Chapter 23
Harper
The phone rings andit makes me jump. No matter how I feel, I need to be strong today, because Liam needs to feel okay with me being home, and showing him how nervous I am will only make things worse for him. So, I try to bury it deep down, and not let anyone know how scared I am.
“Hello?”
“It’s me. I see Liam’s leaving, but I’m here. Didn’t know if you wanted me to knock or not.”
I open the door and usher him inside. “Don’t be silly.”
He smiles and looks around for a place to sit. A manilla envelope is in his hand that’s practically bulging. Those must be all the pictures of the employees and officers. Honestly, I didn’t think it would take this long to get it put together, but once I look through them, I will feel better.
“Well—let’s cut to the chase—you know why I’m here.”
“You want some coffee or something while I look through them? Just made a new pot.”
“Sure, that would be great.”
Sitting back down at the table, I open the envelope and pull the gigantic stack of photos out. There has to be at least three hundred here. The man behind all this drama could be in here, and if he is, then I can finally breathe knowing we at least have a suspect for the cops to go after.
Picture after picture, I’m getting discouraged, maybe he isn’t in here. Maybe these nightmares are just that and I’ve blown things way out of proportion. Still doesn’t discount the fact that a man came in and tried to kill me.
“Anything yet?”
My head shakes, and I try to hide the disappointment. When I come to the last picture, I scoff and push them off the table. “I don’t understand. This doesn’t make any sense. I’m not crazy. Am I?” I pace around the kitchen, my palm against my forehead, trying to piece together everything I know so far. “He had to be in there. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
Sooner or later, he will come for me again, and eventually he’ll succeed at trying to kill me. They need to catch him before he has the chance, too. That’s why this is so important, to get ahead of him, and figure out who he is.
“Calm down. Listen, we are going to find this guy. In the meantime, we need to keep you as safe as possible. Liam told me about the security measures he bought, and we have increased patrol around the neighborhood of the house.”
I know he wants me to feel safe, but it feels like no matter what, while this guy is still out there, danger is coming. He won’t stop until I’m dead, and if my nightmare is true, he has a good reason behind it. If I could just remember what that reason is, all of this would be much easier, and the cops would have more information to go off but, my brain has been anything but helpful at this point.
“Listen,” Scott says, getting up from the table, and collecting the pictures, “I’ve got to head back to the station, but don’t let this deter you from your progress. Liam said you uncovered a memory yesterday. Keep working hard, and before you know it, everything will come back to you.”
Honestly, he’s right. I should be focusing on the good things, like Liam, and how our relationship is progressing naturally. I’d love to make him a special Italian dinner tonight. My eyes peer at the refrigerator seeing Tessa’s number and dial it.
“Everything okay?” She picks up.
“I’m alright. Just wondered if you could take me to the grocery store to pick up stuff for dinner, and whatever is closest to pick up something to wear tonight.”
“On my way,” she squeals.
The bedroom door shuts behind me, which makes me jump, as I slip on my converses. Heading to the front door, she’s already in the driveway waiting. A key is left on the counter for me, so I grab it, lock the door, and sprint to her car.
“So, what’s so special about tonight?” she pries. “I’m really glad to see you guys so happy. Means the world to us.”
“Well, if I’m doing my math right, then we didn’t celebrate our one month anniversary. I know it sounds silly, but I honestly just want to do something for him.”
Once inside the grocery store, I explain that I want to do something nice for him after everything he has done for me in the last month and a half, and my recovery. Never in a million years did I think I would ever find a guy like him, let alone, someone who would stick around after what I went through, and still going. Wouldn’t most men have run by now? Yes, but Liam is different.
Dinner ingredients are bought, and we walk next door to a local Ross discount store, which Tessa recommends for something that isn’t too pricey but nice. I didn’t want to go full gown or anything, but something that looks elegant and sexy. We both want each other, but neither have acted on it yet. It’s sweet of him to do that for me, but him being a gentleman only makes me fall for him faster.
His hesitancy to be intimate with me scares me, like he thinks I’m some broken girl, that if he touches me, I’ll break. I really want to change that perception of me because even though I don’t have our memories, I chose to be with him, and stand by the guy that stood by me through some of the toughest times that I knew of in my life. He has been nothing but patient throughout this whole adjustment period, and I wish he would just hold me and kiss me passionately. My body craves it.
After finding the perfect dress, Tessa takes me home, and I start to prepare dinner. I never cooked chicken tortellini before, but a recipe I found online walks me through the preparation so I didn’t screw anything up. Tonight needs to go perfect.
The alarm I set on my phone goes off, which means he will be home soon, so I rush to the bedroom to get my dress and heels on. My hair has been in waves since I left it in braids after showering, but I put a little bit of eyeliner on my eyes, and slap some mauve lipstick on my lips for the finishing touches.