Page 45 of Forget Me Not

“I’m distraught here, Gun. I’ll come up with something more eloquent after I’ve had a chance to calm down and think rationally.”

I lean in toward her until my forehead meets hers. “You never think rationally.”

“You weren’t supposed to point that out. It was my loophole.”

I chuckle quietly. “Sorry.”

“Would you stop it with this bullshit already?”

“Fine. You’re an ass. Get over yourself and quit trying to ruin my trip.”

She nods, sniffing loudly. “Better.”

I move my head again, putting space between us. We both lie on my bed staring up at the ceiling for what feels like forever. I’m just waiting. For her. Any minute now, she’ll tell me what’s really bothering her. I know she’s fine here. She’s been head over heels for Reed McAllister for months and from what I’ve seen since they started dating, it’s mutual. Not that I hang with them, but even keeping a safe distance hasn’t kept me from getting a first row viewing of their happy couple hood. Which means, no matter how she wants to spin it, she’s also having no thoughts whatsoever about hitting the road for any new adventures with me, now or anytime in the near future.

“I need you,” she whispers.

“You don’t,” I whisper back. “You don’t need anyone. Never have. You just let me think you do to make me feel better about sticking around all these years.”

“Why do you?”

It’s not the first time she’s asked. Probably won’t be the last. Not as long as I keep giving her bullshit answers, but they’re all I’ve got. “Because you run slower than I do, and someday, when we steal something bigger than a loaf of bread and the cops come after us, that’s going to come in really handy.” It’s not even a good lie, but it doesn’t matter. The truth wouldn’t do either of us any good.

“Gun?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to miss you.”

She won’t. She’ll be with Reed. I’m going to miss the hell out of her though.

Reed

Present Day

“Who the hell are you?” I ask, still tugging my t-shirt down over my stomach. When I heard the commotion coming from the kitchen, I assumed Cooper was back. I definitely didn’t expect to find another dude hanging out of her fridge, carton of OJ pressed to his mouth.

He chokes briefly, nearly coughing up the juice, before he pounds his fist to his chest and clears his throat to speak. “Ed. I’m Ed.” He places the open carton of OJ on the counter and walks toward me, hand stretched out in front of him. “Sorry man, I saw the girls walking toward the bakery, I just figured the place was empty.”

I shake his hand, out of habit rather than desire to. “Reed. I’m staying here with Cooper.”

He nods. “I heard.” His dark eyes narrow like he’s studying me. He’s tall. At least a foot taller than me. He looks oddly familiar, but that’s hardly an uncommon experience for me. “We went to high school together.”

I frown. “Were we friends?”

He laughs. “Nah, man. We didn’t exactly hang in the same circles.”

“But you were close with Cooper?” Were we really so different back then?

“Gun mostly. Cooper got stuck with me by default. Then, Cammie came along and I guess it kind of sealed the deal on our foursome.”

I nod, trying to keep up with the information. “I met Cammie last night. She seems nice. She your girlfriend?”

This time he looks almost sick. “No, dude. She’s my sister.”

And now I know why he looks familiar. They’ve got the same mouth, same nose and even though her complexion isn’t as dark as his, they share the same jet black hair as well.

“Oh.” I grin. I totally get that expression now. I’ve been confused for Kerri’s boyfriend a time or two myself. It always turns my stomach. “Sorry.”

---