Page 27 of Forgettable in Every Way

“Think about what I said,” she implored. “Remember who you are, and then you show yourself and the world that woman. That woman is unforgettable in my book.”

I wasn’t sure about that, considering my person couldn’t even remember me. But I hadn’t even remembered myself, so how could I blame him for forgetting me? I glanced at my dad. My parents didn’t even know me. Maybe that was my fault. I let people push me to the background until I blended in so well, no one could see me. I was tired of living my life like that. Not that I needed popularity or to even roar. I just wanted to be seen and heard and go on adventures like this Princess Jewel character, with or without a daft prince. Who knew, maybe if I remembered myself, a daft prince would come along, or maybe even Prince Charming. Perhaps then I could move on from Simon.

Except, what if Simon was one of the keys to it all?

Could I remember myself and forget him?

Simon

SIMON PACED AROUND HIS ROOM that night after putting Jack to bed. A cool breeze drifted in from the open window. The sounds of the lake rippling against the shore trickled in. Normally, that sound calmed him. Yet he was more than agitated. The photo album on his neatly made bed called to him, much like the woman who had given it to him. Jules had him not knowing which way was up or down. All he knew was he wanted to go to her and see if she was all right.

When he’d left her, she was in a right state as the paramedics had lifted her father into the ambulance. She didn’t wail or lose her cool like Penelope would have. No, she stood as if she bore the weight of the world, shaking uncontrollably. Simon wanted to wrap her up in his arms, but other than a few brief moments while she was on the phone with emergency responders, she refused to be comforted by him.

The woman was driving him mad. The sane thing would be just to walk away from her. She’d bloody well told him to sod off. But the thought of never seeing her again felt so wrong.

He stared again at the photo album, wishing for the Jules on the pages to appear. The one who looked at him as if he’d hung the moon and the stars. Then the thought occurred to him that it made him a prick. What had he done to deserve the woman in the photos? Except let her disappear?

Simon threw himself on the bed with such force it squeaked. He ran a hand through his hair, wondering what he should do. He thought of all the times Jules had helped him. Sometimes dropping whatever she was doing just to bring him soup when he was ill. Or taking a cab across town to run through lines with him, even if it was late at night. Meanwhile, he’d failed to make it to her graduation because he had an audition at the same time. Her parents hadn’t even shown up, so she’d graduated alone because he was a selfish git. But she’d never once complained.

“Damn it,” Simon swore out loud. He didn’t know how to fix it. If only he had her number so he could check on her. Although he wasn’t sure she’d want him to. One moment she was singing with him, and the next she was asking him to leave.

Simon lay back on the simple white quilt across his bed and exhaled loudly. He thought about what Jules would do in this situation. It was a simple answer—she would find a way to help. Unfortunately, that would require Simon asking his ex-wife for aid. He hated the thought of calling Penelope, but even more, he abhorred the thought of Jules being alone, with no one to comfort her. Her mother certainly didn’t seem up to the task.

With a sense of dread, he sat up and reached for his mobile phone on the nightstand near his bed. He hesitated for only a moment before he rang Penelope.

Penelope was quick to answer. “Hello, darling,” she purred.

Simon cleared his throat, not in the mood for her games. And he knew that’s exactly what this was to her. He was something she couldn’t have, and Penelope was used to getting what she wanted. Thankfully, he was smart enough to see through her now. “Are you busy?” he asked, irritated.

“Not for you.”

“Good. I need you to nip over here and watch Jack for a bit.”

She paused.

“You said you weren’t busy,” Simon reminded her, regretting he knew no one else besides her in this town that he would trust to watch Jack, save Jules. He barely trusted Penelope.

“Why do you need me to watch him?” she pouted.

“What does that matter?” He hoped to keep Jules’s name out of it for now. He knew Penelope wouldn’t react well.

“Do you have a date?”

If only, he thought. “No. I told you if I was dating anyone seriously, I would let you know, just as I expect you to do for me. I just need you to watch our son for a while. He’s already sleeping.” The poor chap was just as worried about Jules as he was. Jack had begged him to help Princess Jewel so they could go on adventures together. He was sure she was cursed and they needed to save her.

“Does it have anything to do with Jules?” Penelope had the audacity to ask. “I heard you had lunch with her yesterday.”

Damn small towns, Simon silently lamented. “What of it? We’re mates.”

She laughed a sardonic laugh. “You know, she always thought of you as more.”

“What makes you think that?” Simon was curious to know, especially since he’d missed the memo.

“Please, it was so obvious. I saw the photo album she made for you.”

Simon swallowed hard, feeling unsettled Penelope knew of the album. “That was a private gift.”

“Don’t get all wound up. I saw it before she ever gave it to you. We shared an apartment,” she reminded him.

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