Page 13 of It's a Date (Again)

“Sorry,” they say in unison, and return back to their spots in line, standing shoulder to shoulder with one another.

I glance at the box of chocolates and then to Nash. I can’t believe he made me candy. If my heart was made of chocolate, it would be melting right now. I think I love him too.

“Very good,” Maya says, finishing up her notes. “Nash, I’m marking you down as Adam Levine, looks-wise not personality-wise, hopefully.” She raises a brow.

He nervously laughs again. “I’m nothing like him.”

“We’ll be the judge of that,” she quips.

I smack her thigh lightly and give her a half-serious look.

“I mean, that’s good to know, Nash. Thank you,” Maya adds.

“Now what?” I whisper to her.

“Speed-dating round?” She smirks.

“I’m really not up for that. This is ... a lot.” I swivel my head to look at them. “I really appreciate you all coming here to check on me and for the gifts, but I have to ask, did each of you know I was dating other people?”Please say yes. Please say yes.I don’t know who I am, but I hope I’m not a liar or a cheater.

They all nod.Whew!It gives me a little reprieve that I was honest and transparent with them. But this whole serial-dating thing mixed with amnesia has left me in a tricky situation.

Shawn clears his throat. “I was dating multiple women up until a week ago, but you were the only one I looked forward to seeing when I came back from my work trips, and that’s why I ended it with the others.”

My heart flutters.I love Shawn.

Nash stands a little taller. “Same with me. You’re the only girl I’m seeing. I broke it off with another woman last week when I decided thatI only wanted to spend my free time with someone I could see a future with, and that’s you, Peyton.”

There goes my heart again. Pitter. Patter. His smile isn’t as wide and bright as Shawn’s. It’s more subdued but equally cute and inviting.I love Nash.

“Not to jump on what Shawn and Nash said, but the same goes for me. About a week ago, I deleted my dating apps. I know you said you weren’t ready to be exclusive, but I am, and I wanted to make sure you knew I was one hundred percent committed to you, whenever you happened to be ready for that next step,” Tyler says. He runs a hand over his head, smoothing a few flyaway hairs. He delivers a serious look, smoldering, actually.

My heart is doing full-on somersaults now.I love Tyler too.

All right, I totally get why I’ve been dating all three of these men and haven’t been able to narrow it down. They’re kind of perfect, each in their own way. Tyler is strong, funny, and down-to-earth. Shawn is intelligent, confident, and charming. Nash is creative and quirky and passionate. I don’t know how I decided that one of them was my person. How was I so sure, like, five days ago, and now I have no idea?

“I don’t know what to say.” I fiddle with my nails. The clip that’s attached to my pointer finger falls off. The slow beep turns to an annoying long and loud one. “Whoops, that’s supposed to stay on.” I reclip it and the beep returns, steady and slow. “Listen,” I say. “I know this is an unusual situation, and I don’t want to waste anyone’s time, but I have to be honest. I don’t know when my memories are going to come back. It could be days, weeks, even months, and in the rarest case, they may never come back.” I swallow hard and look away.

“If I may interrupt,” Maya chimes in, clapping her hands together. “Just before the accident, Peyton told me that she loved one of you, like that real soulmate type of love. The love that makes the world go round and gets you out of bed in the morning.”

Each of the men grin. Shawn stands a little taller, puffing out his chest. Tyler shuffles his feet, removes his hands from his pockets, but then slips them back in. It’s like he doesn’t know what to do with them. Nash scratches his forearm, which is covered in tattoos.

“The problem, as you know, is she doesn’t remember any of you. Double problem is she didn’t tell me who it was before the car hit her.” Maya briefly squints at me. “So, because we don’t know when or big ‘if’ her memories will come back, she’s going to have to date you all again. Any objections?”

Shawn speaks first. “If that’s what you need, Peyton, then I’m on board.”

“Same here.” Nash nods.

“I’m not bowing out,” Tyler says with a firm nod. “We had a good thing going, and I’m not gonna let something like you not remembering who I am get in the way.” A little bit of a country accent slips out as he chuckles.

“Perfect,” Maya says. “Peyton is getting discharged today.” She looks to me. “I assume you’re not interested in a date tonight?”

“Sorry, no.” I shake my head.

“Tomorrow night?”

“I’d like to get settled at home first.” It’s weird sayinghomeand not knowing where that is.

“What about a cocktail party or a group date like they do onThe Bachelor?” Her brows bounce twice in quick succession.

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