LUKE
For a second, I had no idea why I was looking at a picture of the man that almost… almost… I couldn’t even think about it.
Bryan’s face–the man who’d wrecked lives and torn Jess’s world apart–was smiling. Why the hell was he smiling? I should have made sure he couldn’t smile or move his face for the rest of his miserable fucking life.
“I don’t understand, man. Where did you get that, and why the fuck am I looking at his face?”
Francesca sidled up, eyebrows raised in curiosity. “Who are we looking at?”
I ignored her. I couldn’t deal with Francesca right now, with my eyes still locked on Bryan’s face. “How did Laura even get this?”
Josh let out a slow breath, rubbing a hand across his jaw. “That guy Jess has been seeing–Eric?” He paused, “Well, Laura asked for a picture of him and a location because Jess was headed to his cabin or something for the weekend. He doesn’t have social media and apparently hates having his picture taken. This is the fucking picture Jess ent Laura. I wasn’t sure, but now I am,” My mind was reeling. What was he saying? Was Jess with him? Right now?
“Josh…” I gripped the railing, my knuckles whitening. Francesca stepped between us. “Can someone please tell me what is
PART 4–CHAPTER 172
going on?” she wined, and Josh just stepped past her.
“Now we fucking know why he didn’t want his picture taken! Because he’s been lying to her all along. This is just perfect for him. Jess lost all her memories, so instead of running the fuck away when she saw him, she didn’t know.”
I felt my jaw tighten to the point of pain. “She can’t remember him? Surely something in her should be screaming to get the fuck away from him.” I said more to myself than anything else.
–
“Not to be an asshole, man, but if Jess didn’t remember she loved you, which not overreacting – but you were her entire world – and if she can’t remember that, then I doubt she’d remember this asshole and what he did,” Josh said, but his words were hazy like he was just background noise. Bryan was with Jess. Fuck.
“What the hell is he doing out of jail?” I seethed, and Josh shrugged, helplessness in his eyes. “Man’s got friends in high- places, plus a bank account that could buy him a country. He- was rich before he played football, remember. Family money.”
Francesca stepped between us, looking frustrated. “Earth to Luke! I am standing right here, and you guys are talking about things I have no clue about! Can you please just fill me in?” Francesca stomped her foot, and Josh frowned at her.
“What the fuck are we still doing here!” I finally said, and Francesca pouted, ready to throw a tantrum.
“Now’s not the time,” I said, barely looking at her, but she swung her head in front of me like a giraffe. Well, that’s too bad, because I need to talk to you! Like now,” she said, folding her arms. I stared between Josh and Francesca. This wasn’t even a
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I paced back and forth, the image of Bryan’s smug face still burning in my mind. Jess. She was with him. Right now. The thought was unbearable.
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