Page 71 of Forget Me Not

“Cooper.” Ed’s voice sounds surprised.

“Ed?” Not nearly so much so as mine. “What are you doing here?”

“Gun’s not here.” He twists his head to glance over his shoulder as if he’s checking the house to make sure it’s really empty. I’m getting the impression he doesn’t know where Gun is either.

“He’s not at work,” I add matter of fact. I went there first. Even checked with his assistant to make sure he wasn’t out at some job site. She told me he called Monday and said not to expect him in for a few days.

“I know that. We’re business partners. You don’t think I’d know if he was working or not?” Ed’s not exactly trying to hide the fact he’s pissed at me. “Skipping work is one thing, but now he’s not answering his damn phone anymore either. What the hell happened this time? What’d you say to him?”

I shrug helplessly. “Nothing. I haven’t seen him since last week.” It’s not like him to just drop off the radar like this. “We should call B.” If my first instinct was to run home to Mags, maybe his was no different.

Ed rolls his eyes at me, just in case I still wasn’t clear on the part where he’s super mad at me. “You don’t think I would have already thought of that?”

Fine. He’s thought of all the obvious options. Which means Gun doesn’t want to be found. At least not by Ed.

“Whatever.” I start to leave. “Just tell him to call me if he turns up.”

I can hear the soles of his shoes move onto the sidewalk to follow me. “What do you want, Cooper?”

“To make things right.”

Then I climb into my car and take off before he can request that I elaborate.

I drive aimlessly, wracking my brain of places he might go to, places that would mean something to him, but nothing comes to mind. Except. Maybe...

I make a U turn at the next intersection and take the bridge back onto the mainland. I drive nearly an hour into the city and when I find myself sitting in the parking lot, I start to seriously question my reasons for being here. This place, this moment in our history seems poignant somehow. To me. But lately I’ve been confused about my perception of the past. So many things weren’t at all what I thought they were. What if this is no different?

I grip my steering wheel, wringing my hands back and forth. If I don’t get out and walk in there, I’ll never know. And I need to know.

My heart pounds heavier in my chest with every step I take across the asphalt. As soon as I step inside, the harsh smell of the building churns my stomach even more. I close my eyes and will the elevating nerves to subside, calming my desire to puke at the same time.

A woman on a mission, I take several long, determined strides straight for the elevator. No need to check the guide. I remember. Third Floor. Where people look like they eat rainbows for breakfast.

The ding signals my arrival and I step out before the doors have even opened completely.

Butterflies roar to life at the pit of my being, replacing every other unpleasant sensation trying to occupy my body. Just down the end of this hall. One last turn.

I reach the corner and stop. I’ve convinced myself so thoroughly he’ll be standing there when I walk around it, I don’t know what I’ll do if he’s not there.

Timidly, I creep forward until I can peek without having to fully commit.

Disappointment floods my heart as soon as I do. There are at least a dozen people standing there, crowding the window and celebrating the newcomer in their midst, but none of them are Gun.

Deflated, I plod along. I came this far, I may as well see it through, even if the results weren’t what I was hoping.

The happy welcoming committee doesn’t mind a stranger in their circle though I do my best to stand off to the side, reserving only a small patch of glass for myself. In a few short months these could be my people, welcomingmybaby. It’ll be a much smaller group, of course.

I press my fingertips to the glass and rest the side of my head on the frame. It’s been a long few days. Long and emotional days.

“You’re not giving up, are you?” His deep voice spreads through my entire body like a warm summer breeze, feeding my soul and leaving my skin tingling in the most pleasant way possible. Tears sting my eyes before I even turn around to face him. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see any one person in my entire life.

“I was starting to think you disappeared on me,” I whisper, emotions are straining my voice and making it hard to speak.

“I promised you I wouldn’t do that.” His palm cups my cheek as his thumb swipes gently over my skin, drying the tears I’ve shed and in turn making more surface.

I don’t know if the crowd from before leaves or if the world around us simply stops, but in this moment, everything else seems to cease to exist.

“I’m really sorry,” I blubber. “I hate that I hurt you. I hate that I almost lost you.” I suck in an anxious breath. “Please say I haven’t lost you.”

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