He turned abruptly. His eyes focused on my lips. Smiling he said, “Maybe,” and then he leaned in and tugged on my bottom lip with his teeth. “I love your mouth, even when you’re being a smart-mouth.”
“Well, now that I think about it, your plan might not be so bad. After all, you can’t very well lick food off my body in a public place.”
“Good point, although I’d be willing to challenge that argument. Just not today.”
I waited in the car while Jamie went into the restaurant and picked up our food. He practically ran back out to the car and slid in, scanning me up and down.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, it’s been five minutes.”
He gave my address to the driver as if he had said it a million times.
“That was pretty good, Jamie.”
“I have one of those memories.”
“What do you mean?”
He glanced up to the ceiling of the car, looking almost self-conscious, and then shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Oh, the genius thing? What, you have a photographic memory?”
“Something like that.”
“Tell me. I want to know everything about you.”
“Okay, well this sounds scary, but I’m what’s called a mnemonist. I have a mnemonic memory.”
“Sounds like demon possession.”
“Yeah, it feels like it sometimes.”
“What does it mean?”
“It means I can remember long lists of numbers or names. I also have an eidetic memory. That’s kind of like a photographic memory.”
“That must be amazing. No wonder you were able to breeze through school.”
“It’s a blessing and a curse. Imagine remembering every laugh line on your dead mother’s face.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m so sorry. I never would have thought about it that way.” I paused, trying to read his expression. “It could be the other way around. I wish I could remember what my mother looked like. It seems like the only memory I have of her face is from a photograph.”
“I think it would be easier that way.”
“Is that what you think?” I snapped.
He didn’t look over at me. He just reached for my hand, brought it to his mouth, and kissed it. Staring straight ahead, he said, “I’m sorry. That was insensitive.”
We were in the lobby of my apartment building within an hour of leaving the hospital, but Jamie was freaking out still.
“Shall I carry you?”
“Are you kidding me? There’s nothing wrong with my legs.”
“I don’t want you to overdo it.” His arm was around my waist, practically lifting me off the ground. I wrapped my arm around his neck and held on.
“You said that already. I promise, I’m fine. I got bonked on the head a little. It’s not a big deal.”
“Katy, don’t minimize it.” He lowered his voice. “Do you know how many hours I sat in that hospital room not knowing if I’d have to watch my angel die?”
“Aww, please don’t say that.”
When we reached the elevator, I could feel another presence behind me. We entered and Jamie hit the button for my floor. Then I heard Stephen’s voice just as I turned to witness him entering the elevator after us.
“Katy?” He was testing the word. No one besides Jamie had ever called me Katy. He was wearing suit pants and a dress shirt, no tie. His messenger bag was slung over his shoulder. He must’ve been coming home from work. “Stephen?”
The expression in his eyes turned warm. I noticed that Jamie stood a little taller and angled his body in front of me.
“I heard what happened to you.” I nodded. “I’m really sorry, I know how much you loved the subway.” He looked toward Jamie apprehensively and said, “Can I hug her?”
Jamie arched his eyebrows. “That’s up to her.”
I reached my arms out and gave Stephen a hug. He held me with true sincerity and said, “I’m really sorry.” It brought tears to my eyes. I knew he was sorry for more than just my injury.
When the elevator doors opened on his floor, I smiled and said, “Good-bye, Stephen.”
“Bye,” he said to the floor and walked out.
I leaned back against Jamie. He wrapped his arms around me from behind.
“That was my ex.”
“I know.”
“You remembered?”
“I remember everything.”
“Except how much insulin you’ve given yourself.”
“I’ll admit, that was very unlike me. I was distracted that night by your transcendent beauty.”
“Oh, stop,” I said, and then sniffled. He turned me and bent down to look me in the face. “Are you all right? Was it hard to see Stephen?”
“No, that was good, actually. It’s amazing how nice people can be when they hear you’ve been in a coma.”
When we reached my floor, I stepped out and noticed Dylan and Ashley standing near my apartment door. He held his arms out. “Welcoming committee!”
“Thank you.” I laughed.
“We don’t want to bother you guys while you get settled in, we just wanted to give you a hug and say welcome home.” They both hugged me at the same time.
“You two are sweet.”
My apartment looked untouched. I scurried around, embarrassed, trying to clean up, open the blinds, and air the place out. Jamie set the food on the counter and watched me until I stopped. “What?”