I met his gaze that was just inches from mine. “I wasn’t in Denver that long. And I knew Angie. We went on a triple date. Remember? I told you that. And I met Teagan. She was an orthodontist. Remember her?”
He shook his head, eyes narrowed.
“Well, you slept over at her place more than once.”
“Then there was Tiffany the interior designer. Remember her? Rose fixed you up with her.”
Another slow head shake.
“I met your harem. I knew you enjoyed your women. So what do you think? Do you think your friend’s daughter, the eighteen-year-old virgin living in your basement, knew that you liked her? Do you think you took time out of your sex life to bond with her over crossword puzzles?”
“Yes.” He nodded slowly.
He was so close to remembering. I just wanted him to do it. I wanted to be there when he remembered more about me than my Happy Meal deliveries. I wanted him to say “I loved you.” I didn’t want to tell him that he loved me. So I gave him the inch he was searching for, maybe the inch, the nudge he needed.
“I was having a rough day. You took me to your parents’ house and showed me your boxes of crossword puzzles. Nerd status on full display. So if that meant you liked me …” I shrugged. “Then I guess you liked me.”
Fisher did that squinting thing, a painful expression. His brain tried so hard to remember, to repair the connections, to bring back the images and the emotions that went with them. “I liked you so much … I hate that I can’t remember that feeling. But it’s the only explanation. I must have been scared out of my mind to tell you. Or maybe it was Rory. She would have killed me. We’ve seen that.”
I bit the inside of my cheek while returning a single nod, trying to hide my disappointment.
He liked me a lot.
Was that emotionally a step above getting Angie pregnant? Puzzles over a baby?
“I’m going to go home and think about this.”
“Okay.” I drew in a breath and held it along with all my emotions.
“If I don’t get to see you before Thanksgiving, have a good one.”
“Yeah, thanks. You too.”
“Love you.”
I nodded as my heart ached.
Tell him!
It was such an agonizing predicament. Tell him and feel heartbroken when he didn’t remember. Don’t tell him and drown in the anxiety of wanting him to know. Angie told him everything or nearly everything and she received zero satisfaction in return.
“Love you.” I slid my hand into his hair and leaned forward, pressing my lips to his.
Chapter Twenty-Five
I had to make an actual trip to Target after McDonald’s with Fisher so I didn’t show up empty handed. It wouldn’t have mattered. Rose and Rory had a much better distraction sitting at the kitchen with an open bottle of wine and three glasses.
“Hey,” I said with fake enthusiasm after preparing myself when I saw her vehicle.
Three women in yoga pants, sweaters, and fuzzy socks. Three women with their hair in various ponytail positions. And not a speck of makeup.
“Join us. I’ll grab you a glass. Angie just needed a little girl time.” Rory’s hard gaze was a little more intense at the moment. Angie’s visit resurrected her anger. Rose nervously chewing her lips confirmed it.
“How have you been?” I took a seat, feeling overdressed in jeans and damp panties from Fisher’s hand down them. Yes. I absolutely thought about that while smiling at his fiancée. Ironically, I found it easier to feel sorry for her when I wasn’t in the same room, except the wedding dress day. I fell victim to that trap like everyone else.