by L. P. Dover
“I know, but I think it’ll be best if you figure it out on your own. It’s not going to be easy, but when you’re ready, you’ll need to spend time with both of them. Right now, you’re not the same person you were. Maybe you won’t be interested in either of them. I don’t know what’s going through your mind or how you feel, but being around those who care about you should help.”
“What if I don’t want to get married? What happens then?” I didn’t know Grayson very well, but from what I could remember, he was a great guy. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him.
A heavy sigh escaped Summer’s lips. “Then you won’t get married, Lara. Hearts are going to get broken, no matter who you choose.”
I wanted to go back to sleep and wake up with my memories. I’d hoped I was in a dream, but a quick pinch to my arm proved otherwise. I was stuck in hell until I could remember.
“Oh,” she squealed. “We have our own restaurant now. It’s been rated the number one spot in North Carolina. We call it Carolina Tavern.”
Eyes wide, I stared at her in shock. The last thing I remembered was her being a nurse and me finishing up my degree at the University of Georgia. How could we go from that to owning a restaurant? So many things had happened and I couldn’t remember a damn one of them.
Tears clouded my vision and I covered my face, angrily wiping at my eyes. “I feel so lost,” I cried.
Summer leaned over the bed and held me. “I know, but I promise your memories will come back. I’m going to do everything I can to make it so.”
“How?”
She stepped back and smiled. “By starting you off with the first person you ever met when you came to Charlotte.”
“Who?”
“Your best friend . . . Kate.”
I was going out of my fucking mind. It’d been two days since Lara was released from the hospital, and I hadn’t seen her, let alone heard her voice. Evan kept me updated, so I knew her parents had come into town and left this morning. I wanted to see her before I left for Atlanta, but it didn’t look like that was going to happen.
The only thing giving me any kind of relief was that she hadn’t seen Grayson either. If Lara couldn’t retrieve her memories, there was a good chance she wouldn’t choose me. The thought of losing her again ripped me the fuck apart.
“Looking tight out there, Collins,” Zane hollered. I rode toward him on my brand new KTM 450SX and stopped. He helped take off my helmet and set it down. “You were on fire out there. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so aggressive.”
Chance had already left for Atlanta, since he had family down there, but I’d decided to stay back as long as I could, in case I could see Lara. “Thanks. I just want to win this weekend.”
Zane chuckled. “Ride like that and I have no doubt you will.”
I hopped off my bike and wheeled it into my garage. “When are you heading to Atlanta?”
“Tonight. Want to ride with me?”
I shook my head. “I’m gonna stick around a little while longer. I’ll be up there tomorrow.”
Crossing his arms, he stepped forward. “Your head is in this, right?”
I set my bike up on its stand and laughed. “Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. The past couple of weeks have been hard on you. I don’t want to see you slip up like you did this past year.”
Ever since Lara decided to be with me, it’d given me the motivation to be better at everything; not only a better man for her, but better in every aspect of my life. I was going to make sure to be that person, no matter what happened.
Facing him head on, I hoped he could see the determination in my gaze. “I’m not going to lose. I can promise you that.”
With a satisfied smile, he held out his hand. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
I shook his hand and watched him get in his car and drive away. My bike was dirty from the mud, so I hosed it off before walking inside to take a shower. When I checked my phone, there was a missed call from Evan. I hurried to call him back.
“Hey, man,” he answered.
“Hey, what’s up? Sorry I missed your call.” I was hoping he’d tell me Lara got her memories back, but I wasn’t so lucky.
“No worries. I was just letting you know Lara’s doing well. Her parents left about an hour ago, and tomorrow she’s going to be with Kate.”
“What about Grayson? Has he tried to weasel his way in there?” I hated that fucker more and more, with each passing day. Although, I’d called Lara’s phone a few times over the past couple days. I knew she hadn’t had it replaced after the accident, but I wanted to hear her voice through voicemail. As lame as it sounded, it was the only way I felt close to her.
“He’s called Summer a few times, but he hasn’t stopped by. Saturday is my day with Lara, so I’ll make sure to put in a good word about you. Hopefully, she’ll be down to watch your race.”
I sighed. “I can only hope. I’m going to need all the help I can get, especially if Grayson’s going to keep being a crap bag by lying to her. I can’t believe that fucker’s playing dirty. That’s usually my move.”
“Don’t do anything stupid,” he warned.
“Not planning on it, jackass. I have one last chance to make things right, and I’m not gonna screw it up. If Lara wants the truth, I’m going to give it to her. I’m not going to feed her bullshit so she’ll pick me.” I wanted her to choose me, but I knew without a doubt that I had to do it the right way. I’d played dirty before and it bit me in the ass.
“Smart man,” Evan agreed. “I’m sure once this weekend is over, you’ll be able to see her. She’s still adjusting to everything. To her, this is all new. Imagine having to catch up on everything that’s happened the past five years.”
It would be a fucking headache, that’s what it would be. My last five years was a whirlwind of events. Most of it was spent racing and having sex with countless women; at least, up until Lara came into my life. I’d give anything to go back and change what I’d done. Unfortunately, I couldn’t and I had to move forward.
“What all is Lara doing tonight?” I asked curiously.
“I think she’s staying in and watching movies. She’s still a little weak from the accident.”
As long as she wasn’t with Grayson, I was fine. “Just keep me updated with everything. I’m dying to see her.”
“I know,” Evan murmured. “You will soon.”
We hung up and I took a quick shower. It was a Thursday night, and usually, I’d go to the tavern to see Evan or hang out with my friends, but there was no point, since Lara wasn’t there. She was the only reason I ever dropped in.
Sitting down on the couch, I turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. “Well I’ll be damned.” I’d found North and South, Lara’s favorite.
Picking up my phone, I called her number again. I knew she wasn’t going to answer, but I wanted to leave her a message, even if it pissed Summer off. Lara needed to know I loved her, and I was going to do anything I could to help her remember. The phone rang and I was expecting her voicemail.
“Hello?” a voice answered. My heart stopped and I froze. “Luke, you there?”
“Yeah,” I blurted. “Hearing your voice just caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting you to answer.”
“I got a new phone today. They were able to transfer my contacts into this new one. I don’t see how, since my other one was completely destroyed.”
Flashbacks of the accident raced through my mind. I remembered seeing her decimated phone on the pavement, knowing just moments before, she’d been talking to me. “Yes, I know,” I recalled. “You were talking to me when you were hit.”
Her breath caught and I wished like hell I knew what she was thinking. “What did we talk about?”
“I’d just told you I loved you. It was something I’d wanted to tell you for a long time.”
“God, I’d give anything to get my life back,” she murmured.
“You will. We just
have to make you remember.” It killed me not to tell her how much I wished I could see her, but I had to give her the time she needed.
“Do you think I will?” she asked.
“I hope so. We’re going to work hard to make sure you do. I think Kate’s coming by tomorrow to spend time with you. She’s your best friend.”
“Yes, I’ve met her. She came by for a few minutes yesterday morning to drop off some blueberry pancakes. I liked that she talked to me as if nothing had happened. I wish Summer could be like that. I don’t like being treated like an invalid.”
The thought made me laugh. She sounded so much like the Lara I knew. “She’s just trying to take care of you, like you did for her when her husband died. You were there for her the entire time.”
“And she won’t tell me what happened to him. It’s driving me crazy.”
“It’ll all come back to you. It wasn’t exactly a good time in her life.”
The line went quiet, then she gasped. “Are you watching North and South?”
I was so wrapped up in talking to her, I’d completely forgotten the sole reason I’d called. “Yes,” I said, remembering the way her hair smelled the night we fell asleep on her couch. “It’s the reason I called. I was going to leave you a message to say I was watching it, and it reminded me of a night we spent together, but then you picked up.”
“I was about to ask how you knew it was my favorite, but then I guess there are a lot of things you know about me.”
“I do,” I murmured. “And if there’s anything you want to know about me, I’m always here for you. Feel free to call me anytime.”
“You’re not going to treat me like I’m going to break, are you?”
“No, because that’s not the kind of girl you are.” I didn’t want to bombard her with everything at once, so I did what I didn’t want to do. “I should probably let you get some rest. Summer is not going to like the fact I called you. She’s really . . .”
“Protective of me?” she finished with a laugh. “Yes, I know. But it’s time I start making my own decisions. She told me about you and Grayson. I know I have a history with you both, but I’ve heard two different stories. I don’t know what to believe.”
My first thought was to tell her Grayson was a fucking liar, but that wasn’t going to win me anything. I had to show her I was the one she chose in the end. “I tell you what,” I began, “I have to leave tomorrow for a race, but as soon as I get back, I’d love to see you—if you’re ready, that is. We can talk and I’ll answer anything you ask of me.”
“I’d like that. Be safe at your race. Evan told me you’re one of the best.”
I chuckled. “I try to be.” The line went quiet and I didn’t want to let her go, but I’d take this phone call as a small victory. “Sweet dreams, Lara.”
“Goodnight,” she murmured.
We hung up and I laid down on the couch, watching the same movie I knew Lara was. The only thing missing was having her by my side.
I fell asleep on the couch and woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee. Someone was fumbling around in the kitchen and when I sat up, I saw Kate standing in front of the stove, her blonde hair pulled high in a ponytail.
“Doesn’t look like much has changed over the last five years.” She laughed. “You still like to sleep until noon.”
I rubbed a hand over my face and groaned. “How did you know I was awake?”
She stepped into the doorway and tapped her ears. “I’m the mother of a rambunctious toddler. I have eagle ears and eyes in the back of my head, otherwise he’d be all over the house, doing God knows what.” Grabbing two cups of coffee, she carefully walked into the living room and handed me one.
“Thanks,” I said. “So where’s your son now?”
She sat down and took a sip of her coffee. “With my husband, Cooper. I figured you could spend the day with me, and next week you can see him. You used to love babysitting him.” She showed me a picture of him on her phone.
“He’s so cute. He looks just like you.”
She snorted. “But he acts like his father.” We both laughed and I saw why she was my best friend. Her smile was infectious and I could see myself in her. It was almost like we were sisters. “What do you want to do today?” she asked.
“Don’t know. What is there to do around here?”
“Since it’s summertime, we can always lay out by my pool and talk. Usually, we’d run together every morning, but since you’re still recovering, it might not be a good idea.”
My muscles were a little sore and I still had a headache that hadn’t gone away yet. “The pool sounds great. I just need to find a bathing suit.”
“Need help? I’m sure you could use an extra set of eyes.”
I chuckled. “Got that right. I don’t even recognize most of the stuff I have.” I finished my coffee and she followed me up to my room. I had two dressers so she took one and I looked through the other.
“Who all have you seen since being back home?” she inquired.
“Only you, my parents, Evan, and Summer. Why?”
She glanced at me over her shoulder. “Just asking. I was curious if you’ve seen Luke or Grayson.”
Clearing my throat, I turned back to my drawers and kept looking for my bathing suit. “Not yet. I’m a little nervous about seeing them.”
“Why?”
I pushed my pajamas aside and found a stack of magazines hidden underneath. When I pulled them out, my heart raced. “Because I don’t know what I’m going to find.”
“I can tell you I just found you a bathing suit,” she exclaimed happily.
“And I found something else.” Turning around, I dropped the magazines on the bed. She handed me my bathing suit, then sat beside the magazines, flipping through them. There was a common theme . . . they were all sports magazines with Luke on the cover.
“I didn’t know you had all of these,” she said.
“Neither did I. I didn’t realize he was so famous.” His name was plastered on all the magazines, with pictures of him in various poses. Some showed him in his gear, sailing through the air off different jumps. Others had close-ups of his face, his emerald gaze making me shiver.
“Oh yes, he is,” she informed me. “He’s one of the best dirt bike riders in the country.”
I stared at his picture, recollecting the way he sounded on the phone; his voice gentle and concerned. When I’d seen his name flash up on my phone screen, I had to answer. I was curious about both of these mystery men. There was a story there, and I was determined to find out the truth.
Taking a deep breath, I blew it out slow. “Luke called me last night,” I blurted.
Kate’s eyes went wide. “He did? Did you answer?”
I nodded and looked back down at one of the magazines. “He was going to just leave a message, and I caught him off guard. I could tell he wasn’t expecting me to pick up.”
“What all did you talk about?”
“Not much,” I said with a shrug. “He said the night of the accident he’d told me he loved me. Is it wrong that my whole body shivered when I heard it? My heart literally jumped at his voice.”
She smiled, but it was sad. “You were in love with him for a long time, Lara.”
“What happened between us?”
She opened her mouth to speak, then shut it. “A lot of things, I guess. It’s probably best if he explains everything to you. Though, I will tell you he’s grown up a lot this past year.”
“What about Grayson?”
A giggle escaped her lips. “Evan told me what happened between those two buffoons. I must say, you have a challenge on your hands. Looks like you’re going to have to make a choice.” Then her gaze turned serious and she stood, handing me my bathing suit. “Or you could pick neither of them. Luke is a dear friend of mine, and Grayson is an amazing man. My opinion is biased, so I don’t want to say anything to sway your decision. It’s something you’re going to have to do on your own.”
; Kate was Evan’s sister, so it was obvious who her choice would be. Although, I did respect that she didn’t want to say anything. It was for the best that I approach both Luke and Grayson with an open mind.
“Now get changed and let’s go. Maybe I can bring Zachary out and we can talk and play at the same time.”
I hurried off to the bathroom. “Sounds good to me.”
Spending the day with Kate was relaxing and fun, but nothing triggered my missing memories. Little Zachary was a hoot and I enjoyed playing with him. Even Cooper joined us in the pool and told me stories. When he and Kate were seeing each other, he told me there were times I had to smack some sense into him.
It was now Saturday, and I was spending the day with Summer and Evan. I often wondered how long they were going to keep taking me down memory lane. It was interesting hearing stories about my missed years, but if my memories didn’t come back, I didn’t want to be permanently stuck in the past.
Summer was downstairs getting dinner started. I’d told her I would help as soon as I changed shirts. Evan was giving Emma-Grace a bath, since she’d decided to rub her sweet peas all in her hair, after tossing a handful onto my shirt.
My phone beeped and I realized the only people who knew I had a phone were Summer and Luke. I looked at the screen and there was a text from Luke.
Luke: Just wanted to say I was thinking about you.
I glanced at the clock. There was only thirty minutes left until he had to be at the starting line-up.
Me: Shouldn’t you be getting ready for your race?
Luke: I am. Just trying to breathe before I go out.
Me: Good luck!
Luke: Thanks. Can I call you later?
I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face.
Me: Yes.
“Lara, you okay?” Summer asked, knocking on my door.
I still had Emma-Grace’s peas on my shirt, so I ripped it off and found another one in the closet. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just had to change shirts.”