Page 6 of Dark Knight

“Bea.” My voice holds a warning. I need to know.

“I just wanted options.” Her gaze slides to her notebook in my hand.

There’s so much she isn’t fucking telling me.

She has no reason to trust you.

Recognizing the truth in that doesn’t make it less infuriating. Pulling the pen from the pocket of the book, I write my name and number on the inside jacket pocket, with the demand that I’m called before anyone else. If she needs rescuing, it’s for damn sure going to be me coming to her aid.

“From now on, you call me. For anything. Any time. Day or night.” I realize my words come out more aggressive than necessary, but I need her to understand that I’m her first call from now on.

I’m her only call as far as I’m concerned. But Bea needs to learn that on her own.

“You don’t want this burden, Nolan. No one does.” Grinding my teeth, I hate how sad she sounds.

As I lift her chin with my finger, I hear Sawyer beginning to wake up. “You’re not a burden. Nothing about you is, and if I have my way, I’ll be proving it to you real fucking soon.”

Chapter4

Nolan

After warming up one of the egg scramblers Noelle made for us over the fire, I keep an eye on Bea to make sure she’s eating. She’s too skinny, too pale. Too unhealthy in my eyes. I’m unsure if it’s just how she’s built, due to her condition, or something even worse.

“You’re going to get lines,” she mumbles into her cup of hot chocolate as she takes a sip.

“What?” My frown deepens.

Reaching over, her finger traces the indentations between my eyes and into my forehead. “If you keep frowning and glaring the way you do, those lines are going to be permanent.”

Her touch is feather-light, but I’m quickly addicted and want more, so I crinkle my forehead deeper. She gives me a matching look, so I mimic her actions. “I could say the same for you.”

Dropping her hand, her head turns as she watches Sawyer finish his food. It doesn’t require a miracle to guess what she’s thinking. It’s written all over her face.

“You want kids.” I’ll give her a dozen.

“Me?” Her feigned ignorance is a farce, and I wish she wouldn't try it with me. “No. I mean…I can’t.”

“Why not?” Turning my body to face her fully, I realize I’m not going to like what she has to say.

“I don’t want to be the cause of them being treated like I was… am…because I pass on one of my disabilities.” The words are spoken with a coldness that feels rehearsed.

“What disabilities?” I really need to learn more about her. About her memory loss and why it happens, besides the triggers.

Her shoulder lifts, and before she can answer, Sawyer declares he’s done eating and wants to explore the campground some more. “I think there’s a park,” Bea suggests, smiling forlornly at him.

“Yes!” He pumps his fist. “Can we go, Uncle Nolan?” I nod, and he’s on his feet, swapping out his slides for his runners. “Let's go!”

“I should probably go back to our lake house. My family is likely worried.” She doesn’t sound like she believes that, and frankly, neither do I. If they were concerned about where she was, they’d have come looking for her by now.

I see her reluctance to return home, so I offer an alternative. “How about we stop there on the way to the park? You can let them know you’re safeandspend more time with us.” If I have my way, I’ll be convincing this deadbeat father of hers that she’s coming home with us, and I’ll take care of her from now on.

“I don’t want to impose on your weekend.” Standing up, I set our dishes in the cooler and lock it before putting it in the back of my pickup.

Reaching out a hand for her, I tug her to her feet. “You’re not imposing; we’re inviting you. We want to spend more time with you, Bea.” That seems to perplex her.

* * *

Bea

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