08
1366 Words
08
Hannah’s POV
“… your cousin’s here to see you, Hannah,” Elise said and my back straightened. “Then we have to leave for field work at the new hotel.”
I held up a finger. “Wait. Backtrack a bit… my cousin?”
A cousin? That was new. If I had to think about it, no one had called since I came back to NewYork. Did I have friends?
Elsie nodded.
For some reason I was excited about it. “Please, send them up. She or he? What’s their name?”
“Gwen Ross. She’s a female.” Elise stepped closer and gave me a small smile. “She was your best friend. Janice was always here and you both were so sneaky. It was a relationship I envied, but loved.”
My mouth fell open as she turned and left. It was the first thing that felt even remotely genuine. I was left to stare at her through the glass doors. Maybe Elise could help me jog my memories?
Two rapid knocks pulled me out of my thoughts, and when it opened, I felt compelled to rise to my feet.
Gwen Ross was a force. Thick black hair like mine, height of a model, and curves that went on for days. She almost looked like me.
“Hannah,” she breathed and pulled me into a hug. Then she held me by the shoulders and scanned me. “It’s really you. Oh my goodness,”
She began to cry, hugging me again. “I knew you weren’t dead. They tried to convince me you were… goodness, I came as soon as I could.”
She scanned me again. “I’m so happy to see you, you have no idea. I heard about your memories and that you were in Portugal.”
Gwen kept talking, pulling me into a hug then scanning me again as if she couldn’t believe I was alive. She spoke fast, I struggled to catch up but I loved it.
She was like a breath of fresh air. She wasn’t tense or awkward around me. She didn’t walk on eggshells around me. In fact, I dared to say that she was the happiest person to see me.
“Thank you for coming to see me, Gwen.” I smiled softly. It was hard learning to adjust… but I was getting there.
When we finally took our seats, she gave me a look. “You look like you haven’t slept. Why?”
Wow. Okay. A startled chuckle left my lips. But she was right. After the nightmare and the call, I couldn’t sleep. Not even a wink. And I was feeling the effect.
“I’m still er… getting used to the house and all. It hasn’t really been easy.” I shrugged.
“You didn’t tell me you married the douchebag, though. I thought we said—”
We turned at the sound of the door opening. It was my dad. He didn’t look surprised to see Gwen, but he also didn’t look happy either.
“Gwen,” he said, voice tight and lips tighter. “I heard you came around. Didn’t know you came back from Cali.”
Gwen hugged my dad. “Yes, Uncle Trey. And I got you some souvenirs. I’d definitely be by the house now that Hannah is back.”
“Of course. Can I have a word with you… outside?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why?” I asked.
Suspicion gnawed at the back of mind like an itch that couldn’t be scratched.
My dad’s eyes hardened. “Focus on your work sweetie, by the way, Your mom booked an appointment for you with a therapist. She said you should check your email.”
“I don’t need a therapist—”
But they’d already left, shutting the door on their way out. My frown deepened. My chest bubbled, the hairs on my skin stood…
Something wasn’t right. I could feel it. I just didn’t know where to look.
> > >
I was livid.
For two reasons.
One: I was forced to meet the therapist, Dr. Rivers today. Two: Killian was assigned to make sure I went. Which meant, he was my ride to and fro.
Killian stood to his feet once I stepped out of Dr.Rivers office. I ignored him but waited while he went in to talk with her.
Dr. Rivers seemed nice enough, but I was too pissed to care. She did most of the talking though, about herself. According to her, she was trying to create a safe space for me.
It was anything but safe. The Miller and Grayson household were anything but safe for me. Gwen never came back. She’d left. Poof. Just like that, taking my excitement with her.
And when I went to ask my mom about it, she just shoved me into Killian’s arms. Who bundled me to this office to meet the therapist. A therapist I hadn’t consented to. A therapist I hadn’t agreed to.
Who even did that? Was this how billionaire’s operated?
When I’d told my mom I didn’t need a therapist, she told me that I needed to get myself back on track. That Hannah Freida of before, would appreciate the effort more.
And it pricked me. God, it hurt. She acted like I wasn’t even trying. I’d gone into work for her. I hadn’t run out of Killian’s house yet because of her.
I paced the length of the hall with my hands on my hip. Even though I wanted my memories back, was I really ready to relive the nightmares that haunted my dreams every night?
Plus, I couldn’t stop thinking of what Gwen said. “… you didn’t tell me you married the douchebag. I thought we said…”
What did we say Gwen?
Killian was obviously the douchebag. And she didn’t like him. That much was obvious. But then, Killian said I didn’t like him at first, either.
I was losing my mind. And I needed to speak to Gwen and Elise. Something was happening. My gut never stirred me wrong.
Killian came out of the office and we walked silently to his car. The drive was uncomfortable. He tried to speak to me, but I didn’t respond.
“Gwen came to the office today. Do you know Gwen?” I asked as soon as we stepped into the house.
His lips formed a thin line. “Yes.” He nodded. “Your mom informed me that she did.”
“My mom informed—” I scoffed. “Why did she have to inform you?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Because Hannah, we’re all just looking out for you. We don’t want anything to trigger you.”
“But I need the triggers. They’d help my memories, Killian.”
“Yes, but it has to be done rightly. You think I didn’t hear you screaming last night. Before I could come in though, you seemed to have settled… do you understand how helpless I felt?” His jaw tightened, fist clenched and body wrung tight.
My lips opened and closed. “You heard me,” I stated.
“And I couldn’t do anything about it. You don’t trust us, and that’s fine. But why don’t you give us a chance, Hannah?”
I searched his eyes. Caramel colored orbs with flecks of gold. They swimmed with emotion. And when they reddened, it felt like a gut punch.
“I’m sorry, Killian. I’m sorry,” I apologized quietly.
He shook his head. “I’m heading back to the office. Text me if you need anything.”
As the door closed behind him, I squeezed my eyes shut and breathed in deeply. Why did I feel like I was drowning?
A shrill ringing sounded. And when I looked at the phone in my hand, my stomach plummeted. The same number from Portugal.
“Nolan?” I asked into the receiver.
Static. Then—
“H,” he breathed. Just one letter, but I felt my world tilt.
A sob ripped from my chest, raw and choking.
Then the line went dead.
- Writer
