Page 22 of Love Unavoidable
“Absolutely. I don’t want you thinking I’m a klutz or something.”
“Just an over-indulger?” He smiles, then steps back and writes some things on the tablet computer he is holding.
“Do you know where you are?”
“The hospital?”
“What city and state?”
“San Soloman, California.”
“And who is the president of the United States?”
“Must I remind myself of that? I may come from the red state of Texas, but we didn’t want him in office.”
He laughs again. “So, you said you fell at the reception? And hit your head?”
“Yes. On a table, I think. And then the floor.”
“Did something happen to cause you to fall?” he asks.
“No,” I frown. “Not really.”
“What does that mean? Not really?”
“I was dancing with my ex-fiancé and I felt panicky. He’s never been violent, so that’s not it. I just felt, I don’t know, claustrophobic maybe? But he wouldn’t let me go. So, I pushed at him. Hard. He let go, and that’s when I fell. That’s kind of the last thing I remember.”
“Did you have a lot of other family members at the wedding?”
“Are you kidding? We are from Texas. Our extended family is the size of a small state on its own.”
“Do you remember what happened before you danced with your ex?”
“I know I was talking with Ethan and his friends. He and I decided to leave the reception and go somewhere else.” My face heats. “Not that I planned to do anything with him. I mean, I wanted to, but I barely know the guy. Although, I have to admit that was part of the appeal. I mean, he’s like super attractive and he’s a firefighter. And I was feeling a little reckless, you know? But I’m a good girl. Mostly. Or at least not the kind of girl who would usually sleep with a stranger from a wedding reception. Not that there is anything wrong with that. More power to you.”
“So, you are not engaged now?”
“No. No. No. No.”
“Any gaps in your memory?”
“Would I know if there were?”
“Yes. Or no.” He smiles. “It would be like feeling something should be there, say all four years of high school or even your childhood, but instead it’s a blank. There is nothing there at all.”
“Some people might say that’s my whole brain. One blank slate,” I laugh and he laughs with me. I look down at my hands and try to think if there is anything I don’t remember. Which makes me laugh again since the idea is a bit absurd. “Nope, Doc, sorry. Pretty sure nothing is missing that should be there.”
“There is a gentleman in the waiting room who first claimed to be your husband, but now says he is your fiancé. Any idea who that might be?”
“My guess? It’s my ex fiancé unless I got engaged to Ethan without realizing it?”
“I don’t believe his name is Ethan. He introduced himself as Aaron Carter.”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “That’s my ex. And no, he’s not the famous singer.”
“I’m not familiar.”
“It’s no big deal, really. But for a second, I was hoping it was Ethan though, lame since we just met, I know.”
