Page 14

His lips perk up with my compliment, and that dimple I always loved presses into his cheek. “I’m just running to a work meeting.”

I nod. “Engineer,” I say. As far as I know, Robert has no idea what’s happened to me. He doesn’t know that I don’t remember our past. And while Fran mentioned that it was messy—before I shut her up—I don’t remember any mess. I just remember him.

His brows lift. “Yes. And you’re teaching.”

“Oh.” I swallow and pull in a breath. “Yessss. I am. Because that’s my job. Sort of.”

“Sort of?” He laughs. “You won teacher of the year for your district last year.” He grins at me and my chest flutters. Man, I love that grin.

“I did?” I say, registering his words. “I mean, yes, I did.” Robert’s keeping tabs on me—I don’t hate that.

“Well, congrats, you must be good at what you do.”

I shrug because I have no idea if I’m good at what I do, and I don’t know about any teacher of the year thingy. Weird. I won an award? Surely it was amongst my things when Grammy and I moved. But I never noticed it. “I—maybe, I might be good. You could ask the kids.” I bark out a forced laugh. Because I have completely forgotten how to be a human. “I’m on medical leave.” Medical leave? Why would I say that? If he doesn’t know that my brain is broken, I’m not about to share.

Robert’s gaze narrows and his brows cinch together in confusion. “Did you have a baby or something?”

“A baby?” I bellow loud enough that the couple in line ahead of us turns around and the cashier pauses her tapping of the register. Even the guy making drinks stops working to peek over at us. I cinch my brows and whisper, “Do I look like I just had a baby?”

“No,” Robert says, his cheeks flushing. “I didn’t mean—you’re not…” He holds a hand out toward my body.

“Not what?”

“You don’t— There’s usually that after bump—” He coughs. “But you look great. You look very healthy. So, baby was the only thing that came to mind.” His brows lift, asking for more.

I exhale a shaky breath. “Right. I am healthy.” I try to laugh, but it’s too difficult. I should have let the man think I’d just given birth. “I… had a cold.” I shrug.

“A cold?” he says, looking at me skeptically.

“Not just a cold. But the flu. Mega flu. Picture sneezing, coughing, diarrhea. The works. It was bad.” Did I just ask this man to picture me with diarrhea? I widen my gaze, my heart thrumming, and purse my lips. I inwardly tell myself to SHUT UP.

“But it’s summer. Isn’t school out?”

“Oh. Well. Yes. This was before summer. Like you said, I’m a healthy girl. Now.” And for some insane reason, I choose this moment to pat my stomach—you know the one that doesn’t have an “after bump,” whatever that is. The one that has never carried a child in its womb.

“That’s… great.” Robert must be thrilled our relationship is no more.

But I’m melancholy. I’m standing in front of Robert Pattinson, my Robert, and it’s awkward.

I hate this.

It hurts.

And then, I see the gold band on his left hand. “Oh.” My breath hitches and my stomach plummets. “You’re— You are—” I point to his hand.

“Yeah. Three years now.” His brows cinch together. “I thought you knew.”

“No,” I say, but then maybe I did. “Is she⁠—”

“Margo,” he says, and his jaw clenches. It’s hard for him to say her name.

“I’m sure she’s lovely,” I say.

And while I’m dying inside, I am full of politeness on the outside. It’s an award-winning performance. So, why does Robert look confused again? “You realize I married that Margo, right?” He scratches his head. “I was so sure you knew.”

I smile and clamp my mouth closed so that I don’t say anything stupid again. Since I vowed silence—two seconds ago—I shrug. Fran is only allowed to tell me things when I have asked. And I will be asking about Margo. Why does Robert sound so cryptic? Because our breakup was messy? Because I know Margo?

Robert orders his chai tea, then stands to the side while I place my order. He’s brought up Margo, and now apparently there is nothing more for us to say to one another.