Page 21 of A Whirlwind of Color (The Light to My Darkness 2)

“Because we haven’t joked around like this before. Wait, do we usually?”

“Always.”

“Oh my God, am I cheating on James with you?”

“What?” He laughed and stared at me like I was a lunatic. “Of course not. We’re both happily married. To other people. But don’t look so shocked. I would have thought we’d have ended up together too.” He winked again.

“Stop winking at me.”

He proceeded to wink a third time.

“You’re juvenile.”

“Me? I’m not the one strutting around here pretending to be 19 years old.”

“I haven’t been strutting. And I am 19 years old. Everyone around me has lost their freaking minds.”

“Cut it out.” He started walking away from me like he was frustrated.

It was my job to be frustrated, not his. “Cut what out?”

“This whole woe-is-me thing you’ve got going on. It’s like you’re not even trying to remember. And stop attempting to distract me from how annoyed I am by not putting pants on.”

I knew my cheeks were turning bright red. I tugged on the hem of James’ shirt. “I’m not even convinced that there is anything to remember. As far as I know this is all just a really awful dream.”

“Exactly. You’re not trying. Meanwhile, James needs you. You’re the only one that can fix this.”

“I don’t know how to fix anything. He’s an adult. I’m sure he’s fine.”

“Earth to Penny. You’re an adult too.”

I’m a teenager. My fingers abandoned the hem of the shirt. “Why are you so angry with me?” All of this was hard on me too. At least he had all his memories intact.

“I’m…” his voice trailed off. “I’m not mad at you.” He lowered both his eyebrows just like James frequently did. “You just freaked me out, Penny. I thought I lost you.” He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. “I thought I lost you,” he mumbled into my hair.

This seemed…intimate. I could tell that we were close. Maybe he’d fill me in on the details I was missing. He thought he lost me. So whatever had happened to me was really bad. “Did I almost die or something?”

He squeezed me one last time before releasing me from his embrace. “I’m under strict instructions to only talk about positive memories. Things from early on in your relationship with James to help jog your memories.” He tapped the side of my head. “You hungry?”

I shied away from his outstretched hand. “I could eat.”

“That’s the spirit.” His eyes traveled down my body, reminding me I was just in a t-shirt. “Pants. Now. You’re killing me, woman.”

I laughed and stepped back from him. “Aren’t you married?”

“Aren’t you? Stop flirting with me, it’s inappropriate.”

“I’m not flirting with you. If anything, you’re flirting with me.”

“Sure.” He winked at me. “I’ll be downstairs. Put on a bra too.”

Before I could respond, he was out the door.

What a weirdo. But I liked him. He was fun and carefree. The complete opposite of James.

***

“What’s your name again?” I asked as I scooted into the seat across from him at the table.

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