“I don’t know who you are,” the tall woman says below her breath with her lips barely moving. She’s tall and thin but somehow still appears athletic. Her eyes narrow as she looks at me and continues, “But I swear to all things holy,” the threat very real in her wide wild hazel eyes, “I will scream bloody murder if you go after my friend.”
What the hell? This is all like a weird dream.
Adrenaline shoots through my veins. It’s ice cold and as shocked as the woman in front of me is. In worn jeans and an oversized hoodie, she’s hardly a threat, but she’s terrified.
Her hands are up, palms facing me and I mirror her body language, glancing behind her to try to find Rose, but she’s long gone.
“I’m not going after her,” I tell her, mimicking the way she said it as I catch my reeling breath. Griffin speaks behind me at the same time, startling the hell out of me. “He would never hurt a woman; he’s just confused.”
We share a glance, but the auburn-haired woman doesn’t react. She’s still playing defense and I’d bet good money that she’d attempt a tackle if I rounded her and made a break in between the table and the railing.
“I’m Brody. I just recognized your friend Rose. That’s it.”
“Well, it looks like she recognized you too,” she says, indignation draping a veil over her words until recognition hits her eyes, widening them even more and her breath hitches. She knows who I am. I fucking know she does. Every ounce of fight leaves her and something else takes its place when she speaks again. “Anyway, looks like she doesn’t want to see you … so maybe you should just sit back down.” She doesn’t look up at either of us as she reaches for her purse to leave.
“Hey, wait.” My voice comes our harder than I wanted it to. None of this makes any sense at all and I’m struggling to finish a single thought.
“What did you say your name was?” Griffin pipes up, acting as my wingman, which gives me time to calm the hell down. All I know right now is one thing and it’s unsettling: Rose saw me and she took off. Fuck. What the hell did I do to her? My throat’s tight as Rose’s defensive line informs us that she’s named Renee.
“Renee, I’m Griffin,” he says and reaches out his hand as if she’d shake it. Her gaze settles on his hand a moment and I take in the crowd. Every pair of eyes here is on us. Well shit, this is not how I thought this would go down. Not here. And not with the girl I spent hours with years ago, at a time when I needed someone and she seemed to need me too.
This isn’t a weird dream. It’s a nightmare.
“This behemoth is Brody. He’s from up north, that’s why he has no manners.” Griffin’s joke actually makes Renee laugh, although it’s short and filled with nervousness. Looking between the two of them, there’s something there, but it has nothing to do with me and Rose.
“Her name is Rose, right?” I ask Renee, not wanting to waste any more time. “She lives around here?”
Renee’s smile fades.
Griffin elbows me in my side, making me wince and then I give him a death stare. “You sound like a stalker,” he grits out between his teeth, low enough for no one but the three of us to hear. Again, he actually makes Renee smile, although he’s looking at me while I’m looking at her and she’s staring at him.
Clenching my hands and breathing out slowly, I don’t know what the hell to do. So I go with honesty. “A few years ago, I met a girl named Rose and … look, if it’s her and I did something to her …” Fuck, what did I do? I’ve never made a girl take off before. Never in my life has a girl run from me. A deep-seated chill takes over.
“No, no,” Renee says and it’s genuine, her words spoken quickly to stop my mind from wandering. She seems to catch herself, implying with a shake of her head that I’ve got it wrong. It’s clear she knows the story.
“It’s just …” Renee trails off, clearing her throat as a gust of wind goes by and her gaze dances between the two of us. Her cheeks are redder now and her defenses are falling. “Look, if she wanted to talk to you—”
“Hey, sorry, had to get my wallet,” a small voice cuts in from behind Renee. The beautiful woman I remember so well doesn’t look me in the eyes. Her heels click as she takes her place beside Renee, whose slight relief has vanished.
“My name is Magnolia, not Rose. Sorry,” she says, practically choking on her apology, “I think you have the wrong girl.”
Renee’s head tilts ever so slightly, the corners of her lips turning down as Rose’s … or Magnolia’s … cheeks turn red all the way up to her temple where little wisps of hair have gone wild from the wind. Or maybe from her running.
I don’t bother to respond as the air between the four of us thickens. Griffin, the smart-ass that he is, smiles broadly and offers his hand. “Well, nice to meet you, Magnolia. You can run hella fast in those heels,” he jokes and Renee’s smile is hidden behind a cough as Magnolia stiffly takes his hand. Hers is so small in his. I still can’t speak.
“What did I do?” I ask her, making her chest rise and fall faster.
“Maybe give us a minute?” Renee suggests, turning her shoulder to us as she tugs at Magnolia’s elbow.
There’s a spark between us when she glances up at me. I felt it when she first noticed me a moment ago, and I feel it now. It’s scorching hot even as the wind blows by.
Her hair is pushed to the side, falling across her back from her shoulder and spreading goosebumps along her smooth skin. With the gust comes a hint of her scent. Maybe her shampoo, maybe perfume, I don’t know but it carries a memory with it. One night.
“I’m sorry,” I say and my throat is tight as the words are forced out. Fuck. I feel like a piece of shit, gazing down at a woman I thought I had a connection with, a woman who obviously wants nothing to do with me.
For a second, I have a thought that calms my racing mind. Maybe she’s married. Maybe she doesn’t want to admit she knows me or remember that night because she doesn’t want to think of that night when she’s currently committed and happy with someone else.
Please, for the love of God, please be that. Running my hand down the back of my head and then over my neck, I add, “I’m sorry if I … I’m just, sorry I mistook you for someone else.”
I’m ready to turn around. Ready to say goodbye to her and every wild thought I ever had about the girl who stole me away that night years ago, until she reaches out for me.
She did that.
Her hand on mine. It’s the first touch we’ve had in years and it lights a smoldering fire within me that starts to burn hotter and brighter.
But just as a flame singes the flesh, she rips her hand back when I turn to ask what she wants.
“I … I have to go, I’m sorry.” That’s when I see her hand, her ring finger without a single piece of jewelry on it.
“You just got here.”
Both Griffin and Renee are silent.
“I just have to go right now.”
“Maybe …” she pauses and licks her lower lip, still not admitting that she is who she is. “Maybe I can see you soon.”
With Renee in tow, the two leave, and I watch as Rose, or Magnolia, whatever her name is, glances behind her.