Chapter 28

Sammi

3:00 PM SATURDAY

The stench of the Chao Phraya permeates my nostrils as I kick stones along its path. The sun’s reflection, along with an incredible, clear view of Bangkok is glistening in the water.

The sight is beautiful.

Unfortunately, my mood is anything but.

Percy’s story keeps playing over and over in my head, like a terrible earworm that buries its way deep inside of me. Her recollection of everything is so unbelievable and so outlandish that I have no choice but to believe it.

Percy has never lied to me. Not when it matters. I know her and respect her enough to trust what she tells me.

And while I don’t remember any of it, her story was so detailed that I have no choice but to take it as the God’s honest truth.

Fucking tequila.

My vice is certainly good for causing me a headache.

And amnesia. Let’s not forget about the blank slate I woke up to.

How is it that I’ve lived the course of an entire porno-thriller movie plot in the last two days and barely remember even half of it?

I just don’t even fucking know.

What I do remember, though, are the vivid details of my encounters with Lock. With flashbacks rolling in all day, I can’t believe how I’ve been acting. It all makes sense now.

“Sammi! Hey!”

Lock’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts before I even lay eyes on him.

The tuk tuk he’s riding in comes to a stop alongside me, and we’re now face to face.

He’s all smiles at first. One look is enough for him to realize that I’m no longer in the dark about Eggbert. His smile fades into a look of concern.

He knows that I know.

“Okay. Get in.” He opens the door. “There’s somewhere I want to take you.”

I get into the tuk tuk and sit next to him. We’re squeezed into the little vehicle so tightly that our thighs are brushing against each other. It makes for a very uncomfortable start to our trek.

He gives the driver a location, but I’m too focused on my discomfort and the repeating story in my head to hear his instructions.

“You knew, didn’t you?” I ask.

He doesn’t even have to answer that. He was there, according to Percy, and I can see it on his face.

Looks like the joke’s on me. I’m the only one who’s been out of the loop. And here I was like a fucking moron, feeling guilty about fucking Lock, feeling anxious about marrying Eggbert and completing my perfect, logically sound life.

“Yeah, I knew,” he answers softly. “I’m glad that you figured it out, though.”

I look up to find Lock’s eyes searching mine. They’re not telling me ‘I told you so,’ nor is he saying it.

“Well, then why didn’t you tell me? I mean, it kind of works in your favor, don’t you think?” Considering how long he’s been chasing after me, trying to make me his, it’s so easy to assume he’d be the one to tell me.

“Seeing you hurt doesn’t work in my favor, darl. You needed to see it for yourself,” he replies.

He takes a brief pause, searching for the right words. “I don’t condone Egghead’s behavior, not by a long fucking shot, but can you say you’d honestly have believed me if I did tell you?”

I shake my head slowly. He’s got me there. I’d have taken it as an act of jealousy and totally disregarded him, it’s true.

“No,” I admit. “Definitely not.”

“That’s why I thought it best to just keep my mouth shut.”

“For once, right?”

He smirks at me and lets out a low chuckle. “You’ve still got some sass. You’ll be alright.”

I know I will. But that doesn’t exactly stop the hurt that I’m feeling right now in this moment. I feel like I’ve had the rug pulled out from under me.

The one by my side isn’t Eggbert but Lock. And you know what?

It feels just right.

I don’t ever remember feeling this at ease with that two-timing jerk. Either way, Eggbert’s nothing but a man-whore.

“Besides, you’re a strong, intelligent woman, Sammi. You don’t need him, and you don’t deserve that. I’m glad you found out.”

“Before I made the biggest mistake of my life, right?” I shrug.

I’m still lost in my thoughts and idle conversation with Lock when the tuk tuk comes to a stop outside of an aquarium.

This is where he wanted to take me?

A little confused, I get out of our ride and follow him inside. He softly takes my hand in his, and I’m not in the mental state to resist.

What awaits me inside the aquarium is nothing like I would’ve expected.

The interior is dim, but the construction of the tanks gives off an ethereal experience. I’m in awe as I look around.

Not only are there sharks swimming around me, they’re swimming over me too. The reflection of the lights glimmers off the glass as I gape.

Colorful jellyfish are dancing gracefully through the water. They look so beautiful, it’s nearly impossible to believe how painful a sting from one feels.

We wander through the glass hallways, still holding hands. Lock glances at me from time to time, but he remains silent.

I’m particularly enthralled when I come upon several stingrays surrounded by blue, red, and silver fish. The mish-mash of colors is entrancing and peaceful all at once.

I feel at home. I’m in my element.

Suddenly, it dawns on me that I’m not exactly sure why Lock thought to bring me here.

“Hey, Lock,” I squeeze his hand a little. “You said you wanted to bring me here, but why? We’re marine biologists. This is nothing we haven’t seen before.”

“No, it’s not work-related,” he replies. Lock turns to face me and takes my other hand so he’s holding them both and interlaces our fingers.

“Sammi, this is where we made love the very first time. Three years ago.”

Three years ago? Here? He must be mistaking me for some other girl.

I remember being here for a conference, for sure. But having sex here?

I turn my head around to either side, staring at the aquatic life, squinting hard, trying to process it all.

But then, I look up to see the hammerheads swimming above us. Like I’m watching it all happen all over again, the memory comes rushing into my head before I can even finish my thoughts.