“Yeah?”
“Is Marcus the booty call from the coast?”
I take my bottom lip between my teeth momentarily. “Yep. You want to know what’s ironic about that now?”
“Sure. Ironic I enjoy.”
“I think Marcus was my first.”
“First fuck?” His voice goes high on the words.
“Yep.” I smirk.
“Seriously?”
“I’m pretty sure of it.”
“Well, there you go. You slept with a man in a one-night stand whom you’d already slept with.” As the words leave his lips, we both burst into hysterical laughter. Mosby always makes everything better.
“What’s so funny, you two?” Sammy asks as she comes in through the sliding doors.
“Nothing,” Jackson snickers.
“Well, okay then,” Sammy sings.
“Hey, that’s my thing,” I scoff. “Can you see how much your woman wants to be me? Can’t blame her, really. I’m a pretty awesome, hexed, fucked up, and mega-crazy person.”
“That you are, Abs, that you are,” Mosby chortles, leaning his head against mine.
Sitting across from us, Sammy stares into my eyes. She looks zapped of strength and courage. I hate this look.
“So, when did he give you that back?” Her finger points at my neck.
“Huh?”
“The necklace.”
Huh. It must have fallen against my shoulder as I cuddled into Mosby. “This was mine before?”
“It sure was. He didn’t tell you, did he?”
“No.” I sit up and then take the locket between my fingertips.
“He really hasn’t told you much at all, has he?”
“Nope.”
“So how did you get the locket back?”
“It was on the bed the first morning I woke up here. I wondered how he had purchased it so late at night.”
“Let me guess, in a white box?”
“Yes.” My brow must furrow because Sammy’s does the same.
“The same way he gave it to you the first time.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Graduation present.”
“But I didn’t go to grad. I’d just lost Dad.”
“I know. Have you opened it and looked inside?”
“No.” I play with the charm between my fingertips. “Do I want to?”
“You do.” Sammy’s eyes soften. “Here, let me help you.” She stands and makes her way around the table. Sammy’s gentle touch on the back of my neck gives me the shivers. The clasp undoes and the chain falls limply around my hand as Ginger takes her seat once more. “Well?”
With a heart beating so strongly, I open the locket and lay it flat on my palm. I read the two words engraved, “Forever mine,” out loud in a soft voice.
“He knew right away you were his. He said he would keep you safe come hell or high water, and he would guarantee nothing bad would ever happen to you again. He kept his promise until …”
“Until?”
“Now that you have to remember on your own. You have to wait until your memories want to return.”
“Why?”
“Because sometimes we have to wait for our mind to decide when the right time is, Abi.”
“I fucking hate you now, Ginger.”
“I know you do. I’m not my biggest fan today either.” Sammy’s eyes squeeze tightly together, and she pinches the arch of her nose.
“Headache?” Mosby says, concerned.
“Bad.”
“Abs, she needs to lie down now. Her headaches have been really bad this month.”
“Have you been to the doctor and asked for stronger migraine tablets?” I huff.
“Not yet, but I will …” Sammy’s voice trails off as her face grimaces in pain.
“Bedtime, beautiful,” Mosby commands, taking her hand in his. “Where can she lie down?”
“My room. Top of the stairs and first door to the left.”
“Thanks.” Mosby slips his arms under Sammy’s legs and carries her towards the staircase. “Big day, beautiful,” I hear him say before the sound of the door shutting upstairs lets me know she’ll lie down.
It doesn’t seem like Jackson’s been gone long when he returns to the table. I’m still sitting in the same spot where they left me. I’ve read these two words, inscribed, over and over and can’t stop wondering how, after only knowing me a few short weeks back then, and in such circumstances, Marcus could declare I was his.
“She’s out like a light.”
“Good.” My eyes stay glued to the necklace in my hand.
“Do you want me to put it back on?”
“Um … yeah, okay.”
“This dude has a strong love for you, yeah?”
“Apparently.” The necklace is secured in place once more, and having it around my neck makes me smile.
“What are you smiling for?”
“Someone loved me after only just meeting me. How can you know?”
“You can.” Mosby radiates confidence. “I knew the moment my eyes caught Samantha’s she was my girl. You must have felt the same way about Mike.”
But I didn’t.
“You felt that connection immediately?” I’m inquisitive something so powerful could be that quick.
“Instantly, without a doubt.”
My mouth must form an exaggerated O.
“Yeah, I think I looked just like you do now when those red locks bounced before me.”
I giggle. “You’re a good man, Mosby.”
“The best.”
“And cocky, too.”
He laughs in response.
“Sleep,” I declare, pushing my palms against the table—finding my feet.
“Why don’t you go lie down with Sammy?”
“I think I just might. Will you be okay?”
“In this mega mansion, I’ll be perfectly fine. Someone’s going on a treasure hunt.”
“You do that.” I leave him to his exploration.
Sammy’s face appears tortured when I lie down beside her. A small wrinkle creases between her eyebrows.
“Where would I be if I didn’t have you, Ginger?” I whisper. “Lost,” I answer for her before I drift off to sleep.
Lying down in my bed, my heart weighed heavy. It was a weight only comparable to that of lead. Something poked into the arch of my back, causing me to become uncomfortable.
“Ouch,” I groaned, lifting my bottom. A white box? “What? When? How did this get here?” With my feet flat against the mattress and my knees facing the ceiling, I rolled that box between my hands. Finally opening the lid, I gasped at the sparkling locket hanging from a thin necklace. “Did Dad buy this for me?”
“Graduation Day,” I remembered. “Dad.”
I cried, just as I had done for the past two weeks. Crying was not an issue now. Crying was a normal part of everyday life. The tears only stopped when Marcus arrived to be with me. I didn’t like it when he had to leave because he was the glue that held me together.
The pink curtains swayed, catching my attention as fresh air blew in through the open window. Everything in my room was pink. It had been my favourite colour for so long, well, until Dad died. Now I loathed it.