Page 20 of Love Me Again

"Tristan, I never stopped loving you. You were always the guy for me, justas I'm the girl for you. A part of you always knew we belonged together. That’sthe reason you divorced Shayla and got back together with me. And we were happy, till she came back into your life and started screwing with your head again. Maybe there's a reason you forgot about her, and you still remember me... you remember us. Perhaps this is fates way of telling youthatyou belong with me."

I rub my hands over my face and sigh deeply. My brain was fried. Honest to God, I feel like I need a day off from my life. "I don't know, Sophie. Shayla's my wife, and I did marry her twice--there must be a reason. From what everyone keeps telling me and judging by the pictures, weseemedto have a happy life together before all this happened."

Sophie leans back in her seat and fixes me with a look I couldn't quite decipher. "The Tristan I know would never base his future on the words of other people. You always trusted your gut honey, what is it telling you?" She questions openly, and I avert my gaze to the window, to the river stretched out beside us. I truly didn't know what to feel any more. I feel like my mind and heart are at war with one another, and I don't know which one I should listen to.

"At this moment, it's telling me to rip my brain out of my head and throw it as far as I can in the river," I utter, irritated, and Sophie reaches out and takes my hand in hers. I glance over at her, and our eyes meet. We hold one another's gaze for a long moment, and I feelthatfamiliar stir in my bellythatI would get whenever she wouldlookat me with those beautiful ocean blue orbs.

"Hey, listen, I don't know if you would want to, but do you remember Daniel?" She asks, and I nod, taking a sip of my water. "Well, he's throwing one of his infamous parties at the country club this Saturday. Do you want to come? I'm sure everyone would love to see you." She offers, and I wince, rubbing my neck.

"I'd love to spend more time with you, Soph, but I can't. It wouldn't be right to be out with you while I'm married to Shayla." I tell her sincerely, and Sophie's shoulders slump in disappointment before she nods.

"You're probably right. I mean, you would hang out with Shayla while you were engaged to me--all the time--actually, and I was fine with it." I watch her while she chews on her bottom lip gingerly while pushing her food around on her plate. "If she doesn't trust you to meet up with some old friends,thenyou've got more problems in your relationship than your lost memory, babe."

I massage my forehead and sigh, "I don't want to promise you anything, but I'll try, okay." I tell her, and she smiles and nods before she reaches over and takes my phone off the table. "What are you doing?" I ask, and she gives me a playful smile.

"I'm putting my number in your phone. I changed the last one." Sophie explains, typing away on my phone. I smile, shaking my head. "Call or text me whenever you want." I take my phone when she hands it back to me.

"I'll keepthatin mind. I have to go now. Can I drop you back to your car?" I offer, gesturing to the waiter for the bill, he nods and hurries off. Sophie smiles beautifully, nodding, and after I pay the bill, we walk back to the car together. I drop her back off at her car at the hospital, and she turns to face me before she gets out.

"Thank you for lunch, and I hope this isn't the last time I see you, Tris. I really miss you." She declares, tucking her soft blonde hair behind her ear, her eyes on mine.

"It was wonderful seeing you, Soph. It's hard to explain, but at the moment, you're the only thing that’s familiar to me between all this chaos in my mind." I confess, and she smiles warmly at me and takes her seatbelt off before she presses a kiss to my jaw, her soft full lips lingering for a couple of seconds. When she pulls back a little, our eyes meet, and shegazesat my lips longingly for a second-- and I wanted to pull her close and kiss her, but I couldn't. As she inched closer, something made me shrink away and clear my throat. "I better go. Shayla's probably wondering what's taking me so long."

A flicker of disappointment flashes across her features, and she lowers her gaze, licks her lips, and opens the door after looking back at me once more. "I hope I'll see you soon, Tristan." She states before she gets out of my car. I release a breath I hadn't realised I was holding and watch her as she walks off toward her car.

Jesus. What am I doing?

* * *

I hadthis dreadful feeling in the pit of my stomach the whole drive back to the house. I couldn't tell if it was guilt or what. I kept wondering if I should tell ShaylathatI ran into Sophie or if I should let it be.

It's our date tonight, and I don't want to ruinthatfor us. I walk into the house, and my eyes search for Shayla. Sure enough, she pops her head out of the kitchen, grinning with what I'm hoping is chocolate smeared over her cheek and forehead. "Please, tell me that’schocolate on your face." I chuckle as I walk toward the kitchen.

Shayla throws her head back and laughs. "I have a little over three months before you come home to me covered in shit, so you're safe for now, stud." She tells me with a grin and sucks the chocolate off her fingers with a satisfied moan.

I laugh and toss my keys on the side. "What are you doing?" I question, leaning on the island and watch her stirring melted chocolate in a saucepan on the stove.

"I'm making those gooey chocolate brownies you love." She answers, biting her bottom lip while tossing chunks of chocolate into the saucepan. "Do you want to help?"

I smile and nod, rolling up my sleeves as I walk toward her. "Sure, I'm warning you, though, I can't cook for shit. What do you need me to do?" I question, leaning over her shoulder to see the saucepan. Shayla lifts the wooden spoon and swipes some chocolate onto her finger, and holds it up to my lips.

"Tastethatfor me." She replies, lifting her jade green eyes to mine. I wrap my fingers around her wrist, bring her finger to my lips, my eyes on hers the entire time as I open my mouth and suck the chocolate off her finger. Shayla bites her lip, watching me, "Is it sweet enough?" She questions, her voice an octave over a breathy whisper, and I moan lowly.

"I can't tell," I burr, leaning closer, brushing my nose over hers. I guide Shay's finger toward the spoon and smother it in chocolate again, only this time, I smear it over her bottom lip, and she gasps. "Let me see," I whisper, licking the chocolate off her lip. Shayla's eyes slid shut, she moans quietly, andjustas I'm about to suck her bottom lip to kiss her, the doorbell chimes, and we jump apart.

Unbelievable.

What a moment to get interrupted. Shayla's eyes snap open, and she peers up into mine, her disappointment clear as day as I'm sure mine was. "I'll get it." I sigh and begrudgingly move away from her and stroll over to answer the door. I pull it open and see a young guy with a clipboard and a giant cardboard box.

"Delivery for Mrs Hoult?" He states, gesturing to the box.

"Shay, did you order something?" I call out, and she walks from the kitchen toward us.

"No. I didn't order anything." She states, eyeing the box. "Where is it from?" The guy shrugs and holds out the clipboard to her.

"Uh, baby-world?" Shayla frowns a little and peers up at me questioningly. "It was ordered by a Mr Tristan Hoult?" I blink bewildered, and Shaylawatchesmejustas confused.

"I didn't order anything," I mutter with a shrug, and Shayla scratches her forehead and takes the delivery note to read it.

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