Page 77 of A Coffee Away

I stared down at my empty cup, then looked around. Maybe he wouldn’t come after all. I stood to leave.

The bell jingled, and my heart flipped.

Esteban shook the water from his umbrella and placed it in the basket in the corner. “Hey, Gaby. Thanks for covering for me.” He walked behind the counter, pulled on his apron, and kissed her cheek.

“No problem.” She jerked her chin at me, then said something to Esteban I couldn’t make out.

The room stilled. My breath caught when Esteban turned his face my way, his eyes smiling. His dimples turned my body to mush.

In three long strides, he reached me, stopping only a couple of feet away. He raked his raven hair back and rubbed his nape. “Hey.”

“Hi.”

“Gaby told me you asked for me.” His blue eyes seemed brighter than usual.

I looked at Gaby, and she waved comically at me from behind the counter. I couldn’t help but smile.

I shifted from one foot to the other. “I was just wondering if you were okay.”

His mouth twitched. “I was taking care of something.”

“Oh. No need to explain.” I glanced at my watch. The doctor’s appointment. “Shit. I have to go.”

“Oh.” His cheery tone turned flat, and he stepped aside.

When I passed by him, he grabbed my arm. The minute his flesh touched mine, all of my senses came alive.

“Will you come tomorrow? I’m off at two.”

It was a simple question that required a simple answer, but for me, it was all I’d dreamed about during the past two weeks. My whole body ignited, starting from the place where his skin touched mine. It was electric.

Something familiar stirred within me. A tinge of sweetness masked behind the dark and rich coffee aroma hit me. His scent was intoxicating and clung to him in a dangerous way. An urge to pull him closer burned within me, but I pushed it down.

His hold slackened. “I’m sorry to be so blunt. It’s just…I’d really like to get to know you better.”

My whole world turned upside down at his words. It was happening.

I turned just enough to glimpse his flushed face. “I’ll be here.”

“Perfect.” His gorgeous smile reached his eyes, and he released my arm.

His touch burned beneath my skin for the rest of the day.

I couldn’t wait till tomorrow.

“So you’re remembering?” Dr. Echevarría asked.

I nodded. “Voices. Moments. Scents. I can’t catch them, though. It’s as if they’re just out of reach.”

The doctor smiled. “Then it’s only a matter of time. Have you changed your routine lately? Have you seen someone? Visited a new place?”

I touched my arm where Esteban had gripped earlier. I could still feel the warmth of his hand. “I have, and it almost feels like I’ve been there.”

“That’s a good sign. If you’re already going to places and recognizing stuff, that means your brain is making sense of things and connecting the dots. As for your physical health, the tests came back clear. Your brain is fully healed, and your body is back to normal.” She closed my file and rested her elbows on it. “This will be our last meeting, but I’ll leave an open visit for when your memories come back. I’d like to see you then.” She stood and stretched her hand toward me.

There was a time when she believed I wouldn’t remember. She’d told me some patients never recovered from amnesia or that it could take years. To hear that having these moments was a positive sign changed everything.

I shook her hand. “Thanks. You’ve been so good to my family and me. I’ll visit when everything comes back.”