Page 45 of Remember Me

“Lost Girlfriend! Guys, Lost Girlfriend is here!”

A shout went up and I found myself pulled forward, away from Remi. As I was drawn in one direction, the crowd parted and knitted itself back together. Eventually I found myself sitting on a hastily cleared square of kitchen counter, while a guy I didn’t know searched for a bottle of water. He had light brown hair, burnished gold by the sun.

“You sure you don’t want beer? We have plenty of beer.”

“No, I’m fine, thanks.”

There was an awkward silence. “So, uh…I’m Jack. What’s your name? I only know you as Lost Girlfriend.”

I snorted. “I’m definitely not that. I’m Birdie.”

“Birdie? Your name’s cool as shit. What —”

“Whatcha up to, Jack?” The voice sounded from the door and I didn’t need to look to know it was what’s-his-face. My stomach gave him away, erupting with the flutter of awareness. Lost Boyfriend. I chanced a glance over at him and saw a jaw clenched tight as he watched his friend, despite the casual question.

“Oh, just keeping her company ‘til you got here.” Jack winked at me. “See you around, beautiful.” I tipped my chin at him in acknowledgment and watched as he left the room.

The man in the door prowled closer. “Hey, there, Mini. Glad you could come.”

“Yeah, well, I did it for my roommate, not you. So don’t get any ideas.”

“Would you like a drink?”

“I wouldn’t mind a water. It’s hot as balls in here.”

He raised an eyebrow — a single damned eyebrow — and pulled a key out of his pocket, unlocking the padlock on the refrigerator. I’d always been jealous of that eyebrow thing. He pulled a water from its depths and handed it to me, then grabbed one for himself. “How do you know how hot balls get?”

“Just an expression.”

“Hmm. Want to go outside?” He gestured to a door opposite me and I nodded gratefully, setting the water down so I could hop off the counter. His hands quickly settled on my waist to help me, and I stilled at the soft flutter that took up residence in my belly.

“Uh...thanks.” My voice was slightly breathless and I firmed it. “Not that I needed help.”

“Of course not. After you,” he responded, sweeping his hand in front of him gallantly.

The door led to a backyard area, fenced in and devoid of other people, save for a couple going at it just outside the door. There was a fire pit burning in the far corner, and he led me in that direction.

“This is nice,” I told him, sinking down into one of the Adirondack chairs beside the pit. “I can’t believe no one else is out here.”

“It’s off limits except for us. Most people know not to come out here or they won’t be welcome back.”

“Oh.” At a loss, I sipped my water and leaned back, watching the play of light on his features.

He was a good looking guy; there was no doubt. Dark, close cropped hair that looked like it wanted to curl as it grew. High, strong cheekbones and full, sensuous lips.

I liked looking at him.

But he was cocky, and I didn’t do cocky.

He studied me as closely and as silently as I did him, his eyes moving curiously from one feature to the next.

“So. Lost Girlfriend?”

He took a pull on his beer. “Seemed like the thing to do at the time.”

The fire flickered, its low pops and crackles a restful counterpoint to the din inside the house. I held my water bottle up to my lips and mumbled around its top. “I think I shouldn’t have...I don’t think...” I stop and start, steeling myself. “I’m fucking sorry I poured water on you.”

He laughed, loud and hearty in the quiet back yard. “Don’t like to apologize?”

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