“How can I convince you that you’re not an inconvenience to me, Aubrey?” He rested his hand on her leg. She had to admit that was nice to hear. She’d felt like an inconvenience since her accident. She’d been the very definition of someone to fret over since she’d been discharged from the hospital.
She squeezed his hand. “I can’t tell you how much your support has meant while I’m going through this. Not being able to work has made my days really long. I understand why I never used social media before, but it sure would come in handy when I run out of chores to do with my mother. I swear, that woman never stops cleaning the house. I nearly opened an account out of desperation, but the liability risk is too high. I’d rather not give any of my students’ overly involved parents an excuse to complain.”
“Impossible. You were teacher of the year. Parents trust you with their trust-fund kids implicitly. And you don’t have to stay with your parents indefinitely. You’re always welcome here.”
“Oh, no, I wouldn’t want to be in the way.”
“It’d solve your clothing problem, though.”
“How?”
“You wouldn’t have to wear any if you stayed with me.” He flattened her on the bed, rolling onto her and trapping her there with his weight. She closed her eyes and savored everywhere his lips touched, grateful to have him in her life and to be in his.
Vic had never been to Clara’s Cantina. He wasn’t sure how he’d missed this one—he loved Tex-Mex food. The restaurant was shack-like by design, with cowboy hats hanging from the walls and strings of lights shaped like chili peppers draped across the bar. The vibe was loud and raucous inside, but a bit less so on the open-air veranda where he and Aubrey were headed.
“I can’t believe you’ve never been here,” she said as she wove around packed tables, each adorned with baskets of chips and dishes of salsa.
Offering to drive her hadn’t been completely altruistic on his part. Her memory loss was still very much a factor, and he couldn’t be sure what her friends would say when she brought up her “boyfriend,” Vic. She’d mentioned at least one name he recognized from their years in high school together. One friend who would undoubtedly remember when Vic and Aubrey dated, and probably knew they’d broken up as well. Elise and Aubrey had been close back then.
He’d been reminding himself all day that he was simply looking out for Aubrey’s health, but if he dug deep, he could admit he was also running interference. He’d made a pretty good case for them living happily ever after, but he wasn’t ready for her to learn the whole truth yet—or at least he wanted to be there when she found out.
The five women at the table stood when they spotted Aubrey, clapping their hands and whooping. Diners at surrounding tables glanced over long enough to confirm a celebrity wasn’t in their midst, and then returned to their conversations. Then he saw her.
Elise Baxter.
Aubrey was pulled into hug after hug, her friends complimenting her on her outfit or her hair. Elise made a beeline straight for him.
Shorter than Aubrey, Elise stood at a petite five feet tall, her dark chin-length hair shorter than it had been when they were in high school. Her round, dark brown eyes were narrowed on him, broadcasting her disproval. She’d never liked Vic. He used to believe it was because she was jealous of Aubrey and wanted to date him herself, because of course he had. From the vantage point of a grown man, he recognized his own embarrassing teenage bravado. More likely Elise didn’t like him because she’d seen what he hadn’t: Aubrey had been too good for him back then.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she snapped.
“Keep your voice down.” He smiled for show. Aubrey was chatting with the other ladies, not looking in his direction. “Aub doesn’t remember everything about our past. In her mind, we’re together.”
“In her mind? It looks like you’re together in body as well.”
“When her memory returns, I will tell her the truth. The doctor doesn’t want any sudden memories to ruin the progress she’s made.”
Elise’s eyebrows bent in sympathy. He knew she cared about Aubrey. They all did.
“I’m here because she wants me here,” he said. “I’m doing this for her, which is what I’m asking you to do as well.” When Elise’s features hardened again, he added, “Please?”
She folded her arms over her chest and lifted her chin. “Fine. But if you hurt her again, Grandin, you’ll have to deal with me.”
“You’ll have to stand in line behind her father.” He raked a hand through his hair. He was irritated that everyone thought the worst of him, but at the same time he understood why. “For her sake, if you could cover for me if this conversation dips into our relationship, I’d be grateful.”
“This is wrong.” Elise shook her head but agreed with him when she said, “I’ll do it for her.”
“Thank you.”
She speared him with one final glare before going to give Aubrey a hug and a sunny smile. He did his best to relax, introducing himself to both Brooke’s husband, Kal, and Brandie’s boyfriend, Roger. Rather than sit next to the two other men, Vic sat next to Aubrey. Something else Elise didn’t appear to like.
“Introduce your handsome corn cake, sweetheart,” the woman introduced to him as Primrose said in a thick Texas accent. She was broad and blonde, the permanent dimple denting her left cheek making her appear as if she never stopped smiling.
“I’ve never introduced you to Vic?” Aubrey’s eyebrows centered over her nose.
“Of course she has!” Elise interrupted. She turned to Primrose and nodded while she explained, “Remember at the teacher of the year ceremony? We met him that night, some of us for the first time.”
“Not Elise.” Aubrey shot a thumb over to Vic. “The poor dear had to endure this one in high school.”