I didn’t get a cream puff, although I looked at them longingly. That felt like something for Hayes and me.
I caught him watching me equally covertly, his eyes trailing up and then back down my body. He was totally checking me out, I thought, hiding my smile behind my latte as I walked back to the table and sat down. That would mean that we didn’t know each other, right, because surely, he wouldn’t check out another guy’s fiancé.
Right?
“I don’t want to sound weird,” I began, “although I kind of already do. But do you know me?”
He shifted in his seat. “Should I?”
Relief coursed through me. “No. Sorry. I…have a bad memory for faces. I didn’t want to be rude if we had met and I didn’t remember.” A half-truth, but perfectly acceptable, I decided. I didn’t want to be known as Amnesia Girl.
“Nope. We’ve never met.” He extended a hand, and I took it, noting that it swallowed mine whole. I’d noticed that about Hayes’s hand, too. “I’m Levi.”
“Birdie.” I held up a hand when his lips parted. “Please don’t say it. My mother had a thing for the movie All About Eve.”
An easy laugh escaped him, and he leaned back in his chair, long legs sprawling in front of him. “Levi’s not much better. So, tell me about Birdie. Something other than the fact that you like tea instead of coffee.” He picked up his own steaming mug and gestured to mine.
“A truly fascinating piece of information.” I contemplated telling him that I actually did like coffee…just not while I was pregnant. It made me want to barf. That revelation would be oversharing with a total stranger, though. “There’s not much to tell.” I took a sip of my tea, feeling the irony of my words. “I graduated from here last year. I’m just back to visit the campus.”
There was an assessing glint in his eyes. “Ah. An older woman. How do you feel about younger men?”
“Meh. They’re so-so.” His mouth opened in mock outrage and I giggled.
It felt good, this light flirtation with a handsome man. For a little while, I didn’t let myself think about being pregnant. Having amnesia. Belonging to a man I didn’t know.
For just this moment in time, I wanted to be me, and me only. The essence of me, minus all the baggage that came with.
We talked instead about safe, shallow topics. Food and our idea of fun. Where we grew up and what we wanted to be. When I grew quiet about things I couldn’t remember, Levi carried the conversation easily. He shifted to music and movies, and if he wondered why all of my favorites were ancient, he was polite enough not to mention it.
Finally, I stood and collected my wallet clutch from where I’d laid it. “I need to head out. It was really nice to meet you, Levi.”
His chair pushed across the floor with a screech as he rose, as well. “Whoa, what’s the big rush?”
I made a point of looking at the time on my phone. “I’m not rushing. I spent longer than I planned in here, thanks to you.” I softened my words with a crooked smile. “Anyway, I wanted to walk the campus for a little while and if I’m going to finish up by dusk I need to get going.”
He grabbed his jacket from his chair and started tossing his books in a satchel on the floor. “Let me walk with you. I’m finished for the day.”
“Oh.” I chewed on the inside corner of my lip. “I feel I need to tell you…I’m kind of with someone right now.” He didn’t reply with anything more than an interested expression. “I didn’t want to give you the wrong impression.”
His chin tipped up, and he slung his bag over his shoulder. “All right, then. You ready?”
I walked through the door when he held it open for me. “I’m confused.”
“Kind of doesn’t mean definitely. Until then, I think I like hanging out with you if that’s okay?”
“Yeah, I guess. I mean, I like hanging out with you, too. It’s just — damnit. I’m going to have to tell you everything, now.”
He smirked down at me and cupped a hand to his ear. “Lay it on me. I’m a good listener.”
We took a sidewalk that wound in and around campus, strolling at an easy pace. I let him lead, not having any clear sense of direction.
“Long story short, I had a car accident a few weeks ago. I woke up from a coma with amnesia.”
He stopped walking. “You’re shitting me.”
“I wish. It’s been…difficult. To make things even more complicated, there’s a man I don’t remember telling me I’m his fiancé. And I’m…” I trailed off, unable to bring myself to say the rest out loud.
“What?” Levi prompted.
“Nothing.” I shook my head. “That’s enough, right?”
“That’s a lot, for sure. Just tell me this. This guy…do you feel safe with him?” He paused before the word safe.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean it’s bound to be a little unsettling, having some strange dude tell you you’re his fiancé and you’re getting married. Is he a creep? Does he scare you or make you feel uncomfortable?”
“No! Oh, no, nothing like that. Although, it is weird as hell. I feel guilty because I don’t feel much of anything for him. Except maybe gratitude that he’s not pushing or putting any pressure on me to pick up where we left off.” I bit my lip, thinking. “He’s actually a really nice guy.”
“Good. Hey, give me your phone,” he demanded, stopping again.
“Why?” I pulled it from my back pocket and handed it to him.
“Because I’m going to need more of this story, and I figure that dude stalking this way might be the one you were just referring to?” I looked up sharply to find Hayes was, indeed, making his way across the street in our direction, his movements jerky.
“Umm, yeah. That’s Hayes.”
“He’s my c — I mean, one of my professors.” He shook his head as he stumbled over his words.
There wasn’t time for further conversation before Hayes was upon us. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and tugged me into his side. “Birdie. What are you doing here? Is this guy bothering you?” He glared at Levi.
“No! He’s just being friendly. W-what in the world, Hayes?” I pushed at his chest, but he didn’t budge. He and Levi eyed each other over my head, and finally Levi extended a hand for Hayes to shake.
“Hi. I’m Levi. I’m in one of your classes.”
Hayes took his hand and gripped it, holding for an unnecessarily long period of time. I could smell the testosterone and pulled free. “Jesus, Hayes. What’s the matter with you?”
Hayes relaxed abruptly and winked — at me or Levi, I couldn’t tell. “All’s good, Mini. Nice to meet you, Levi. Thank you for keeping my girl occupied.”
I rolled my eyes. “Why don’t you just brand me, Big?”
Levi broke eye contact with Hayes and offered me a lazy smirk. “No problem, Professor Ellison. Anything for this pretty girl. Enjoyed the conversation, Birdie.” He gave me a half-salute with and turned and walked away, his gait unhurried and posture relaxed.