Page 115 of Mistaken Intention

“So, you’re not just my nurse?” He frowns, shaking his head slowly from side to side.

I can’t begin to tell him how much that hurts. Since when was I just his nurse? Since now, I guess. If I needed a hint thatwe’re over, I just got it, and for a second or two, I can’t answer. I refuse to cry in front of him, but it’s a struggle to swallow down my tears and croak out the word, “No.”

“And we met at a party?”

“Yes. It was at an apartment in Boston.”

“I don’t remember it.”

I nod my head. “You walked in the door and I took one look at you and fell in love.”Because, whatever you might think, I’ve never been just your nurse.“I didn’t realize straight away that you were with Lexi – not romantically – and we spent the evening together, just talking. Then she came over and made it clear the two of you were together, and I—I thought that was the end of it… that nothing could ever happen between us.”

He holds up his right hand. “Hold on…” A frown settles on his face. “Is that what you meant when you said you’d always loved me, the first time we had sex?” I flinch at his words. It’s interesting that he’s saying we had sex now. We didn’t make love. And although he spots my reaction, his frown deepening, he doesn’t say anything else and just stares at me, waiting for an answer.

“Y—Yes.”

“So, rather than proving that love by telling me the truth, you perpetuated the lie?”

“It’s not a lie.”

“This whole thing is a fucking lie, Josie,” he yells, and I swallow down my tears.

“No, it’s not. I—I love you.”

“You love her, too,” Hunter says, stepping forward. “And in case you’re having any doubts about it, you always did.”

Drew turns to him. “How would you know?”

“Because you told me.” Hunter takes a deep breath, stepping closer to Drew, trying to calm both him and the situation, I think. “When you asked me about your past theother day, I told you that love wasn’t something you did very often. I wasn’t exaggerating. As far as I’m aware, it was something you’d only done once before, with the woman I knew as Lexi’s sister.” He turns his head, looking at me, and smiles, just slightly. “I didn’t know her name. You never told me,” he says, clearly still talking to Drew. “But I remember when I was asking Josie if Lexi’s sister had been notified about the accident. She told me she had, and I said I hoped you’d remember her when you got your memory back.” He looks back at Drew again. “I had a reason for saying that.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. I knew how much you loved her… Lexi’s sister, that is. You’d told us…”

“Us?” Drew interrupts. “Who’s us?”

Hunter sighs and glances at me, shrugging his shoulders. “We’ve come this far. We might as well tell him everything.” Drew frowns and tilts his head.

“What now?” he says.

“Us is me and Ella.”

“And who is Ella?” Drew asks.

“She’s our sister… yours and mine. She lives here, in an apartment in the main property.”

Drew turns away, looking up at the house, like he’s hoping it’ll spark a memory. I’m not sure if it does, but after a few seconds, he looks back at us. “Is she the woman with the short, dark hair and the baby?”

“Yes.” Hunter nods his head. “That’s Henry.”

“Jesus Christ… how many more secrets?” Drew pushes his fingers back through his hair, glaring at me.

“They’re not secrets.” Hunter says. “We were told not to tell you anything for your own good.”

Drew turns to his brother. “Really? It doesn’t feel like this is doing me much good right now. I’ve got a daughter, and a sister,and a nephew I didn’t know about. I can’t even remember my daughter’s mom, and it seems like this isn’t love at first sight for me and Josie, but love at second sight… if there is such a thing.”

Hunter moves a little closer to Drew. “I get that you’re confused and angry, but don’t blame Josie.”

Drew narrows his eyes and my skin prickles against the distant icy memories of a life without him.

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