“Marta,” I warned with a look. “I’m fine. I just need something to eat.”
I didn’t shower, change, do my hair or put on makeup. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone at the time. I wore the same jean shorts and red tank top. I had been looking forward to this game for three days, and now I knew I wouldn’t even see it.
I saw him standing at the concession stand. My heart ached for him. He smiled a warm smile as I neared.
“Do you want something to drink?”
“Lemonade, please,” I replied.
We didn’t walk to the bleachers around the crowd of people. He followed me to a picnic table under a shade tree. He sat right beside me rather than across from me like I wanted him to. I hoped he would start. I didn’t have a clue what to say. He didn’t either.
“How did you find me?” I asked.
“You didn’t make it easy. You lied about everything.”
“No. I didn’t. I only lied about things that would lead you to Drew which would lead him to me.”
“I don’t understand, Riley.”
I snorted. That wasn’t my name. “How did you find me?” I asked again.
“I tried everything to find you with Starlight and Lauren’s help. I was lying in bed the other night and I just remembered you telling me about Drew coming to your high school and donating money. I went there and pretended to be investigating a fraud case. They told me that the money that was donated that year was from Callaway Jewels. You told me he was a software developer from Indiana. Did you leave me, Ry? because you could have just told me.”
“Daw,” I quietly said. How was I supposed to explain this? “I didn’t leave you. I didn’t know you.”
“What do you mean?”
I took his hand and ran his finger over the L shaped scar down the whole right side of my head. “I was in a car accident before I got out of Vegas. I didn’t remember anything until I saw you in that shop this afternoon. I remembered my whole life today, right at that moment. I have spent the last five months of my life not knowing who I was.”
“But you were on the plane. The airline told me that you had departed and landed in Chicago.”
“I did not get on the plane. I left the airport because Derik saw me. He chased me. I ran underneath the front of a bus. I was in induced coma for five weeks.”
“You are at his house?”
“Yes,” I answered and then had to answer my phone.
Shit…
“I didn’t think you would go to the game. How do you feel?” Drew asked
“I’m better. I told you I just had a headache.”
“But, I worry about you when I’m not there.”
“You shouldn’t.” I didn’t want to say much.
Dawson Bade was sitting right beside me, and my lying abusive husband was worried about me.
“Well, I do, and there is nothing you can do about it,” he tried teasing. I wasn’t in the mood.
“I’ll call you when I get home, Drew. The game is getting ready to start.”
“Okay. I love you.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “love you too,” I replied, hanging up.
“Did he hurt you?”
“No. Dawson, he hasn’t hurt me. He has been very good to me.”
Dawson looked down at my wedding rings. “Are you staying with him, Ry?”
“No. I don’t know what I am doing yet. There are too many things that I have to have answers to.”
“Leave with me now. I can’t leave you here, knowing what he is capable of.”
“I’m not afraid of Drew.”
“What do you mean you’re not afraid of him?
You’re terrified of him.”
“I was terrified before. I haven’t been afraid of him since I didn’t know who he or I was. I’m fine. I can’t leave yet.”
“Can I call you?”
“No. I have to lay low until I figure things out.”
“What do you mean, figure things out. Ry? I’m not going to let you sneak around and play investigator.
You’re going to get yourself killed.”
“Dawson. I have to do this. I will call you when I can.”
“You need to call Lauren and Star. They have been beside themselves worried about you.”
“I can’t right now, Dawson. Just tell them that I love and miss them, and I will talk to them when I can.”
“Am I just supposed to go home and do what, Ry?
Are we still a couple?”
“I don’t know, Dawson. I truly don’t. I just remembered who I was four hours ago. I need time to process all of this.”
“Have you been sleeping with Drew?”
“Dawson, don’t do this. I didn’t even know that you existed.”
“Was it consensual?”
“I’m not going there with you right now. I can’t,” I pleaded. What the hell did he expect?
“You’re in love with him aren’t you?”
“Dawson, he’s not the same man that he was then.”
Dawson blew out a puff of air. I could read his face. It was calling me a dumb girl.
“You know where to find me when you figure it out,” he said and stood. I stood with him.
“Dawson,” I pleaded. He turned and crushed his mouth to mine.
God Damnit.