Page 68 of Remember Me

SHE REMEMBERED.It was obvious from the pallor of her skin, her hand clenched white-knuckled into a fist. What was she —

Her ring.

Birdie opened her hand to reveal the ring she must have located. “I found it,” she said. Right where it rolled when I threw it at you a month ago.”

I flinched, then carefully closed the door behind me. She was going to listen to me, damnit. “I take it you remember.”

Her jaw clenched, and she set the ring on the corner of the desk. “I realize it would be eminently more convenient for you if I didn’t,” she answered.“You lied to me, Hayes.”

“Convenient? That’s not the word I’d choose. Easier, maybe. This wasn’t something I ever wanted you to remember.”

She gave a cynical huff and looked away. “I’ll call Remi and get out of your hair by this afternoon.”

“What? Birdie, no —”

“I cannot do this, Hayes. I will not be the oblivious wife or the girl you had to marry because you got her knocked up.”

I raked my hands into my hair and pulled. Hard. “You are not either of those! Damnit, Birdie. You wouldn’t let me explain things last time and it nearly got you and the baby killed. You need to fucking listen.”

“It’s not going to change anything.” Her chin jutted forward at a stubborn angle.

“Sit.” I gestured to the chair beside the desk, the one I used for student conferences. “Please.”

She sat, crossing her arms over her chest.

I took a minute to gather myself before beginning, during which time she looked at the ceiling above me or the door behind me or the floor in front of me. Anywhere but me. “What you walked in on was not what you thought it was.” I watched for a reaction, but she merely raised her brows in patent disbelief. I continued. “That girl...Serena Hansen. She’s the assistant dean’s daughter. I don’t think she’s ever been told ‘no’ to anything in her life. But I’ve been telling her ‘no’ for the past year and a half, Birdie. She’s been chasing me for all that time, showing up at practices, waiting in the parking lot, sending me fucking texts. Stalking my office. I’ve told her I’m not interested but I think I’ve become this challenge to her.” I was pacing now, several strides in one direction and then back, faster as my agitation grew. “I blocked her on all of my social media and the next day she showed up in my class. And was assigned to be my TA.” I stopped in front of Birdie. She’d released her arms.

“If all of that is true, she’s harassing you, Hayes. She shouldn’t be your TA, shouldn’t have that proximity to you. You need a restraining order.”

“But don’t you see? I can’t report her. It’ll cost me my job.”

She shook her head. “I don’t buy that. If her father would fire you because of her behavior, then you need to go above him.”

“I can handle her for the remainder of the time she’s here,” I said. “She’s a senior. She’ll be gone soon enough, and I’d rather not make waves. That’s just not how you get tenure. I just need you to believe in me. Believe in us.”

She had been leaning forward, as if the physical movement would help me see her side of things. Now she sat back in frustration, firming her lips. “I don’t know, Hayes.”

At that moment there was a knock on the door, and it opened without waiting on a response. Birdie’s expression tightened and I turned to see Serena hovering, innocence in the purse of her lips. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know anyone was in here. Are you in a meeting?” she asked. “I could take minutes if you need me.”

Birdie snorted and I just stared at her. She was delusional. “Serena, this is my fiancée. You met her just a few days ago.”

“Oh. Right… my fault.” She stood, unblinking, in the doorway.

“We’re not in a meeting, Serena. I don’t need your help.”

“It’s just that these are my TA hours. I need to stay busy, per the terms of the TA agreement.”

“Go sit at the front desk and be helpful to anyone who comes in the building.” My voice was curt, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. This girl… she was fucking up everything I cared about. She still hadn’t moved. “Go!” I yelled. Serena jumped and fled.

When she was gone, I scrubbed my hands down my face. “I don’t know what to tell you, Birdie. She’s an issue. I get that. I’m just not sure how to solve that problem just yet.”

Birdie stood and picked up her purse, hanging it over her shoulder. She took a deep breath, released it. “All I know is that I can’t deal with this day in and day out.” Her eyes, when she looked up at me, were wet pools of blue and I felt my heart constrict painfully. “I don’t even know why I feel so strongly about it, but I do, and I can’t ignore it. I believe you, Hayes, when you say nothing happened in November. I do.” She looked down at the ring, covered it lightly with her hand, and then walked to the door. “But I don’t trust her, and I don’t want her here.”

I closed my eyes in a single long blink, listening as the door behind me opened and then shut. When I opened them, the office was empty. Hollow, save for the glitter of a diamond on a desk.

The house was dark save for the Christmas tree lights, and silent when I got home. I called for her anyway and walked from room to room, looking for her.

When I found the keys to her car on the coffee table, I sank down on the couch. The Christmas tree lights blinked a steady rebuke and after a minute I turned them off, unable to look at them.

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