“Nope. All four men disappeared.”
“What happened to the man who did come back?”
“He spent a few years in the hospital. He never could get anyone to believe his ranting and raving. Eventually, he was put on trial for the murder of the men who disappeared.”
I covered my mouth with my hand. “And then what?”
He frowned. “You know it’s not the happiest of stories,” he said. “Maybe we should change the subject.”
“Don’t you dare, Eddie!” I burst out. “Tell me!”
“He killed himself in jail. Used a bedsheet to hang himself. They found a note in the cell with his body.”
Intriguing. “What did it say?”
“It said: Beware the Loch Ness.” Right after he spoke, he jumped at me, and I screamed, falling back into the grass.
Eddie leaped on top of me, tickling my sides.
I laughed and squirmed beneath him. “Eddie!” I gasped. “Was that a lie! You were trying to scare me!” I collapsed, giggling, as he wouldn’t let up. “Stop.” I gasped, wiggling away. “Stop!”
He pulled back, gazing down at me with a smile on his face.
I smacked him in the stomach. “Was that a true story?”
“It’s a legend. Did it really happen? Probably not, but everyone tells the tale.”
“Is that the only sighting of the monster here?”
“No, but it’s the only exciting one. There have been other ‘sightings,’” he said, putting air quotes around the word. “A couple pictures that have turned out to be hoaxes. Mostly, we just say Lake Loch because it sounds cooler than Lochlain. Plus, it’s good for summer tourism.”
He shifted, and I realized he was still straddling my legs. The sun-warmed grass was at my back, and I could hear the water in the distance. The smile faded from my face, and I gazed up at him, the sun glinting off his dark hair and the wind plastering his shirt against his chest.
“Don’t look at me like that, Am.” He warned.
“Like what?” I murmured.
“Like you like what you see.”
“I do.”
He groaned.
“Today’s been the best day of my life, Eddie,” I whispered. “And I can say that because it’s the truth.”
“Amnesia,” he said, coming over me, caging in my head with his elbows. “I think it’s been my best day, too.”
I shook my head. “You’ve had a lot of other days to compete.”
“No one compares to you.”
I sighed. I liked his weight on me and how he blocked the sun and sky. My eyes dipped down his lips, then back up to his eyes.
Without another word, he closed the distance between us. My world tilted on its side as his mouth claimed mine. He kissed me fully, the weight of him over me molding my back into the grass. Without waiting, I slipped my tongue along his lips, then into his mouth, seeking out his. He opened instantly, slanting his head, and our tongues twirled together.
Balancing all his weight on one arm, his hand slid down, grazing my arm from the shoulder to my wrist, his fingers dancing over my palm. Then our fingers linked together.
Eddie kissed a little deeper, his body drooping a little farther against mine. Without thinking, I arched up into him, wanting more, but not sure what.
With a deep groan, Eddie shoved up and off me.
Blinking, I looked up at the blue sky, turning my head to look at him. “Why did you stop?”
“Because I wanted to keep going.”
Well, that didn’t make any sense.
He held out his hand. I gave mine, and he pulled me up so we were sitting so close our shoulders pressed together.
Reaching for the box, Eddie grabbed another lobster roll and took a big bite. “C’mon.” He cajoled. “Try one.”
“Are they good?” I asked, wrinkling my nose. “I’m not so sure about it.”
“Maine is famous for its lobster,” he said and shoved another bite in his mouth.
Well, he sure did seem to like them.
Chuckling, he held out the half-eaten roll he was working on. “Here, I’ll share.”
Suddenly, that lobster sandwich thing had a lot more appeal because it had been between his lips. “Yeah?” I asked, leaning toward it.
He nodded, holding out the food so I could take a bite. The bread was soft; the flavor of the meat, seasonings, and sauce was savory. I chewed as it all melded together in my mouth in a symphony of taste.
“It’s actually really good,” I said, swallowing it down.
“That’s my girl,” Eddie said, wrapping his arm around my waist. He held it out, offering me another bite, and I took it.
Laying my head against his chest as I chewed, we both stared out across the water. “So what about Rumor Island?” I said, staring at the large formation out in the center of the lake. “Tell me some stories about it.”
“Maybe another day,” he murmured. I could tell he was far less keen to talk about the island than the Loch Ness.
“Are those stories true?”
“Some of them.” He hedged, looking down.
I started to speak, but he covered my lips, effectively silencing me. “I could kiss you all fucking day,” he murmured against them.
I smiled and leaned into him.
After about a second of kissing, I felt a tickle in my throat. Clearing it, I went right back to his lips, but it happened again.
“Am?” he said, drawing back.
I ducked my head and coughed. “I think there’s something in my throat,” I croaked.
“I’ll get the water,” he said, reaching for it.
I coughed again, then tried to swallow, but my throat was incredibly thick feeling. Blindly, I reached out, groping for Eddie’s arm.
“I don’t—” I started to wheeze. The world tilted, and I felt faint.
“Amnesia?”
I looked up, blinking. “I can’t breathe.” I gasped, reaching for my throat.
“Holy shit,” he said, grabbing my chin and studying my face. “You’re breaking out in hives.”
“Wha—” I couldn’t speak. The need to breathe was too strong; trying to get air in was becoming impossible.
Eddie dropped my chin, and my entire body drooped forward. I caught a glimpse of my arm, and I slid toward the ground. It was full of red welts.
What was happening to me?
“You’re having an allergic reaction,” he said, his voice completely panicked. It made me panic.
I reached for my throat, wheezing.
“You need medicine. Right now.” He surged to his feet, glanced around rapidly. Leaning down, his words were frantic. “I’ll be right back, Am. I’ll be right back. Stay awake. Breathe.”
He disappeared from sight, and it caused me to panic. Where was he going? Why was he leaving me?
Oh my God, I can’t breathe!
“Eddie,” I wheezed, but the sound didn’t carry. I heard him shouting, but his voice was getting farther away.
My vision started to grow dim around the edges; the sky began to grow dark. I felt like I was choking, like I was dying.
For the second time.
A figure backed by the lowering sun appeared above me. My heart leapt thinking it was Eddie, but then I realized the shape was all wrong.