Page 28 of Yours Truly, Fall

That shouldn’t make me chuckle under the circumstances. “You’re not wrong.”

The humor gives way to my spinning thoughts. I shove my hands in my pockets and stare out the window again. The leaves are starting to change, and the warmer weather will be replaced with cooler temperatures before I have a chance to heal if I don’t get on it. But the progress I thought I was making feels like an illusion.

There could be things I don’t remember that she’s not even aware of. She would have known I didn’t recognize her the first time we spoke. But if I’ve lost my memories of her and the accident, what else am I missing?

Fuck. My memories could be swiss cheese for all either of us knows. And here I was, getting my gear and uniform together as soon as I got home yesterday, thinking I’m only a few days out from returning to the station. This is a wrench I don’t need, and one that’s concerning. What I don’t want to do is worry my nurse, or I could be permanently benched.

Getting up, she comes to stand beside me at the window. Her gaze isn’t locked on the view, which I know she loves, but on me instead. “I’m going to help you through this.”

The noise in my head quiets under her reassuring words, and when she touches my arm, my heart comes to life again.

CHAPTER 13

AUTUMN

“I’ve gotten every one of them right.” Brandon holds a card, flipping it around to show me a purple walrus. “You want to keep going?”

“I want to keep going. Now pick another.” He scans the cards on the coffee table, face down, and obliges without argument. I think he likes playing games as much as I do. It may be a kid’s game, but every victory strokes his ego. I want to laugh, but it’s kind of cute how proud he is of himself when he matches the right card. It’s also a great sign for his brain injury. Concussions are classified on the milder side but can have lasting effects. Each win runs deeper than just an ego boost where I’m concerned.

Tapping the top corner card, he says, “This one.” I lift it to face him. His grin is wide as the Hamburglar’s after snatching another burger. “Who says I have memory issues?”

“Apparently all the doctors, but what do they know?” I joke with a playful shrug. “Anyway, I’m calling it as I see it. That was a lucky guess.” I give him a little insider’s wink. “Go again, please.”

“Want to wager on how lucky I am?”

Shock steals the joy that I was just getting comfortable with. “You want to bet on a game of Memory?”

A lopsided grin also pushes up his brow on one side. “What do you have to lose?”

“Depends on what’s on the line.”

He shrugs with an air of confidence, flexing his hard—so hard—earned muscles. He’d be less distracting with a shirt, but it’s his mirthful grin that I’ll remember when I think about this later. How does he manage to look like that and be so charming? He’s going to be the death of me, damn him. “C’mon, Autumn, why not make it interesting?”

Redirecting my gaze, I straighten two of the cards. “It’s pretty interesting on its own.”

“I bet you hate to lose.”

I scoff. “Who loves to lose?” When he doesn’t snap back with a reply, I look up at him again. “What?”

“I’m not the best loser, but I’m not sore over it.”

“I’m not sore either. I’m not even playing a game right now, and I haven’t agreed to a wager.” Pointing at him, I narrow my gaze, though restraining my smile is a whole other challenge. “Do you really think that reverse psychology will work on me?” I laugh, sounding more like Dr. Evil than myself. Guess he brings out my villainous side. “You’re messing with a pro, buddy.”

His shoulders rattle when he chuckles with a pain-free expression. He’s making progress both physically and mentally, and doesn’t even realize it.

“Fine.” Another laugh escapes him before quieting with concentration on the task at hand. “We won’t bet.” He turns a card over, revealing a tiger. “Hey, Autumn?” I look up again, meeting the warmth of his eyes with the dashing little crinkles at the corners. “I’m having a good time with you.”

Forty-eight hours ago, I didn’t think he was capable of sweetness. I considered him an irredeemable jerk. But now, my chest blooms with warmth, and I blush when he stares into my eyes for longer than a second. Even his smile feels secretive, like it was made just for me, and he talks like this job will never end. Like this is how it will always be between us.

Bricks of my foundation were cemented by my hatred of him. For years, they stood the test of time, but in less than two days, they’re crumbling faster than I can repair the damage. Good thing I don’t want to. I really do like this cute side of him. “You are?”

“Yeah. It should be dorky, but you make it interesting.”

I’ve been trying so hard to keep things professional, but today has completely detoured me from my original route. Now I’m off in la la land like we’re friends and having fun. “I’m having a good time, too.”

“You sound surprised.”

“I am.” Tapping the table between us, I say, “Find your tiger.”