Page 62 of Help Me Remember
That article earned me a Pulitzer, and since then, I haven’t written a single word.
What the hell could I write? Nothing will ever measure up.
I walk back to the table, and Emmett takes the dealer’s seat. “You know Holden kicks our ass every hand.”
Holden smirks. “It’s because you two don’t respect my superior intellect.”
“You may be smart, but you’re a fucking dumbass,” Emmett says, dealing the cards.
“And that makes zero sense.”
Emmett looks to me. “You know what I mean?”
“Yes, and I agree. He’s the smartest dumbass I know.”
We all laugh and play a few hands. Holden and I both battle it out, and he wins two of the five hands. The one thing Holden can’t do is lose graciously.
“Two more hands,” he demands.
Emmett leans back, a shit-eating grin on his face. “Don’t do it, Spence. Let him lose.”
As I’m about to tell him to kiss my ass, my phone lights up, and I see I have about twenty alerts from Brielle’s laptop.
Spencer Cross.
Spencer Cross model.
Spencer Cross dating history.
Who is Spencer Cross dating now?
Spencer Cross Pulitzer article.
Last known girlfriend of Spencer Cross.
The list goes on and on as she attempts to dig into my history, and I can’t stop the pang of excitement that she’s searching me. It means she’s thinking of me. It means she can’t sleep, and whatever I said is heavy on her heart. While I don’t know what she’ll find, it doesn’t matter because it means that she cares. She also wants to know if I’m dating someone.
“Spencer? You ready to have me take all your winnings?”
A little bit smug thanks to the alerts, I turn to Holden. “Let’s play. I could use a little extra spending cash.”
* * *
“Good morning,” I say, holding a cup of coffee in front of Brielle.
“You look happy.”
“I’m always happy when I have a good night.”
Her smile falters a little, but she recovers. “Glad you and your two dates enjoyed yourselves.”
I laugh. “My dates were Emmett and Holden, and I very much had a good time taking all their money.”
Brielle’s lashes flutter, and she sucks in a breath. “Why didn’t you say that? I . . . I am stupid. I’m sorry.”
“Would it have bothered you if it was two girls?” I ask, goading her a bit.
“Of course not. It’s none of my business who you date or whatever it is you do.”
