Page 58 of Amnesia

4) Small town life appealed to me. (Or maybe that was just Eddie.)

The people in town were curious about me. I felt their eyes everywhere I went. It wasn’t necessarily uncomfortable, though, because there wasn’t anything malicious in the way they stared.

Who wouldn’t be curious about a girl whose mind was completely wiped clean? EvenIwas curious about me.

The bakery was across the street from the salon where I got my hair cut. I held Eddie’s hand when we dashed across the road, the hem of my dress fluttering out behind me. I felt freer today, lighter. Maybe it was because I cut off most of my hair, or maybe it was the dress. I wasn’t really sure, I just knew I was enjoying the feeling.

It almost felt like happiness, something that almost seemed bizarre, as if my own body wasn’t used to being happy or free. I embraced the sensation instead of marveling at why it was unnatural to me.

Joline and Jeremy were in the bakery, along with a couple other people who lived in town. Eddie introduced me to everyone I’d yet to meet while Jeremy made me a large hot chocolate, piling on so much whipped cream there was no room for a lid.

Laughing, Eddie and I sat at one of the two tables by the front windows. “I think he gave you more whipped cream than actual hot chocolate,” Eddie cracked.

I leaned forward and licked off the top, making a sound of appreciation. “Jeremy sure knows how to treat a girl,” I called out, and Joline laughed.

“Take him home with you, then. All the laundry he generates will change your mind quick!”

I giggled and licked at more of the topping. Feeling Eddie’s eyes, I looked up. One hand was wrapped around the paper coffee cup (his actually had a lid), and his body was gravitating over the tabletop, his sapphire eyes intent on me.

“What?” I said, my stomach feeling a little funny. He had a way of looking at a girl. A way no one else seemed to have.

“You have whipped cream on your nose,” he mused, reaching out to wipe it away.

“Thanks,” I whispered, still caught by his stare.

“Fresh, hot donuts,” Joline said, sliding a large glass plate on the table between us. “On the house.”

“Thanks, Jo,” Eddie said, not breaking the eye contact we had going on.

Her light laughter faded as she went back around the counter. We were blissfully alone for the first time since we’d met on the street. Jo and Jeremy were in the back, and the other customers had left.

When he didn’t say anything, continuing to eat up my face with his eyes, I cleared my throat and lifted the drink. “I’m excited to see your store.”

His mouth curved up on one side. “It’s not really mine. My dad owns it.”

“A family business?” I asked.

He nodded, withdrawing into his seat and running a hand through his loopy, unruly curls. “I’ll take over it completely someday.”

“Really? Do you know when?”

He sat forward again. Eddie’s intensity was something that caught me off guard sometimes. “When I can focus better.”

A few people walked by the large front window, stared in, and then their lips began moving.

“You weren’t kidding when you said everyone would be watching us.”

He shrugged. “Who cares?” His attention went to the donuts. “Mm, chocolate.” He picked up the frosted pastry and took a huge bite. When he pulled his hand away, frosting was smeared on his nose.

“Now you’re the messy one!” I laughed and leaned over to swipe it away.

The second I did, Eddie caught my hand, gently brought it down, and wrapped his lips around my thumb, sucking off the icing.

My belly flopped so much it made the room spin. The gentle roughness of his tongue against the pad of my thumb was delicious.

If he noticed my reaction (nearly melting out of my chair), he didn’t comment. Instead, he released my hand and went back to shoveling the chocolate into his mouth. “Drink your cocoa, Am.” He reminded me.

After I drank enough that the lid would fit on the cup and ate a donut covered in sprinkles, Eddie carried the plate into the back for Joline and then stuffed some cash in a tip jar on the counter.

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