My thumbs hovered over my cell phone, poised to create a text, but I just couldn’t figure out what to say. The stool holding me up creaked softly when I shuffled, and I hooked my shoes against the support rung to bounce my knee.

Ally- God, it’d been such a shock to see her here. Staring at the last message she sent me so long ago, I cracked a smirk as memories of our last date flooded my mind’s eye. Autumn had just taken hold, and we’d decided to have our date at her apartment rather than brave the weather. Closing my eyes, I took a breath to smell the phantom scent of pizza, to see the movie we’d watch flash behind my eyelids.

“If you’re going to text her, today would be the day, Roark…” The invasive voice chased away my reverie, and I cracked open my eyes to frown. My nerves tingled lightly, and I narrowed my gaze on Sam as he sauntered into the kitchen. His shit-eating grin caused my stomach to tighten, and he positioned himself across the island from me to prop his chin in his hand.

“I’m well aware, Sam. Did you need anything, or are you here to harass me?” At the semi-serious question, Sam only shrugged carelessly, and I set my phone down to run my hand through my hair. “I wonder why I remember her…”

“Dude, she’s the reason you went through a divorce from the evil bitch Carla. You may not remember it, but you and I had a really long, incredibly serious discussion about how strangers treat you better than your own wife. If you ask me, the fact that she’s JJ’s teacher is a sign.” Rolling my eyes at Sam’s self-righteous tone, I scratched my scalp even though I knew the memories wouldn’t come back. “Besides- you should get back out there, Roark. Your divorce was finalized seven months ago, but you won’t even try. I don’t understand it- you don’t remember Carla, so why not date someone even casually?”

Keeping my mouth shut at that, I fiddled absently with my phone as I contemplated Sam’s reasoning. The past seven months had been insanely hectic, but he had a point; that amount of time was fairly long considering I couldn’t remember being married.

You’re less likely to recover stressful memories, Mr. Long. Trying to force it will only hurt you. The doctor’s words from nine months ago floated behind my eyes, and I let out a gust of air. Glancing at Sam, I pursed my lips together at the intensity of his stare.

“I suppose you’re right.” Turning my attention to my phone, I circled my thumbs a few times over the keyboard before managing to work up the courage to type. “Are you ever going to tell me why Carla and I broke up in the first place?”

I could remember dating Carla; I could even remember the day we got married, but everything after that was dark. From what I knew, she turned into a ‘raging she-demon’- Sam’s words, not mine. My parents had explained that she turned a complete 180 after our wedding, and that I had been too in love to believe anyone.

Tapping the ‘send’ button, I blinked before reading my own text.

Roark: Hey, Ally. Want to meet up at Cornish Winery tonight?

“Where’s Cornish Winery?” Confusion colored my voice, but before I could navigate to the browser on my phone, Ally replied.

Ally: You remember that, too? Sure. How’s 6?

Furrowing my brows, I cocked my head slightly before Sam reached to cover my phone with his hand. His eyes were bright with amusement when I glanced up, and he carefully took my phone from me to set it face down between us.

“That’s the place you took her on a date the first time, Roark. You don’t remember that?” Releasing an irritated sigh, I shook my head before he hummed. “But you remember your third date with her. I wonder why? Maybe she’ll shed some light on what happened between them.”

“I’m not sure. I just remember… she cried during an animated kid’s movie while eating pizza… I can’t dredge up anything else.” Sam had insisted I had dated other people besides Ally before deciding to get a divorce, but I couldn’t remember them. That one scene with her was burned into my mind, and even a traumatic head injury couldn’t erase it.

My heart squeezed in my chest at the memory, and Ally’s phantom sniffles caused my ears to twitch slightly. She’d full on bawled her eyes out, and she didn’t even try to apologize for it.

She was so pure.

“You must remember it subconsciously, then. Well, you’re definitely making progress, Roark- no doubt about that. You started remembering your businesses after a few weeks, and now you’re remembering a woman that isn’t your ex-wife. It’s a good thing she’s not around, or you might’ve had some real problems.” The seriousness in Sam’s voice broke me from my thoughts, and I nodded absently.

Three days into a two-month coma, Carla wanted to take me off life support. She tried to have my entire empire transferred to her. When the divorce was finalized, she went after me in court for anything she could get.

I could only imagine what she did while we were married- or what I allowed her to do because I was in love with her.

“Pretty soon you won’t have to hover over me and can move back to your own place. I’m pretty sure my grocery bill has tripled since you came here.” Changing the subject to stave off the shiver that lodged between my shoulder blades, I grinned at the offended look that overtook Sam’s expression. Swiping my phone off the island, I typed out a reply to Ally in the lightening atmosphere with steady fingers.

“You know I’m one of the top researchers in neuroscience, Roark. You’re lucky I could fit you into my schedule! If you weren’t my cousin, you’d be on my waiting list until next year.” Snorting as I tapped the ‘send’ button, I shook my head at Sam’s bravado before leaning back on my stool.

“Seriously, though- I never intended to keep you out of work so long, Sam.”

“It’s fine, honestly. I was in need of a vacation anyway, and you’ve always been the guy to call for a good time. When I go back to work, I’ll be sure to make a breakthrough.” Rounding the island to clap his hand on my shoulder, Sam smiled genuinely before whirling around to rummage through the refrigerator. “Your dad is paying me an exorbitant amount of money to keep you company and make sure you’re alright, but I would’ve done it anyway. Truth be told, I think he just wants me to make sure you don’t go back to Carla when she burns through the chunk of change your dad settled on her.”

“Will she really go through $18 million by now?” Tapping the edge of my phone on the tiled surface of the island, I frowned deeply even as Sam barked out a laugh. I knew very precious little about Carla from before my accident, and no one wanted to risk telling me. My neurologist had driven home that triggers were to be avoided at all cost, and my father took it to an extreme.

He went behind my back and paid Carla more than enough to disappear after I’d collapsed during an alimony battle.

“She’s not a long-term planner, Roark. But- enough about her. You should go take a shower and stuff. Three hours is going to fly be until your date.” When I turned around, Sam had half a BLT shoved into his mouth, and I rolled my eyes as I jumped off my stool.

“It sounds like you’re more excited about this than I am. Idiot.” Grinning around his sandwich as he peeled the wrapping off, Sam grunted before leaning over the sink. Snatching my phone, I made my way out of the kitchen and through the house. Our conversation swirled behind my eyes, and I took the stairs slowly to the second floor.

Why was that memory about Ally the only one I had? I hadn’t even thought about her until I saw her today, and that had been what popped into my head. Her name had even escaped me for a few seconds until I saw her smile.

But I could smell the aromas of her apartment; I could feel her body shivering as she cried during that movie. It was inarguably the most potent memory I had now, and I didn’t know why.

“I guess I’ll just ask her…” Glancing at the clock on my cell phone as I reached the second floor, I pursed my lips together tightly. “I have to figure out where this place is before I do anything.”

Passing by Julianne’s room, I couldn’t stop myself from taking a peek to find her on her bed with her laptop in her lap. Concentration masked her expression, her fingers typing furiously, and I leaned on the door frame to watch her for a long moment.

“What are you doing, JJ?” Posing my question, I narrowed my eyes on my sister when she jumped slightly. Her hair bounced when she looked up, and she smiled small as she swiped it away from her cheeks. I was positive I’d never met someone so graceful; maybe it was because she was my sister, but I didn’t put too much thought into it.

“Oh- just this project Ms. Mazkov gave me. I’m building a pretend research facility and stuff, but right now I’m just organizing everything.” Ducking my head in a nod, I slipped my phone in my jeans pocket to saunter into Julianne’s room. Our parents spared no expense; anything she wanted, she got.

Except for their time.

“A pretend research facility for what?” Positioning myself near the edge of her bed, I peered down at Julianne’s laptop screen through narrowed eyes. She was browsing properties, and she turned the device slightly to give me a better view.

“Uh- Botany research. Ms. Mazkov said I had to start from the ground up. I never knew how hard it was to start a business. It makes me wonder how Dad did it.” Humming in acknowledgment, I dropped my palm on Julianne’s head to rub her crown affectionately. Smiling down at her, my cheek twitched at the intense blush that spread across her face.

“If you need any help, let me know? I do have some expertise in the area, you know.” She might’ve only been 14 years old, but Julianne didn’t act like a teenager. She rarely had friends over or spent an obnoxious amount of time on her cell phone. Watching her nod, pride swelled in my chest as she turned back to what she was doing.

This project sounds like it’ll slowly but surely take over Julianne’s life… which might not be a bad thing.

I had been against my little sister going to Wells Academy, but it seemed to be working out for the better after all this time. Maybe, with this, she’d find herself too busy to worry about what people were saying about her online.

Lord only knew how fragile and sensitive she was.