When he said he was taking me to the Lobster Shack, I really didn’t think it was going to be an actual shack.
But it was.
Guess I was a cheap date.
A date. My first date. I kind of liked having all these firsts again. I had a feeling these firsts were way better than any of my original ones. This had been a good day so far—no, actually the best day I’d had since waking from the coma.
I wasn’t about to let some ladies whispering in the general store ruin it for me. So I shoved their hushed words to the back of my mind and got lost in Eddie’s dimples, his curly hair, and the tour he gave me of Lake Loch.
The Lobster Shack sat near Main Street, but not on it. It was perched closer to the lake, an actual four-walled shack in the middle of a grassy patch. The sound of the water, the rustle of the wind in the too-tall grass was all that was around, but you could see Main Street from its location.
Outside, there were large pots where they cooked the lobster, a couple big tanks (without fish), and a few other things scattered about. The building was white, weathered, and the roof was pitched. Perched on top of the triangular roof was a giant red lobster, and in its claw was a sign that read: Shack.
The air around us was tinged with the smell of fish, something I wasn’t sure I liked.
Grinning, Eddie caught my hand and towed me toward the door. “I’m telling you, Am. Best lobster rolls in the state.”
“What’s a lobster roll?”
He jerked to a stop and abruptly spun to face me. “Stick with me, kid. You have a lot to learn.”
I laughed. “That wasn’t an answer.”
“You’ll see.” He wagged his eyebrows and tugged me inside.
“Eddie!” a man yelled the second we stepped in the door.
“Frank!” Eddie yelled back. “We’re here for the rolls.”
“Ahh, this must be the infamous Amnesia,” Frank said, stepping out around the crudely made counter. He was a large man with a big white apron tied around his clothes. He had a hat on with (surprise) a big lobster in the center. Surprising me, Frank grabbed me by the shoulders and looked me over. “Ya look good, kid,” he said.
Seemed like an odd thing to say.
“Um, thanks?” I said.
He laughed and pulled me in for a hug. Shocked, my eyes went right to Eddie. He winked.
“A few rolls coming up!” Frank announced, retreating behind the counter.
I slid over to Eddie’s side. Casually, he draped an arm around my waist.
Frank worked quickly, pulling out some rolls (that kind of looked like hotdog buns but were squarer) and then stuffed them with some kind of mixture, which I assumed contained lobster. When he was done, he packed them all in a white cardboard box and closed it up.
After placing it in a plastic bag, he added two bags of chips and two bottles of water.
“You’re all set,” he told us.
Eddie handed over some cash and picked up the sack.
We carried the food away from the shack toward the lake and settled between Main Street and the water in a patch of grass that wasn’t overly long. We had a good view of the water from where we sat because we were on a hill that sloped down to the shoreline.
“So,” I said, tucking the dress around me and reaching for a bag of chips. “Tell me about the Loch Ness.”
“You’re so sure there’s a legend of the Loch here, aren’t you?” Eddie asked, taking out the box filled with lobster rolls.
“Isn’t that why you picked the picture for your store logo? And why else would this place be called Lake Loch?”
“Technically, it’s Lochlain after the man who founded this town.” Eddie corrected. “But we all just call it Lake Loch, and yeah, there’s been some sightings of the infamous Loch Ness.”
“I knew it!” I squealed, leaning forward, ready for the details. “I need the deets.”
Eddie laughed. “It’s just stories, just like all the rumors about Rumor Island.”
“Most stories are based off a single truth,” I rebutted, sticking a chip into my mouth and crunching it.
“How do you know?” he teased.
I shrugged. “Everyone knows that.”
The sound of his low laugh drifted on the wind and wrapped around me. I loved being here like this with him, with the sun on my face, the wind in my hair. These chips were pretty tasty, too.
“Back after this town was established, it was mostly known as a fishing town because the lake is so large. A lot of people came here to fish, but eventually, the stock began to dwindle. One night after a long day of fishing, one of the older residents came in from the water, ranting and raving about finally knowing why there was suddenly no fish.”
“It was the Loch Ness,” I said, my eyes going wide.
He flashed his teeth. “So he says. He got everyone all whipped up in a frenzy over a possible monster living in the lake and stealing their livelihood. So he got together a small hunting party to go find the creature.”
“And they never found it?” I said, let down. For some reason, I loved the idea of a giant creature living in the depths of the lake. And why couldn’t there be? If I could have my entire mind wiped and no one claim to know me, then why couldn’t there be a Loch Ness?
“Actually, no. Well, kind of.”
Reaching for another chip, my interest grew. I gestured for him to keep talking, and his eyes gleamed.
“Only one man came back. He was dirty and dehydrated and clearly out of his mind. He ranted about the monster and how they found it, but instead of them killing it, it killed everyone but him.”
“Oh, that’s terrible!” I said. “They never saw those other men again?”
“Nope. All four men disappeared.”
“What happened to the man who did come back?”
“He spent a few years in the hospital. He never could get anyone to believe his ranting and raving. Eventually, he was put on trial for the murder of the men who disappeared.”
I covered my mouth with my hand. “And then what?”
He frowned. “You know it’s not the happiest of stories,” he said. “Maybe we should change the subject.”
“Don’t you dare, Eddie!” I burst out. “Tell me!”
“He killed himself in jail. Used a bedsheet to hang himself. They found a note in the cell with his body.”
Intriguing. “What did it say?”
“It said: Beware the Loch Ness.” Right after he spoke, he jumped at me, and I screamed, falling back into the grass.
Eddie leaped on top of me, tickling my sides.
I laughed and squirmed beneath him. “Eddie!” I gasped. “Was that a lie! You were trying to scare me!” I collapsed, giggling, as he wouldn’t let up. “Stop.” I gasped, wiggling away. “Stop!”
He pulled back, gazing down at me with a smile on his face.
I smacked him in the stomach. “Was that a true story?”
“It’s a legend. Did it really happen? Probably not, but everyone tells the tale.”
“Is that the only sighting of the monster here?”
“No, but it’s the only exciting one. There have been other ‘sightings,’” he said, putting air quotes around the word. “A couple pictures that have turned out to be hoaxes. Mostly, we just say Lake Loch because it sounds cooler than Lochlain. Plus, it’s good for summer tourism.”
He shifted, and I realized he was still straddling my legs. The sun-warmed grass was at my back, and I could hear the water in the distance. The smile faded from my face, and I gazed up at him, the sun glinting off his dark hair and the wind plastering his shirt against his chest.
“Don’t look at me like that, Am.” He warned.
“Like what?” I murmured.
“Like you like what you see.”
“I do.”
He groaned.
“Today’s been the best day of my life, Eddie,” I whispered. “And I can say that because it’s the truth.”
“Amnesia,” he said, coming over me, caging in my head with his elbows. “I think it’s been my best day, too.”
I shook my head. “You’ve had a lot of other days to compete.”
“No one compares to you.”
I sighed. I liked his weight on me and how he blocked the sun and sky. My eyes dipped down his lips, then back up to his eyes.
Without another word, he closed the distance between us. My world tilted on its side as his mouth claimed mine. He kissed me fully, the weight of him over me molding my back into the grass. Without waiting, I slipped my tongue along his lips, then into his mouth, seeking out his. He opened instantly, slanting his head, and our tongues twirled together.
Balancing all his weight on one arm, his hand slid down, grazing my arm from the shoulder to my wrist, his fingers dancing over my palm. Then our fingers linked together.
Eddie kissed a little deeper, his body drooping a little farther against mine. Without thinking, I arched up into him, wanting more, but not sure what.
With a deep groan, Eddie shoved up and off me.
Blinking, I looked up at the blue sky, turning my head to look at him. “Why did you stop?”
“Because I wanted to keep going.”
Well, that didn’t make any sense.
He held out his hand. I gave mine, and he pulled me up so we were sitting so close our shoulders pressed together.
Reaching for the box, Eddie grabbed another lobster roll and took a big bite. “C’mon.” He cajoled. “Try one.”
“Are they good?” I asked, wrinkling my nose. “I’m not so sure about it.”
“Maine is famous for its lobster,” he said and shoved another bite in his mouth.
Well, he sure did seem to like them.
Chuckling, he held out the half-eaten roll he was working on. “Here, I’ll share.”
Suddenly, that lobster sandwich thing had a lot more appeal because it had been between his lips. “Yeah?” I asked, leaning toward it.
He nodded, holding out the food so I could take a bite. The bread was soft; the flavor of the meat, seasonings, and sauce was savory. I chewed as it all melded together in my mouth in a symphony of taste.
“It’s actually really good,” I said, swallowing it down.
“That’s my girl,” Eddie said, wrapping his arm around my waist. He held it out, offering me another bite, and I took it.
Laying my head against his chest as I chewed, we both stared out across the water. “So what about Rumor Island?” I said, staring at the large formation out in the center of the lake. “Tell me some stories about it.”
“Maybe another day,” he murmured. I could tell he was far less keen to talk about the island than the Loch Ness.
“Are those stories true?”
“Some of them.” He hedged, looking down.
I started to speak, but he covered my lips, effectively silencing me. “I could kiss you all fucking day,” he murmured against them.
I smiled and leaned into him.
After about a second of kissing, I felt a tickle in my throat. Clearing it, I went right back to his lips, but it happened again.
“Am?” he said, drawing back.
I ducked my head and coughed. “I think there’s something in my throat,” I croaked.
“I’ll get the water,” he said, reaching for it.
I coughed again, then tried to swallow, but my throat was incredibly thick feeling. Blindly, I reached out, groping for Eddie’s arm.
“I don’t—” I started to wheeze. The world tilted, and I felt faint.
“Amnesia?”
I looked up, blinking. “I can’t breathe.” I gasped, reaching for my throat.
“Holy shit,” he said, grabbing my chin and studying my face. “You’re breaking out in hives.”
“Wha—” I couldn’t speak. The need to breathe was too strong; trying to get air in was becoming impossible.
Eddie dropped my chin, and my entire body drooped forward. I caught a glimpse of my arm, and I slid toward the ground. It was full of red welts.
What was happening to me?
“You’re having an allergic reaction,” he said, his voice completely panicked. It made me panic.
I reached for my throat, wheezing.
“You need medicine. Right now.” He surged to his feet, glanced around rapidly. Leaning down, his words were frantic. “I’ll be right back, Am. I’ll be right back. Stay awake. Breathe.”
He disappeared from sight, and it caused me to panic. Where was he going? Why was he leaving me?
Oh my God, I can’t breathe!
“Eddie,” I wheezed, but the sound didn’t carry. I heard him shouting, but his voice was getting farther away.
My vision started to grow dim around the edges; the sky began to grow dark. I felt like I was choking, like I was dying.
For the second time.
A figure backed by the lowering sun appeared above me. My heart leapt thinking it was Eddie, but then I realized the shape was all wrong.
“Help,” I gasped, trying to reach for the person.
They grabbed my hand, squeezing so hard I wanted to cry out. A cold, rough palm slapped the side of my face, causing my head to rotate toward the lake. The same hand came back, pressing my cheek into the ground. I felt a pair of lips against my ear.
“You shouldn’t have changed your hair,” the voice growled. “I hope you die.”
I whimpered, struggling to get away.
My vision was going completely dark. I could barely move at all now. My breathing was so shallow I was seriously afraid each breath could be my last.
“This isn’t over,” the person spat, fingers digging into my cheek, and then the weight was gone.
The sound of pounding feet and the distant blare of a siren cut into my consciousness.
“Amnesia!” Eddie yelled, gently pulling my face up so he could look into my eyes. “It’s okay, baby,” he said, then moved back, lifting something and plunging it into my body.