Page 5 of Memories of You

He let the words roll over him, shocked by his intense visceralreaction, though he knew he shouldn’t be. Abby had been his rock when hismother had lost her hearing, and then again when his father had packed up andmoved out, hauling his ass to New York.

So yeah. Abby was important to him. Of course he was relieved.

He was also stalling, he realized, though he wasn’t surewhy.

Except, of course, that was a lie. It had been over a decadesince they’d seen each other, and yet he would have recognized her anywhere.Her wide eyes and blond curls. That sweet mouth that he remembered in a smilebut was now curved into a frown as her teeth worried her lower lip.

Over the years he’d gone so far as to pick up the phone tocall her, only to put it down again when he realized that he was callingbecause there was shit in his life he wanted to talk through—and why the hellwould he think she’d appreciate him dumping that in her lap without even a Christmascard during the passing years?

She’d remained in his mind and his heart, the only closefemale friend he’d ever had in his life. Even Tascha, who’d gone side by sidewith him into combat and for whom he’d put his life on the line, had nevergotten close enough to see the childhood demons that had formed the man. Andthat still tormented him.

Abby had, and maybe it made him a damn pussy, but if shedidn’t recognize him, it was going to be like a goddamn knife to the heart.

Fuck it.

He got off the bike and hurried toward them, pulling off hishelmet as he went. Abby was shaking her head, hovering near the driver’s dooras Nikki said something soothing.

Then she stopped, her head turning as her eyes went wide.Then she squealed and sprinted toward him, her arms wide as she threw herselfat him, crying out, “Renly!”

He caught her and spun her around, all the time feeling likea damn idiot. This was Abby, after all.

So what the hell had he been worried about?

Chapter Three

“Renly Cooper, is it really you?” I’m breathing hard,unsteady on my feet now that he’s put me down. I’m dizzy, yes, but not becausehe’s spun me around. No, I’m unsteady because the whole freaking earth is shiftingon its axis. “When the hell did you grow up?”

And grow up so fine, too, though I don’t say thatlast part out loud. The Renly I used to know wouldn’t care, but I’m not certainabout this gorgeous action-hero of a male specimen. I mean, the youthful,athletic guy I knew was seriously cute, but the Renly in front of me is thekind of man women drool over.

I brush the back of my hand over my mouth—just to check—thenlaugh as I shake my head. Considering I was literally freaking out andterrified not ten minutes ago, I have to say I’m feeling pretty darn good. “Youhave made my entire day,” I tell him. “I mean, you have completelyturned it around.”

He’s grinning, too. “So are you finished? She always didtalk too much,” he adds with a quick glance toward Damien.

I smack him lightly on the shoulder. “I’m too giddy toberate you for teasing me,” I say. “How are you even here?”

“I took the wrong left turn,” he says, alluding to our ownprivate joke—one that started in fourth grade, though I don’t remember how, andwe both start laughing again.

Beside us, Nikki clears her throat, clearly fighting a laughof her own. I see her glance toward Damien, who reaches for her hand beforespeaking. “I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you two know each other?”

I meet Renly’s eyes, then shrug. “Nope.”

“Never seen her before in my life,” he adds. He glancesbetween the two of them, then turns back to me. “I don’t think they believe us.”

“Yeah, well, Damien’s pretty sharp. He doesn’t miss much.”

“Thanks a lot,” Nikki says, and I flash my boss—my partner—ahappy grin. This day has done a complete one-eighty.

“We grew up next door to each other,” Renly explains. “Wemade a pact in fourth grade. Me and Abby.”

“Poor Red,” I say.

“I have to second that,” Nikki says. “I’m definitely TeamRed.”

I look between the two of them, the pieces falling together.“Wait, you’re saying that the guy named Red who helped you during the hostagething in Manhattan was Red Cooper?”

“We were all three friends,” Renly continues, “but Abs and Iwere practically joined at the hip, especially in junior high.” Renly meets myeyes again. “Red is going to have a cow when he hears you’re in town.”

“Red’s here?” Now my head is really spinning. Red and Renlyboth in the LA area? “How did I not know any of this?”