Page 57 of Please Remember

"I do miss the old her sometimes, though," I admit. "The new memories are fun, but I miss having her whip out an inside joke we had. Or at least laugh when I do. The longer this goes on, where she can't recall anything prior to the basement, the more I worry she won't come back to me."

"If she doesn't, you'll just have to get to know each other as the people you are now," Benji says. "You're not the same person she'd likely remember if she could anyway. It's been seven years, dude. We're all different from who we were even two years ago. At least a little bit."

This thought never occurred to me. I just focused on the fact Allie was different, but I never thought about how different I am, too. How much her disappearance changed me. Made me jaded, a little. "Who the hell are you? When did you get so insightful?"

"Hey!" he cries in offense.

"You have to do the whole dating thing again," Drew says. "You seem to have just kind of jumped right into the committed relationship thing, but not only are you both different people, you're also in different places."

"And maybe you have to accept the fact that she may not be coming back. Old Allie, as much as we all loved her, might not be in there anymore," Benji says. "But that doesn't mean we don't love this Allie.No matter what, she's our girl. All of ours. We all felt the loss when she disappeared, and we've all been so happy that she's back."

I shake my head and refuse to believe that. "No, she's still in there. There are times she’ll say something, and it takes me back in time. Her sarcasm is also on point. I think that's why it's been so easy for me to just forget. It was like she was back even though I know she wasn't."

Seth nods. "Once we officially meet her again, maybe it'll be easier."

I open my mouth to say something, but movement in the shadows catches my attention. I stand, and I'm shocked when Laura steps into the light. In the fenced-in backyard she'd have to come through the house to get inside unless she scaled the privacy fence. "What are you doing here?"

"I didn't want to interrupt," Laura says, her hair a mess of frizz while she holds up a bowl. "I was accidentally told about the cookout, and I wanted to drop off what I made for your mom. I made it before I realized my invite was probably a mistake."

Setting it on the porch, she leaves before anyone can say a word. The whole thing comes across more as stalker-like than a kind gesture. It feels off. Very off. But still very familiar.

"God, she's back doing what she did before Allie went missing. When she'd just show up without any of us realizing she knew where we were going," Benji says.

"Have you even talked to her since Allie's been back?" Seth asks.

I exchange a look with Benji who nods in acknowledgement that my secret is safe. "Not since the day after Allie was released from the hospital. She seemed to think there was a chance she wouldn't need to cancel everything for the wedding even though I told her it was off."

"Who told her about this?" Drew asks. "I haven't talked to her since the engagement party."

"Don't look at me. I avoid her at all costs," Benji says. “Always have.”

I look at Seth who shakes his head. "After I saw her talking to herself at the hospital, I've deleted her number from my phone and pretended that you proposing to her was nothing short of a terrible nightmare."

"You saw her talking to herself?" I ask.

"She might've been on the phone, but it was weird. She's never really seemed all there to me."

"Maybe stay away from her," Drew says. "We put aside our reservations about her for you, but I agree with Seth, she seems shady. I wouldn't put it past her to try and ruin your relationship. She probably thinks you'll go back to her if Allie and you don't get together."

I knew everyone wasn't a fan of Laura's, but I didn't think they genuinely disliked her. Maybe this has all been a blessing in disguise.

The way she acted the day she asked me to come and talk to her makes me wonder where her mind is really at. Plus, hearing the guys talk about how she might be a little crazy. I mean, how’d she know to show up here if none of us told her? We didn’t even remember to tell Sage. And I wouldn’t put it past her to try and ruin things with Allie and me. I think I do need to be wary of her. At least I know Sage won’t leave Allie alone with Laura. She can’t do that much damage, right?

Chapter Twenty-Three

Laura

It took three days, but I finally found an opening where Sage left Allie alone in her rental. I'm armed with some information to help put more doubt in Allie's mind. To make her question everything that is Jax and bring him back to me.

I pull my car into the driveway, and I hold up the two coffees in way of greeting the cop. To the bumbling officer who looks like he can't be more than nineteen, it looks like I'm bringing coffee to my friend. Checking up on sweet, broken Allie. The woman everyone fucking loves.

I ring the bell with my elbow, and Allie answers looking surprised. Holding the two cups up, I smile. "Hi, Allie."

"What are you doing here, Laura?"

"I knew Sage had to work today, and I didn't want you to be alone if you didn't have to be," I lie. "I can leave if you want."

For some reason, Allie looks out at the cop before letting me inside. "You know it seems strange that you want to keep me company considering everything, right?"

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