Page 17 of Stealing Chances

Oh God, please work.

“Anything?” Claire asked hopefully as soon as they’d all entered, and Bree hissed, “Mom.”

“I’m sorry,” Claire said repentantly, but she still looked at Chase expectantly.

He looked between the three of them before seeming to realize what they were waiting for. “I don’t suddenly have my memories back, if that’s what you’re asking.” He glanced around the entryway and study before muttering, “If anything, I’m now wondering if any of my memories are real.”

“Of course they are,” Robert assured him, but I just stood back, waiting near the kitchen, feeling like an interloper in my own home.

“Kinda would’ve thought I’d have something that showed I surf,” Chase said before giving a hesitant laugh. “Because I thought I did that.”

“We do,” I assured him, then felt everything in me shrink when his cold stare narrowed on me. My voice coming out weak when I added, “Our boards are in the garage.”

“Wesurf?” he confirmed.

“Every morning.”

He looked at where Bree stood beside him. “I don’t surf with Brandon and Konrad and the guys?”

Bree looked at me as if she could feel the pain that burst from me at being dismissed by him. With an apologetic glance directed at me, she told him, “You do. Scarlet surfs with all of you and sometimes out-surfs you. She also could’ve answered that for you.”

A breathless laugh left Chase as he spared a look at me before hanging his head. “Yeah, guess she could’ve.”

And then he was gone.

Walking past me. The sound of his steps slowing in the kitchen before they moved deeper into the house. As if he was taking everything in. Trying to recognize it.

“What can we do?” Claire asked. “How can we help with this transition? Do you need food? Help taking care of him? Anything?”

“No,” I murmured, then swallowed past the tightness in my throat. “No, we’ll be—” I choked over the word ‘fine’ and stared at a spot on the floor for a moment before stammering, “I can—I-I already got everything. Thank you though.”

“Of course, honey.” She gripped my hand in hers and gave me a smile I was sure was meant to be reassuring. “Everything will be okay.”

“Are you guys not staying?” I asked when Robert stepped toward the door, a whisper of panic weaving into my words.

I’d been alone with Chase for hours each day, but this was different.

This was unfamiliar territory to him that wassupposedto be familiar. A place he shared with me when he wanted nothing to do with me.

“The doctor said it would be best,” Robert began, then nodded behind me, even though I was sure Chase hadn’t come back. “Get him back in his normal life and give him space to get used to it. Become acquainted with it again. Hopefully recognize it.You’rehis normal life.”

“Right,” I whispered, then glanced to my side where Chase should’ve been. The place he normallywould’vebeen whenever we were saying goodbye to people.

But the empty space felt so significant that it stole my next breath.

“Do you need us to pick up a new phone for him?” Robert asked after we’d already said our goodbyes as if he’d just remembered. “Chase asked what happened to his on the way here. Not sure he realizes just how bad the wreck was.”

A chill raced down my spine at the images I was sure I’d never be able to scrub from my brain. From their paled expressions, I had a feeling his family was thinking the same.

“I already got one last night,” I said thickly, gesturing behind me. “It’s in the kitchen.”

“Oh, thank you, honey,” Claire said, reaching out to squeeze my hand one last time. “Anything at all...please...”

“I’ll call,” I said, knowing it was what she needed to hear.

She looked into the house one last time before Robert led her away, and Bree wrapped me up in a tight embrace just as Konrad pulled up to the curb.

“He will come back to you,” she muttered before meeting my eye, and then she was gone too.

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