Page 41 of Forgettable in Every Way

Simon chuckled, knowing he probably shouldn’t have mentioned the sting just yet.

“Are you both going?” the pro asked. “We don’t allow single players.”

Jules let out a long, heavy breath.

But Simon detected the corners of her mouth ticked up just a tad.

“Yes, we’re both going,” Jules acquiesced.

“Excellent,” the pro responded.

Simon agreed. “Brilliant.”

The pro gave them the spiel about the course and where to get the golf cart along, with a course map. When he set the golf cart keys on the counter, Jules swiped them. “I’m driving.”

“You are certainly in the driver’s seat, love.” He wanted Jules to know he wasn’t going to force anything on her. She had to choose this, just like he should have chosen her years ago. Although, he wasn’t sure he would have appreciated her the way he would now. He’d obviously had some growing up to do.

“Are you upset that I’m here?” Simon asked as they walked down the winding, paved trail to where the golf carts were located. The scent of freshly cut grass and egos filled the air. While he loved to golf, he found it was mostly a lot of men in pissing contests to see who had more of the things in life that didn’t really matter. He was sure this course would be no different. Except today, for him, he would focus on one of the people who mattered most to him.

“No. Just confused.”

He ran a finger down her silky arm. He enjoyed watching the trail of goose bumps it left in its wake. “I’m hoping to clear up any confusion you have.”

“Which is only more confusing.”

“I can understand that, but I’m in earnest.”

She paused and looked him squarely in the eye. “What’s changed?”

That was a simple answer. “Me, love. I’ve changed.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but only a few squeaks escaped before she turned and walked away.

He kept pace with her. “My answer does not satisfy you.”

“I watched you forget about me.” The raw honesty and agony in her voice killed Simon.

“I know, and I feel like the world’s biggest bastard for that. I guess I’m just hoping to give you a front-row seat to me remembering every amazing thing about you while I discover everything I missed. Is that too presumptuous?”

She flashed him a hint of a smile. “It’s pretty presumptuous.”

“As you know, I can be arrogant. But ... I have been known to learn from my mistakes. So, can we spend the afternoon together, catching up while I soundly beat you on the course?” He gave her a crooked grin.

She stood as tall as possible, shifting the golf bag on her back. “I’ll have you know, I was on the golf team, and I know this course like the back of my hand.”

“Excellent. I love a good contest.”

“Get ready to lose,” she quipped.

Simon stepped closer to her, breathing in her intoxicating scent, before grabbing her shirt and tugging her toward him. He ached to kiss her slightly parted lips but knew he would have to wait to taste them until she believed in him. “I don’t plan on losing you again.”

Jules swallowed hard, but she wasn’t convinced. “That’s yet to be seen.”

“I look forward to proving it to you.” He regrettably let go of her and stepped back a pace.

She turned and, in a daze, walked toward the row of golf carts just waiting to be used.

In silence, they placed their clubs in the back of the cart and settled in, ready to hit the course. Jules deftly drove them along the paved cart path. The pro assigned them to start at hole eighteen. So they had a bit of a drive through rolling fairways and neatly manicured grass. Large pine trees and boulders dotted the course, reflecting the mountain town. A pleasant breeze kept them comfortable in the warm air.

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