Page 54 of Remember Me

“What’s going on with you guys?”

“Nothing,” Levi answered.

“He’s a cretin,” Remi hissed.

“You love my cretinous tendencies; don’t deny it.”

“Okayyy. So, you two know each other from the baseball party?” I remember Remi dragging me away, in a huff over some guy… “Ohhh. I remember now.”

“He plays baseball,” Remi spat. “Hayes was his pitcher last year and is his coach now.”

I pinned Levi with a look. “Is that so?”

“Now, Birdie.” He held up his hands, as if to sayit’s not what you think.Then he said, “It’s not what you think.”

“Isn’t it?” Hurt and anger poured through me in equal measure. “Are you going to try to tell me you had no idea who I was when I walked into that café?”

He squirmed, while Remi leaned into the window behind her and crossed her arms over her chest. “Yeah, Levi. Is that what you’re trying to say?”

Levi lifted a finger to scratch behind his ear. “I knew who you were. Your mother called Hayes to tell him you were insisting on going to the café and campus. He was worried about you. He knew I was always there in the morning, so he called and asked me to keep an eye on you. Make sure you didn’t get lost or confused.” His expression was open and earnest. “I should have just watched from a distance, but you looked like you needed a friend.”

“So, you were my babysitter.” I straightened my silverware on my plate. “I feel so stupid.”

“You’re a douche, Levi.” Remi pushed at his bulk. “Let me up.”

“I was just trying to help,” he protested.

“I thought you were my friend. I needed you to be a friend.” I rose from the bench and tossed a twenty on the table. “I appreciate the sentiment and I’m sure I will eventually forgive you. But right now, I’m pissed.” I looked at Remi. “And now I’m going Christmas shopping.”

I walked away.

The elf had shifted location when I arrive home later, the handles of several plastic shopping bags cutting into the flesh of my hands. I had found several treasures, including a coffee table reference on the meaning of flowers for Maggie and a mug that read ‘I’m feeling a tad stabby today.’ I’d struggled with what to get for Hayes, but eventually found a cool set of patent prints for baseball paraphernalia that he could put in his office, along with a wall clock that had equations instead of numerals.

All in all, I was pretty satisfied with my findings.

I toed my shoes off and placed them in the closet, pushing my bags into the far corner where I hoped they would go unnoticed. I wondered where the elf would appear next. I was starting to look forward to finding it in unexpected places, waiting for me.

“Big?” I left the bedroom and glanced into the kitchen. His truck was here.

“Up here.” His voice was muffled, muted by walls and a floor between us. Climbing the stairs, I called again and listened for his response. It came from the back bedroom on the right, the one I’d been thinking about using for the nursery.

“What are you — oh.” Hand to my mouth, I stared in wonder at the changes that had been wrought in just the few hours since I’d left the house.

It had been cleaned and smelled of lemon furniture polish. An antique iron crib was against the far wall, which had been painted a soft gray. There was a cozy, shaggy rug underfoot. There were no linens or decorations, but it had been furnished simply with a low dresser, an armoire, and a rocking chair.

Hayes had been sitting in the rocking chair but rose. “I thought you might want to decorate it yourself, so it’s pretty bare bones,” he began.

“It’s b-beautiful,” I whispered, emotion bringing the stutter back that had plagued me off and on since the accident. Tears began streaking down my face. “I love it so much.”

I launched myself at him, hiccupping when his arms came around me automatically. “H-how did you d-do all of this?”

He moved back to the rocking chair and lowered us both down to sit, with me positioned comfortably in his lap. “I have my ways,” he answered, and I shoved at his chest.

“Tell me.”

“I had some guys from the team help me move stuff in and get it set up. We painted a week ago.” He paused, his fingers tightening on my thigh. “I heard you saw Levi this morning.”

“I did. You shouldn’t have done that, Hayes.”

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