Page 40 of Yours Truly, Fall

Her hair falls around the back of her neck with some strands hanging onto her forehead. It’s the happiness that sparks in her eyes that is the most mesmerizing. It’s this, what we’re doing now. Talking, playing, laughing, and flirting feels good with her. After reading her wrong for so long, I’m finally getting it right. Our bond tightens with each contact. “Are you swooning, Nurse?”

She’s sliding her hand across the divide like I can’t see it, and playfully pokes me in the stomach. “Fortunately, I’m already lying down, or you might have to catch me.”

“I’ll catch you anytime you need.” The freckles scattered across her nose could keep me entertained. Each one plays a vital role in adding to her beauty. To be fair, I’ve found nothing that isn’t attractive about her.

Rolling onto her back in laughter, she looks back at me. “It’s late, and you’re clearly delirious.”

“Deliriously charming.”

“I’d like to argue that, but truthfully.” She flashes a wide smile. “I can’t. You are annoyingly charming.”

Not what I expected. There’s a whole lot of buried secrets in that response. “Annoyingly, huh? If we loop back in time, do you know what happened between us? Is that why you find my charms annoying?”

“Life just got in the way.”

It’s tempting to push for more details and ask for specifics, but I probably shouldn’t dive into heavier topics at this late stage. What would she have to hide anyway?

A yawn overwhelms her face, and her eyelids momentarily dip closed right after, only confirming it’s right to let this go for another night. It’s not like I won’t see her—shit. Will I see her?

Sure. She works at the hospital. I’m in and out of there regularly. But am I really going to bother her at work?

Daniel is always a good excuse to see her and the family. When he’s in town, he invites me over for cookouts and to watch games and stuff. Autumn doesn’t live with him, though. She’s next door. Fuck. Am I going to see her again? “What happens tomorrow?” I ask, sending my gaze swimming through the darkness to see her better.

This time, when she slides her hand toward me, she stops at my hand resting between us. Covering it, she gives me a little squeeze. “Tomorrow, we will stop working together. I’ll give you a few brain exercises, and you’ll get a rec for physical therapy, but you’re doing great⁠—”

“That means we won’t see each other anymore?”

“It’s Mountain Laurel, Brandon.” She levels a look at me with a raised eyebrow. “It’s not like we have a massive population. It would be hard not to see each other in such a small town.”

I want to keep the heaviness out of my tone, but I’m feeling the stress of losing her when I just found her again. It’s been a long time since I’ve been attracted to a woman like I am with her. There are plenty of pretties down at the bars on Thursday night, but this isn’t the same. That’s one night of fun. With Autumn, it feels like there’s potential for more. “You know what I mean.”

“My, my, Mr. Culver. If you’re not careful, I might get the wrong idea.”

“That’s what I’m hoping.”

Her teasing smile fades as silence slips into the room, bearing witness to the mess this is. I turn away, questioning everything. This should have been easy. I know she’s attracted to me, but the roles we’re forced to play are ruining it.

If I could only remember her, try harder to figure out the missing link that seemed to tie us together at one point and push us apart at another. I hate having a hole where she should exist. I don’t just feel it in my head. I feel it in my chest.

She slips her hand across the divide and caresses the side of my neck. “There’s no rush to remember everything you’ve forgotten any more than we can quicken the healing that needs to take place. Look at me.” When I do, she says, “This isn’t goodbye. It’s—” A deep breath catches her off guard. Her gaze falls away, and she swallows.

“It’s what? What is it then?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know what this is, but I won’t make promises I can’t keep.”

“As admirable as that is, I didn’t need a promise. I need reassurance.” I’ve never had to fight for a woman—their attention or otherwise. But these past two days have changed things. They’ve changed me. I don’t have casual dates at my place, so her presence has taken me by surprise. Maybe the concussion is worse than I realized, but I won’t beg. Like the injuries, some things take time. Like she said, this is a small town. You can’t go long without crossing paths sooner or later.

She pushes herself closer, so close her body presses to my side like it was meant to be there. I didn’t think this would feel as good as it does. I’m sure she’d be the first to say we barely know each other. Not remembering any form of relationship we used to have sets us back even further, but damn if she doesn’t fit just right. Leaning forward, she rests her head against my arm and whispers, “Everything’s going to work out exactly how it’s supposed to.”

Somehow, her optimism is contagious, and I find myself relaxing under the idea. But just to clarify, I ask, “Are we talking about my injuries or us?”

The smallest of laughs still rattles the mattress beneath her before she snuggles against my side, arm draped over my middle as she tucks herself into the crook of my elbow. It’s funny how we couldn’t have been further apart earlier, but we’ve ended up right where we should, together in bed.

Tilting her head back, she finds my eyes and says, “Guess we’ll find out.”

Yep. Guess only time will tell.

CHAPTER 18