16
1260 Words
Friday
I half expected to wake up in the cocoon of warmth that only James’ arms seemed to provide. But I wasn’t tucked into his side when I opened my eyes. His smell was still all around me though. I sighed. So I was still stuck in this alternate reality. I took a deep breath. Why was I comforted by the smell of him?
“Morning, hot stuff,” said a deep, unfamiliar voice.
I screamed at the top of my lungs as I fell off the bed in a pathetic attempt to get away.
“s**t. You okay?”
I looked up at the face staring down at me. It was the man that looked similar to James. His brother. I couldn’t remember his name. “What are you doing in my bed?” Was this a brother thing? Them showing up in inappropriate places?
“I promised James I’d watch you. And when I got here last night you were already sleeping.” He climbed off the bed and stuck his hand out for me to help me to my feet.
I ignored his outstretched hand and scrambled to my feet by myself. “That doesn’t answer my question. Why were you sleeping next to me instead of James?”
“Because I was tired.” He pushed his hair away from his eyes. “Geez, lighten up, will you? It’s not like we banged. Even though I’m sure you wanted it.” He winked at me.
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch, Penny. You’re acting like we’ve never joked around like this before.”
“Because we haven’t joked around like this before. Wait, do we usually?”
“Always.”
“Oh my God, am I cheating on James with you?”
“What?” He laughed and stared at me like I was a lunatic. “Of course not. We’re both happily married. To other people. But don’t look so shocked. I would have thought we’d have ended up together too.” He winked again.
“Stop winking at me.”
He proceeded to wink a third time.
“You’re juvenile.”
“Me? I’m not the one strutting around here pretending to be 19 years old.”
“I haven’t been strutting. And I am 19 years old. Everyone around me has lost their freaking minds.”
“Cut it out.” He started walking away from me like he was frustrated.
It was my job to be frustrated, not his. “Cut what out?”
“This whole woe-is-me thing you’ve got going on. It’s like you’re not even trying to remember. And stop attempting to distract me from how annoyed I am by not putting pants on.”
I knew my cheeks were turning bright red. I tugged on the hem of James’ shirt. “I’m not even convinced that there is anything to remember. As far as I know this is all just a really awful dream.”
“Exactly. You’re not trying. Meanwhile, James needs you. You’re the only one that can fix this.”
“I don’t know how to fix anything. He’s an adult. I’m sure he’s fine.”
“Earth to Penny. You’re an adult too.”
I’m a teenager. My fingers abandoned the hem of the shirt. “Why are you so angry with me?” All of this was hard on me too. At least he had all his memories intact.
“I’m…” his voice trailed off. “I’m not mad at you.” He lowered both his eyebrows just like James frequently did. “You just freaked me out, Penny. I thought I lost you.” He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. “I thought I lost you,” he mumbled into my hair.
This seemed…intimate. I could tell that we were close. Maybe he’d fill me in on the details I was missing. He thought he lost me. So whatever had happened to me was really bad. “Did I almost die or something?”
He squeezed me one last time before releasing me from his embrace. “I’m under strict instructions to only talk about positive memories. Things from early on in your relationship with James to help jog your memories.” He tapped the side of my head. “You hungry?”
I shied away from his outstretched hand. “I could eat.”
“That’s the spirit.” His eyes traveled down my body, reminding me I was just in a t-shirt. “Pants. Now. You’re killing me, woman.”
I laughed and stepped back from him. “Aren’t you married?”
“Aren’t you? Stop flirting with me, it’s inappropriate.”
“I’m not flirting with you. If anything, you’re flirting with me.”
“Sure.” He winked at me. “I’ll be downstairs. Put on a bra too.”
Before I could respond, he was out the door.
What a weirdo. But I liked him. He was fun and carefree. The complete opposite of James.
***
“What’s your name again?” I asked as I scooted into the seat across from him at the table.
He laughed. But when he realized I wasn’t kidding, his smile vanished. “You’re shitting me.”
“I know we met the other day. I just…I met so many people and I…”
“Rob.” He cleared his throat. “Robert if you’re being an ass.”
“Okay, Robert.”
He laughed. “What have I done to earn that?”
“Nothing, I just wanted to see your reaction. Did you make this?” I lifted up the fork that was sitting next to my plate. Delicious looking pancakes, fresh fruit, hash browns…I practically started drooling before I got a bite into my mouth. So freaking good. It was like Rob knew all my favorite things.
“No, Ellen did.”
“Who’s Ellen?”
“James’ other wife.”
My fork clattered down onto my plate. “What? Are you serious? I’m in some sort of polygamy nightmare? I knew it. I knew all of this was too good to be true.” I waved my arm around the fancy room and then lowered my voice. “How many women is he married to?”
Rob had started laughing halfway through my rant and by the time I was finished he was doubled over laughing.
“Rob!”
“You’re still as gullible as ever,” he said through fits of laughter. “Geez, you should have seen your face.”
“It’s not funny.” I reached across the table and slapped his arm. “Does that mean it isn’t true?”
“James is head over heels in love with you and only you. I swear.”
“Good.” Good? I didn’t even know the man. Why was that a good thing?
Rob smiled. “Good.”
I took another bite of my pancakes. They really were delicious. “Wait, so who is Ellen?”
“Your housekeeper s***h chef s***h personal shopper s***h whatever.”
“You mean I don’t have to cook or clean or…”
“Yup. You’ve got it made.”
“Huh.”
He finished chewing as he stared at me. “What?”
“Nothing. I just…” I let my voice trail off. “I kind of like cleaning. And cooking. I’ve never pictured myself having a housekeeper.”
“Trust me, you love Ellen.”
- Writer
