Page 131 of Hold Me Before You Go

I looked toward him, standing in the middle of rubble, holding his gun to his front. I shook my head. “I’m not supposed to be here!”

My friend flinched. “What the hell are you talking about?”

I opened my mouth to try and explain it all, the insanity, but when I did, a gust of wind formed. Suddenly, Mags and the scene around me was blown away like dust. The wind picked up, taking the dirt and sand with it, forcing me to hold my arm over my face, shutting my eyes.

Then, everything stopped, and I opened my eyes, the dust settling to reveal a new scene. I was standing in front of an office building…the one in Charlotte.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” a voice said from beside me.

Twisting my neck, I found a younger-looking Hayes smiling at me as he clapped me on the shoulder. “This is good, Gray. This is exactly what I needed—what we both needed.”

“Where’s the team?” I asked, trying to remember when I was.

Hayes’ arm fell away, and he pointed at my face. “I’m glad you brought that up,” he said, holding out a file to me. “That’s the Navy SEAL I was telling you about. He’s been out for about six months, and he’s looking for work. I think he’d be an excellent asset.”

I took the file from him, opening it and scanning the first page before I asked, “Where’s Carrie?”

Hayes’ brows came together. “Who’s Carrie?”

Grayson! Stay with me, stay with me! I love you! I love you! Please!

There was her sweet voice again, circling me. I looked down at my arms, finding myself in jeans, boots, and a black T-shirt. However, none of that mattered. I was only focused on my tattoos.

A white snake and a red snake.

“So, you might hate this, but I’m going to suggest it anyway,” Hayes said.

I looked up at him, heart pounding. “What?” I asked, but I already knew what he was going to say. This was one of those memories that stuck with you.

He tipped his head towards the red snake. “Red Snake Investigations. What do you think?”

The wind began to pick up, and I didn’t even bother opening my mouth. My friend and the city of Charlotte faded away, and I bent my head, picturing snow-blonde curls, freckles, and bright blue eyes.

The wind stopped, the smell of sea salt in the air.

I looked up, finding myself underneath a dead street lamp. The air was warm and the stars were bright in the sky. I heard a laugh, and my head snapped in that direction.

A man and a woman were walking out of a restaurant. My eyes narrowed on the man, jealously blooming inside me. The woman…Fuck, she took my breath away.

Then again, she always did.

“Thank you for getting dinner with me,” the man said, keeping a respectful distance from her as she unlocked her car.

She beamed at him, and my jaw clenched.

He shouldn’t even be in her fucking presence. He was unworthy of even breathing the same air.

“Carrie,” I called, her name tasting like sugar on my tongue.

She didn’t hear me.

My gut twisted, and I tried again. Neither of them looked at me, continuing their conversation as if—as if I didn’t exist. I stepped out of the shadows, walking into the street.

“Sunshine, look at me,” I ordered.

She tucked a curl behind her hair, saying good night to the man—Leo. My heart stopped beating, a burning pain searing through me. “Carrie, beautiful, look at me,” I said, softer this time once Leo was down the street. I stepped in front of her. “Give me those eyes.”

Nothing.

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