Page 73 of Remember Me

And Hayes. Without even realizing he was doing it, he had chosen his career. At least…he had until he apprehended what that meant, how I would perceive it.

I felt him drop to his knees in front of me. Never releasing my hand, he took hold of my hips with both of his and dropped his head to my lap. “I’m so fucking sorry, baby. I had to get you here. I had to show you that I choose you, today and everyday hereafter. I’ll always choose you. Please —”

I grabbed his face and lifted it to mine. “It’s okay.” I kissed him, quick and sure. “You didn’t know. I didn’t even fully comprehend that’s what I was upset about until later. You couldn’t have known. The fact that you got there without me telling you…” My hands slid down his neck, to his shoulders, and back again. “That’s all I ever needed.”

Our lips clung for several blissful moments before he pulled back. “Wait. I brought you here for a reason.” He stood and walked to a consul table against the far wall, picking up a folder from its surface. “This is a documented, detailed accounting of every time Serena Hansen made unwanted advances toward me. I even included a few notes she left in my office. I spoke to Assistant Dean Hansen personally a few days ago and requested that she be removed effective immediately as my TA, but he asked me to bring in physical copies of my request. I wanted to show this to you before I slipped it into his mail slot.”

I looked at the folder he placed in my hands and brushed my palm over its surface. “She showed up at the shop a couple of days ago,” I told him. His face darkened. “No — it’s okay. She was angry. Accused me of getting her fired. I wondered. I kept expecting you to call.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, expression sheepish. “I was trying to give you space. Time to think.”

I nodded, then handed the file to him. “And then you decided the best thing to do would be to hang up Lost Fiancé posters and have perfect strangers blow my phone up.”

He bent, placed another lingering kiss on my lips before straightening. “I was lost, Birdie. I needed you to find me.”

“I love you, Big. Even if I never get my memory back, I’ll never forget that I love you.”

He exhaled and slid the folder into Hansen’s mail slot before turning back to me. He took both hands in his and pulled me to my feet. “I don’t deserve you.” Pulling me close, he rocked me back and forth, his arms around my waist. “And I really, really want to get you naked.”

I gave a mock gasp and laughed. “What’s stopping you?”

His eyes roamed the room. “I just wouldn’t be surprised if there were cameras.” His face grew serious. “Will you wear my ring again, Birdie? Will you marry me?”

A searching glance. A shaky smile. A nod.

Hayes moved the hands locked around my waist to my hold my left hand, and I discovered the ring held securely in one fist. He slid it on to my ring finger, then raised it to press against his lips. “I love you, Smalls.”

After another lengthy kiss, we entered the elevator. We were still smiling foolishly at one another when we emerged onto the first floor and found Remi waiting. She grinned when she saw us.

“Does this mean all is well?”

Hayes pulled her in to a tight bear hug that had her squealing. “This means you better get ready to catch a bouquet.”

“Hard pass on that, but you know I’m down for my maid of honor duties.”

I wrapped one arm around her waist and the other around Hayes as we walked out of the building and down the steps to the parking area. “Sometimes you don’t get to choose, babe. Sometimes, you’re the chosen.”

“I Remember It,

Precisely And Perfectly,

The Birth Of This Love.”

Tyler Knott Gregson

June 24¦Hayes

WE WERE ASLEEP WHENBIRDIE’S WATER BROKE.She sat up in bed and was completely still long enough for me to rouse and grow concerned.

“You all right?”

“I…I think I just peed myself.”

I sat up, fast. “What?”

She started climbing out of the bed, groaning. “Please don’t make me say it again. Damnit, I can’t turn it off...” She paused a step or two away from the bed, holding the base of her belly with both hands. “It’s my water! My water broke!”

“Oh, fuck! Hang on, Smalls. Let’s...shit! What do I do?”

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