Page 23 of Promise Me

“I’ll open the kitchen early and make you a burger. Eat and then get back to your family. Let me know when you’re home, and I’ll have someone drop off some dinner.”

His head drops. “One thing off my plate for the day. I appreciate it.”

“I wish I could do more.”

I place his food order and let my team in the back know I’ll be sending food out later. When I step back into the bar, Betty is unlocking the door, and a few people are walking in. They don't look familiar, so my guess is they are tourists.

I smile and welcome them inside.

Then I sit next to Linc again and glance at his phone screen. He’s reading more about his sister’s condition.

“Fuck,” he groans. “There is so much online about this. I want to help her, but this stuff—I’m so in over my head. Maybe it’s better if I don’t do anything unless she asks.”

“Being there is enough” is all I say.

He takes a screenshot, scrolls a little more, and takes another.

I watch him for a moment as a new thought crosses my mind. I’ve spent so much time obsessing over what I lost and how it was going to change me. I was mad that no one understood what I was going through.

But how many of my friends or family had this same reaction?Maybe it’s better if I don’t do anything until he asks.

I never asked.

How many of them spent time like Linc right now, trying to find ways to help but didn’t know how to make it work?

The door to Main Street opens again, and like clockwork, Luca and Miles saunter in. They both grin when they see me, but they don’t waste time rushing to Linc and making sure he’s okay and asking if he, his dad, or Sadie need anything.

That’s when it hits me. My people were there. I was just too selfish to see it.

I don’t know how I’m going to help her yet, but if Sadie’s brain works anything like mine, I’m going to make sure she doesn’t make the same mistakes I did.

CHAPTER SEVEN

SADIE

I know I lost my memory, but I’m about to lose my mind.

“Here is your charger, too. Make sure your phone is always plugged in. Call or text us with whatever you need, but only use it to reach us. Keep it face down and don’t use it otherwise.” Linc turns to my father, who is smiling but on the verge of tears as he keeps his focus on me. “Dad, do you think we should buy her a bell instead?”

“A bell?”

He cannot be serious right now. I slap my hand down on my bed and glare at my brother.

I’m home, but it feels a lot like what I imagine jail could be like.

“Yes, a bell,” Linc says calmly. I can see in the way his jaw twitches that he wanted to be a little firmer with his comment. “You aren’t supposed to use electronics for a few days, and you know it.”

I resist another eye roll.

“I have a feeling that using a phone for a ten-second call or text won’t be that big of a deal.”

Linc shakes his head. “I’ll go get a bell this afternoon. I have three showings today in the Lovers Hopefuls, so it won’t be till later.”

Lover Hopefuls is just outside of Lovers and a little past the lodge. Technically, it’s still just Lovers, but the vacationers live in that area. The ones who only stay for the summer months. The houses are larger than the standard size, and most of the families who own them live full-time in the big cities. Some are even filled with rich boys who think a summer fling should just pick up right where it left off the year before, despite the broken heart they leave you with.

I choose to curl up on my side and not reply. Linc says, “I’m going to reschedule. You should not be left alone.”

“I’m here,” my dad says quietly.

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