Help Me Remember (Rose Canyon, #1)(57)

“Well? Can I?”

He chuckles. “I promise I’ll let you.”

“When?”

“When you’re medically cleared to drive.”

I huff. “Fair enough.”

Spencer leans in and kisses my temple. “We have time, sweetheart. Just be patient.”

That’s easy for someone who has nothing but time. “We both know that time isn’t a guarantee. Not for any of us.”

“No, it’s not, but we both know you’re not allowed to drive now and, who knows what will happen as your memories keep resurfacing.”

I jerk my head back a little. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing.”

He clearly meant something by that. “Did you uncover something?”

“No. I never should’ve said that.” He glances at his watch. “We’re going to be late. Come on, let’s go drink for free and watch Emmett make a fool of himself.”

I place my hand in his and let him lead me to the car, wishing that niggling feeling in my gut wasn’t growing and vowing to find out what he’s hiding.





Chapter Nineteen





SPENCER





“One day, it’ll be you, Spence,” Emmett says as he slaps me on the back. “Who knew that I would be getting this award?”

I wonder how many shots he’s had because, a few days ago, it wasn’t a big deal, now he’s on the brink of crying. “Dude, it’s a Rose Canyon award where you were up against the mayor’s son, who drove his ATV into a ditch because he tried to drive it with his helmet on backward. It wasn’t exactly a pool of winners.”

He shakes his head and grabs his drink. “I’m a winner.”

“You’re something.”

“I miss my friend,” he says, looking around. “I miss . . . well, all of them.”

Emmett was really there for Addison and Elodie before Addison’s mother could get there. Watching Addison crumble, knowing he couldn’t help, and grieving his own loss, wasn’t easy for him.

I understood, to some extent, how Addy felt, but while Emmett was helping her, I focused all of my energy on Brielle. A part of me didn’t register that Isaac was dead because I couldn’t handle any more than the fact that my entire world was almost taken from me too.

“We all do,” I say and then lift my glass. “To Isaac.”

“To Isaac, who really was the man of every year.”

We clink glasses, and I scan the room, looking for Brielle.

So far, the town has done a great job of following the rules. People who she met within the last three years have stayed on the fringe, not doing anything to make her uncomfortable. She’s sitting with Jenna, her smile is easy, even though tonight has been anything but.

“She looks good,” Emmett says.

It appears I wasn’t doing so great hiding it. “She does.”

“You guys getting along okay?”

I turn back to him. “Why wouldn’t we?”

“Just curious.”

Emmett is never just anything. He’s smart and observant. He’s been back in town six months and has been focused on his new job, moving, and getting his life straight. It’s the only reason I was able to get away with seeing Brie under his nose too.

Isaac was easy to fool.

Which I regret now.

“Yeah, we’re fine.”

Emmett puts his glass down. “Spence, you’re like a brother to me, and I know you pretty well. There’s something going on there.”

“Let it go,” I warn.

“I would, but part of my job is making sure that we keep Isaac’s case from being thrown out.”

“And you think I don’t share in your concern?”

Emmett smiles at someone who walks by and then turns back to me. “I didn’t say that, but I live across the hall and I’m briefed every day. I can see the same logs you can and, if you remember, I can see her messages.”

I use that training from years ago to mask my emotions, but the panic is building. I force out a laugh and clap him on the shoulder. “You and I know what the truth is.”

Emmett doesn’t share in my fake laughter. “Yeah, Spence, we do, and I’m telling you that if you fuck this up, she’ll never be okay with it. Isaac was her brother, and she loved him.”

She loves me too. Whatever Emmett thinks he knows, he doesn’t. I have not done anything that would jeopardize this case. “I have never told her anything.”

“You also answer questions you shouldn’t. Look, I have a pretty strong impression that there’s a lot that I’m not aware of. If you and Brie had something going on, which I think you did, then you’re in over your head, brother.”

I don’t want to have this conversation. “We’re done talking about this now.”

“Yeah, after I say this, if you keep going down the road where you’re feeding her things, then you’re going to have to make a choice.”

My back straightens at the implied threat. “What exactly are you saying, Emmett?”

“You can’t give her memories. You can’t tell her things.”

“I’m not.”