Page 37 of Forget Me Not
I turned the cotton over, smiling when I realized they were mine. “You kept them?”
“Yeah. I did.”
I slipped them on and tackled her to the bed. Her laughter made my heart jump with glee. It was a sound I’d forgotten over the years, but one I would make sure to hear often. I kissed her again. “Let’s go downstairs.”
Lacing my fingers with hers, I led her out of the room. Being here with her was half the battle. I still had work to deal with, but I wanted to push it out of my head for now. I was scared they would make me leave, and I didn’t know how or what to tell her. For now, I would just live in the moment.
“Mom!” Danny met us at the stairs. “You changed?” He glanced between us, his expression curious. “And why aren’t you wearing a shirt?”
“I don’t have one.”
“Oh.” He ran off toward the kitchen.
“I’m glad to see you two worked it out.” My dad glanced at our laced hands.
“We’re trying.” Mackenzie’s eyes held a glimmer of hope. “I won’t promise that it’s going to be easy, but I’ve prayed for him to come home for too long, to send him away.”
“It’s going to take work, but I believe this is your second chance. Don’t fuck it up, boy.” My dad nodded toward me. “Now. Are we going to have to call you Drake?”
“I’m afraid so. Danny died the day I joined GOA. It can’t be undone—even if I quit.”
“What do you mean, if?” Mackenzie glared at me. “Are you going to continue working for them?”
“No. Not by choice. But that’s something I will have to work out in the next few weeks. I’m supposed to report to headquarters in a week.”
“You’re leaving again?”
I pulled her toward me. “Mackenzie look at me.” I slipped my fingers beneath her chin, forcing her to peer into my eyes. “I am coming back. No more lies. I promise you.” She relaxed and wrapped her arms around me, pressing her face against my skin. “I meant what I said. You’re home to me, Kenz.”
Mackenzie
Time seemed to stand still as I watched him walk into the airport. He promised to come back, but I couldn’t help but feel like it was goodbye in a final way. We had spent the week filling in the ten years we had missed with each other. He and Danny spent time together, it was like they had never been apart.
That was two months ago. I hadn’t heard from him since. I kept telling myself it was because they wouldn’t let him leave—but deep down I worried he had decided not to come back.
“He’ll be back.” Megan squeezed my hand as though she could read my thoughts. We were sitting in a restaurant having lunch. The school year had ended, and summer break was in full swing.
“I haven’t heard from him, Megan. Wouldn’t he call or something if his plans were the same?”
“Stop. You're going to make yourself crazy. Didn’t he tell you this could happen, but not to worry?”
“I don’t know what’s worse. Seeing him leave or thinking he was dead. It feels the same, but different.”
We finished up, but as I stood, I was hit with an overwhelming dizzy spell. Megan grabbed my arm and guided me back to the booth.
“Are you okay?”
“I just got dizzy.”
“Kenz?” She looked at me with wide eyes. “Are you pregnant?”
“What? No. I—” My mind thought back to when my last period was. “Oh my god. This can’t be happening again. I can’t be pregnant. I just can’t.”
“Let’s go. We’re going to grab a test and go to my place. You need to know.” Megan held my hand as we walked out. “It’s going to be okay. I’m here for you.”
“No. It’s not okay. It would be cruel if fate did this to me twice.”
“Stop it. You’ve already convinced yourself he isn’t coming home, and that’s stupid.”
