Help Me Remember (Rose Canyon, #1)(53)

I hate that she even has to utter that word. “I am so glad it’s been good for you.”

“It has been. I really needed this.”

“How long do you think you’ll stay?”

She sighs. “I don’t know. The Arrowoods told me I could stay as long as I want, and since Sean is in Florida for the start of the season, it’s helping Devney not be alone too.”

I had this horrible feeling that Addy would stay much longer. “I miss you.”

“I miss you too. I really do, but it’s been really nice getting away. I will definitely be back by her birthday.”

Four months. Great.

“That’s not that soon.”

“No, but that’s the deadline I’ve given myself. I’ve been able to go to the store without someone stopping me to cry about Isaac. I can take Elodie for a walk without pity stares. It’s just allowed me to grieve a bit on my own.”

“I understand. I do.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to be there for you or . . . anything like that. I just don’t want to relive everything over and over.”

“I really do get it.”

I wouldn’t want to either. This town is small and intrusive, even though they mean well. Addison wasn’t able to have time alone because people just want to help.

“Tell me what’s new there.”

I debate telling her about my theory on the connection to the youth center. I can’t stop thinking that there’s a tie-in with it and Isaac’s murder. The money trail doesn’t add up, someone broke into my office, and I am not sure what exactly I may have known or if I shared my concern with him. If I did, he wouldn’t have sat idly by. So, maybe the answer is with her.

Instead of saying any of that, I go a different route. “I made out with Spencer, and we went on a date.”

“You what?” she screeches.

I wince. “Umm, we kissed—like really kissed.”

She laughs. “You’re kidding, right? Spencer, like, our Spencer?”

“The one and only.”

“That’s . . . well, I don’t know,” she says, but I swear I hear the smile in her voice. “It’s a little shocking, but at the same time, he’s kind of perfect for you. The two of you have always been close and he cares about you, anyone can see that.”

“Yeah, but more like a sister than a . . . girlfriend.”

“Well, I don’t know about that since you two are making out. And dating!”

“One date, but he did ask me out again. It’s weird, though—the kissing—well . . . not weird in a bad way. It’s weird because when we kissed, it’s like we couldn’t stop it. As though there’s no other choice but to kiss.”

Addison giggles. “You and Spencer. Wow. But what about the ring thing? What about that guy?”

“What about him? No one even knows who he is, and he hasn’t tried to get in touch with me. Is there something you know and aren’t telling me?”

“No, I really don’t know who he is. I promise.” Addison’s sincerity rings through her words. “I wish I did because if I did, I wouldn’t be going over every person I’ve ever seen you with, trying to figure out who it is. It’s annoying not knowing.”

“Oh, you’re annoyed not having information?” I toss back.

“Sorry.”

I sigh. “It’s fine. I get it. All for the greater good. I just . . . how could I love someone who loved me back so much that he gave me a huge rock, but I didn’t talk about him to anyone? How could I love one man and kiss another without any hesitancy? I keep asking myself this because I don’t know how I go forward after kissing Spencer and knowing what a kiss like that can be like.”

“So, it was good?”

“Very, very good.”

“I can see that,” Addy says.

“You can?”

“Sure! Spencer is a ladies’ man. He’s always had swagger. You know, when we were ten, I had a huge crush on him. I thought he was so cool. Then a boy picked on me, and Isaac shoved him to the ground, after that . . . I was in love.”

I smile. “He was always the protector.”

“That’s why I think that he died trying to protect you.”

“I think he did too.”

Addy clears her throat. “Even if he did, it wouldn’t be your fault, Brielle. No matter what. Emmett called me yesterday and said they had a lead, so if that pans out, maybe your testimony won’t be the crucial part of the case.”

“A lead?” I ask, feeling slightly hopeful.

“Don’t get too excited. Four other leads have been dead ends.”

That’s depressing. “No one has said anything to me.”

“Would you really want to know? Until your memory fully returns, it’s sort of a moot point anyway. You can’t ID the person, and now that I’ve learned what I have about these types of cases, nothing moves quickly and there are more leads that go nowhere than tips that pan out. But let’s go back to the lip locking with Spencer.”

I roll my eyes. “He’ll be here in about ten minutes, so I’d rather not.”

“The MOTY awards dinner is the second date?”