Read Remember Me (Men of Honor Series Book 1) for Free Online Page B

hair was twisted up in some kind of knot with wisps of curls dangling around her face. She was breathtaking.
    He looked up to see three faces staring at him in anticipation.
    “You remember?” Mike asked.
    He looked at Tess. She blinked. Tears threatened to fall. Why would his remembering make her sad? Her hand on his arm caused a wave of warmth to run through him.
    He shook his head and closed his eyes. “I don’t know…” He opened his eyes and looked again at the photo. Nothing happened. He didn’t see anything. The image was gone.
    “Did the picture trigger something?” Emma asked. She took the phone back.
    “Maybe. It was weird, though. It felt like a memory. It was of a blond woman in a blue dress with her hair up, like at a dressy event. Her face was unclear.” He looked at Tess again. So many images… thoughts swam through his brain, but he just couldn’t grab one and hold onto it.
    He noticed Tess had gone pale and sat back in her chair again just staring at him. He ran his hands through his hair and then rubbed his face. He felt so much better with his beard shorter, like it was meant to be that way. Is that how he always wore it? He clenched his jaw at the frustration of not knowing.
    Mike put a hand on his shoulder. “You okay?”
    “Yeah. I’m fine.” But he knew his voice betrayed him.
    Tess’s silence only seemed to add to his angst. He pushed his chair back and stood. “I think I’ll go for a walk. I need to think.”
    “Want me to go with you?” Mike offered.
    “No, thanks. I’ll just walk down to the pier and back. You guys finish your dinner. I’m not hungry anymore.”
    He left the table without looking back.
     
    ***
     
    The tears that had threatened to fall broke through Tess’s resolve and slid down her cheeks.
    “Do you think you should go after him?” Emma asked, still gripping her phone.
    “No. Give him some time alone. It hasn’t been that long since his accident,
    and he’s got a lot to deal with.” Mike. Always the voice of reason.
    “I should tell him.” Tess wiped her face with a napkin.
    “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.” Mike said.
    She looked at him, doing nothing to hide her shock. “Why? Weren’t you just sitting here when he recalled just one image of me and how much that shook him up? He remembered me at my sister’s wedding just over a year ago. He was with me. I can’t just sit here and watch him suffer.”
    “Look, T, we don’t even know if your telling him the truth would cause him to remember.”
    His words knocked her head clear.
    Emma chimed in. “That’s a good point. You could tell him everything, Tess, and he might still not remember. Then he just has your story to go on and what if he didn’t believe you? Wow, what a mess.”
    “Tell me about it.” Tess took another napkin and blew her nose. “The officer at the hospital said the rental car company will call back and give them the name on his driver’s license. He’ll know soon enough. I guess I’ll decide what to do from there. Look, I’m gonna just walk home. I need some time to myself.”
    “Are you sure?” Emma put a gentle hand on her arm.
    “Yeah, I’m sure.” She stood to leave.
    “Just check in when you get back so we know you’re okay.”
    “Sure.” She couldn’t help but smile at her friends’ concern for her. Turning to Emma she asked, “Would you take my purse back for me? I’ll probably run most of the way.”
    Emma nodded. Tess grabbed her ID and bank card from her wallet and then handed Emma her purse. “I’ll pay for pizza next time, okay?”
    “No worries. Take your time.” Mike’s smile never failed to reassure her that things would be fine. Although she couldn’t imagine how this time. Emma was right. What a mess.
    “Love you guys.”
    She left the restaurant with the echo of “Love you too” in her ears.
     
    ***
     
    The rhythm of her feet hitting the pavement brought the calm Tess sought, the focus she sorely needed.