Page 27 of The One I Want

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Now, it was time for the next step.

One of the articles had described using sensory triggers that activated the five senses to resurrect memories of a moment. Actions such as wearing the same clothing, listening to the same music and eating the same foods could be triggers.

Anson glanced down at the jeans, graphic T-shirt and hoodie he wore, his normal attire of ten years ago.

Tonight, he and Eve would re-create that long-ago night.

They would start by going to Sly’s house. On the drive down West Morrison, they’d listen to the same music that would likely have been blaring from his car’s sound system back then.

Anson only hoped this trip down memory lane sparked some memories.

* * *

Anson left his office at Lighthouse at five. Once rush hour was over, he and Eve would begin their adventure. Though the accident had occurred after midnight, there was no point in waiting until that time of night, since all they needed was for it to be dark outside.

While a mix of popular hits from the early 2010s blared from overhead speakers, Anson stepped into his kitchen to grab some water just as a knock sounded at the door.

Eve, Anson thought and couldn’t keep from smiling.

When he opened the door, Eve held up takeout containers of Chinese. “I made dinner.”

“You’re a wonder.” Anson lifted the white boxes from her hands.

She kissed him. “I know.”

In minutes, they were sitting at the table, sharing the food. Eve inclined her head. “How was your day?”

Anson shrugged. “I went for a long run this afternoon. It felt good.”

“Sounds like fun.”

“More of a necessity.”

At her puzzled look, he explained, “Physical exertion helps with anxiety. I’ve struggled with it since childhood.”

“You were anxious as a kid?”

He nodded. “When I was ten, I couldn’t stop worrying about my parents getting sick and dying. I’d also get stomachaches before tests at school.”

Using chopsticks, Eve added some beef to her plate. “Did your parents put a lot of pressure on you?”

“Not as much as you’d think.” Anson took a bite of chicken and chewed thoughtfully. “My dad also struggles with anxiety, so he understood. For him, the anxiety became less of a problem as he got older.”

“And for you?” Eve set down her chopsticks, giving him her full attention.

“I know how to manage it better.” His gaze turned thoughtful. “I exercise, eat healthy—for the most part—and make sleep a priority. Those are just some of the coping strategies the counselor in college suggested. Oh, and I avoid alcohol.”

Eve’s dark brows pulled together. “I thought you didn’t drink because you don’t like the way it makes you feel.”

“That’s true, but alcohol can also cause anxiety and worsen it.” Anson gazed past Eve’s shoulder as he thought back. “I started drinking a lot in college, thinking it would help me relax. Instead, I felt worse. By my sophomore year, I was a mess and on the verge of flunking out.”

“What happened?”

“My parents intervened. Found me a great counselor who was like, ‘Look, you have time to turn your life around.’” He let a wisp of a smile lift his lips. “I quit drinking. Started using the coping mechanisms he taught me and found, to my amazement, they helped. That’s when I got interested in mental health promotion and prevention.”

“Which is why you ended up founding Lighthouse after you graduated.” Eve shook her head. “I can’t believe we’ve never discussed this before.”

“I’m not ashamed of my struggles,” Anson insisted. “In fact, talking openly about them is part of my mission to destigmatize mental health treatment.”

Eve nodded, her gaze thoughtful. “Was your father upset that your career path didn’t involve going into the family business?”

Anson took a moment to answer. “He and my mom know running the brewery isn’t where my interest lies. They want me to be happy and do what fulfills me. They are pushing me into politics, and I don’t hate the idea, because I think maybe I can help even more people in the area of mental health. It’s not the most natural fit, because I’m more of an in-the-trenches guy, but it’s growing on me.”

“Thanks for sharing this with me.” Eve reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “It helps me understand you better.”

“Well, now you know it all.”

“It’s a good start. But I think there’s still a lot to learn about each other.” Eve flashed a smile and gestured to the container containing the Hunan spicy beef he’d barely touched. “Such as, it appears I like my Chinese a lot hotter than you do.”


Tags: Cindy Kirk Romance