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thin.
    Not that it mattered. Why was she even thinking about that?
    What mattered now was not getting Alex’s hopes up until she made a decision. When she called him, it would be to tell him whether or not she had decided to accompany him to Florida.
    If you think going to Florida will help, then go. But if it’s going to be more painful than anything, then I think you shouldn’t do it.
    Remembering Shayna’s words gave Brianne a sense of comfort. Her sister was right. She didn’t have to do anything she didn’t want to do—especially if it was painful.
    And Brianne didn’t know if she could handle seeing Carter if he didn’t remember her.
    Worse, she didn’t know if she could handle seeing him if he were involved with someone else.
     
    The next morning, Brianne’s ambiguity over what to do made her angry with herself. She had been sitting at herdesk, re searching possible causes for temporary amnesia via the internet, and now pushed her chair back and stood. Why was she afraid to deal with a challenging situation? She had been ready to walk down the aisle with Carter, and in her vows she would have promised to be there for her husband in good times and bad. Sure, they hadn’t actually gotten married—because fate had intervened. What would she have done if she’d been married to Carter and then he’d disappeared? Bailed on him when he needed help?
    Brianne made her way downstairs. She needed coffee. If Carter is alive, how can I not go to him? she asked herself as she descended the steps. No matter how hard it might be, how can I not help him get back to his former self?
    Brianne set the Irish cream-flavored coffee to brew, then went back to her bedroom. There she reached for a stuffed teddy bear on her dresser, one she’d had from childhood. She held the bear close to her chest, drawing comfort from her childhood toy. Carter had always teased her for still having a teddy bear she turned to for comfort, but old habits die hard.
    Her heart rate accelerated. Was it possible that Carter truly was alive?
    The thought was overwhelming. And she needed to talk to someone about it. There was one only one person who understood what she was going through because he himself had experienced it—and that was Alex.
    Brianne moved to her night table and lifted the card he’d given her. Then she plopped down on her bed and lifted the receiver.
    She dialed the cell number, which rang four times before going to voice mail. Only then did she consider that at only ten minutes after eight, Alex might still be in bed.
    Brianne hung up, not wanting to leave a message.

    She was surprised when, not more than ten minutes later, the phone rang in the kitchen—and the caller ID showed Alex’s number.

Chapter 4
    “H ello?” Brianne said.
    “You called me?” came the deep reply.
    She’d already known it was Alex calling her, and yet her stomach fluttered at the sound of his voice. Obviously she was anxious over everything.
    “Yeah,” she said softly. “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t wake you.”
    “I’ve been up since six-thirty. I went to the gym, then came home and was in the shower when you called.”
    Wow. Talk about dedication. Not that she was surprised. His body was still amazing.
    “Oh. Well, that’s good then.”
    “Have you made a decision?” Alex asked.
    “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I wanted to talk more than anything else.”
    “What’s on your mind?”
    She hesitated. “Do you feel…”

    “Feel what?”
    Brianne suddenly wasn’t sure how to pose the question.
    “Brianne?” Alex prompted.
    “Ambiguous,” she said, forcing the word from her throat. “A little uncertain about everything?”
    “Of course I do,” Alex said. “Brianne, I know this isn’t going to be easy.”
    “It’s just…I want to be there for Carter. If I were the one lost out there somewhere, I’d want him to try to find me. And yet…”
    On the other end of the line, Alex’s breath caught in his chest. “Yet