as well. It’s all very typical for someone who’s undergone this procedure.” She straightens and looks at me, not quite in the eyes. “Thanks for helping her out, River. She’s like a sister to Maeve and I so she’s staying here the night, though I doubt she’ll be partying out there.” I see a look of concern across Charlie’s face, but it’s interrupted by the sound of someone else coming into the kitchen.

“Char, please tell me you’ve found Bonnie.” Maeve bursts through the door, her eyes nearly popping out of her head. “River! Hi! You came!” Her voice gets louder with each word, and I can tell she’s surprised to see me. Probably because I’m the first person to show up to her party and I’m in her kitchen, where I have no business being.

“Hi, Maeve.” I reach out to shake her hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Thanks for letting me tag along with Raf tonight.”

“Lainey is asleep in the living room, Mae. Don’t worry.” Charlie’s exasperation is balanced with the warm, kind look in her eyes that reminds me so much of my sister, Gwen. Growing up, she always seemed to know when things were beyond my control and had a way of communicating that helped me feel like I wasn’t so alone. Her comforting presence was a reminder that I had the privilege of having a supportive older sister who could help me through anything.

“Oh, thank goodness.” Maeve takes my hand and gives me a small smile. “Thank you. And sorry about my entrance. Lainey is my beautiful best friend who promised herself she’d finally have her eye surgery this year, so of course, she made it happen on December 31st.” She’s out of breath when she finishes talking, but despite her agitation, there’s a gentle tone in her voice that tells me she cares deeply for this Bonnie.

… or is it Lainey?

“I’m going to check on her quickly. I see you’ve met my twin sister, Charlie. Please make yourself at home! Raffy should be here any second.” She smiles again and walks towards the door where I know a beautiful, mysterious woman sleeps, and I feel a little envious that Maeve gets to go see her and I don’t. My mind goes back to her singing, hips swaying to the music. I’ve never been so hypnotized by someone like that.

Charlie breaks my sleeping beauty daydream by clearing her throat. “Shall we head outside? Rafael has arrived. I can hear his ridiculous laugh.” She frowns, like she’s annoyed by the sound even from here.

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