Page 87 of Unforgettable

I put my hand over my mouth, trying not to choke on any of the food I’m chewing as I laugh. A sip of wine helps.

“About those numbers,” Helen says, completely unamused by Grinny and Peg. “We’ve been talking about a weekend trip to Denver, and I’d like to have a little extra spending money.” She looks at me pointedly. “Anything you’d like to confirm or deny?”

“I’m telling you, it’s totally true. Think about the men you’ve dated and their fingers.” Peg taps her lips with her finger, little miss one-track mind. “On the other hand…I once dated a man who had smaller feet than me, but he wasn’t struggling in the other department, if you know what I mean.” She giggles and nudges my side.

Grinny lifts her eyes to the ceiling like she’s praying for heaven’s patience. “I can’t take you guys anywhere.”

“It’s not about the feet,” Peg says, excitedly. She leans in and holds up both index fingers. “It’s all about these right here.”

I look at her, waiting for the punchline.

“Disco fingers?” Grinny says when Peg continues to point toward the ceiling.

We all laugh and Peg does too, but she falls back in her seat and shakes her head, waving her hand dismissively. “No, silly. Studies show that the size of a man’s index finger is connected with how much testosterone he got in the womb and voila, there you have it.”

Jamison’s long, wide fingers come to mind and my body floods with heat.

Grinny’s eyebrows squish together. “I don’t really want to think about the womb and the size of—”

“Jo tells me Nellie Thompson is in the running,” Helen cuts in, pressing her lips together. “She’s at Sunny Side every time Jamison is and they usually talk. And there’s a new girl that works at the lodge that made the list…” She looks at Grinny, motioning with her hand. “Starts with an L—Grin, do you remember what her name was?”

Grinny sighs heavily, like she’s given up on this night altogether.

I frown, wondering if Jamisonisinterested in Nellie at all. Or the new girl, Lili, I’m assuming…she does know sign language, which gives them another level of communication that I don’t have with him. Yet.

My body is yours, my heart too, he said last night. It was a powerful night, ground-shaking. I would understand if he said that in the heat of the moment…but then I told him I’m falling in love with him. My body thrums with excitement even now, and the way it has ever since I said it, thinking of that moment.

Does he love me too?

Or did I scare him by saying it?

I turn my phone face up and there’s still no word from him.

“He had to go back to Boston,” I say to the table, interrupting their chatter. I’ve been lost in my thoughts and they’ve still been going on about fingers and dicks and the list.

They turn to me and start talking at once.

Grinny’s hand falls on my wrist. “When will he be back?”

“I don’t know,” I say, shaking my head. “His mom had to have an emergency bypass and I haven’t heard anything. He’s really close to his family…he’ll want to be there while she recovers.”

Ifshe recovers.

The thought makes me sick to my stomach.

I look at Grinny. “I’m really worried about her.” A lump starts forming in my throat. “And he’d never planned to be here full-time beyond six months anyway—did you know that?” I ask Grinny. “Did I tell you that?”

She looks at me intently, her hand squeezing mine. “You did mention that, but…well, I hoped we’d all give him a reason to stay.” She forces a smile and bumps her shoulder with mine. “We should send something to the family to let them know we’re thinking about them…and to let Jamison know he’s made a significant impression around here in a short amount of time.”

Her eyes are reading me the way they have since I was a little girl. She could always see right through me, any sadness I tried to hide, any attempts at lying were futile around her.

The subject changes to what’s acceptable to send to someone who’s in the hospital since flowers aren’t always allowed, and I try not to check my phone every five seconds.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR

UPHEAVAL

JAMISON

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