“I knew she wasn’t ready for this,” Aiden muttered, his voice edged with frustration at himself, maybe, or at the situation.
I blinked, dragging my gaze up to his. His brows were drawn together, eyes scanning mine, their dark depths filled with worry.
“I’m sorry, Noe,” Ethan was saying. “I really didn’t think this would be too much for you.”
My gaze dropped down to the phone again. His brother wore a matching concerned expression. But his wasn’t as intense as Aiden’s. If Ethan had been someone I was secretly involved with, he wouldn’t be this relaxed, this casual, especially not in front of Aiden.
Maybe I’d misread the memory. Maybe it wasn’t what I thought. Perhaps this was what Dr. Mercer had been talking about when he said our brain would take information and try to form a story around it that may not always be the truth.
“I won’t call again until you’re ready,” Ethan told me, sounding regretful.
“No,” I told him, knowing that he could be my key to finding out the stuff Aiden wasn’t ready for me to know. “It’s not you. It’s me.”
“Something no man ever wants to hear,” Ethan joked. “I can’t believe you just said that, Noe. You wound me.”
“I’m serious,” I rushed to say. “I, uh, kind of blanked out for a second.”
“You feeling okay?” Aiden asked, at my side now, placing the back of his hand against my forehead.
“Is she feverish?” Ethan asked. “Maybe she needs to sit down.”
“I’m fine,” I assured them, almost tearing up at how they were both treating me. “I promise,” I said, gaze lifting to meet Aiden’s, who finally lowered his hand. “I think... I think I just had a memory.”
Aiden’s eyes widened.
“For real?” Ethan asked.
I smiled faintly, still watching Aiden, waiting, hoping, for some kind of reaction.Relief. Excitement. Anything. But his face remained unreadable. He didn’t seem upset. But he wasn’t exactly excited for me either.
And that said more than any words could. I didn’t think my husband wanted me to get my memories back. Or was I just misreading the situation... again?
CHAPTER SIX
NOELLE
“WHAT WAS YOUR MEMORY?” Ethan asked.
My attention flicked to Aiden for half a second, still waiting for something from him, a reaction, a question, anything. But there was nothing. Just quiet. I turned my gaze back to the phone and pushed past the sting of his silence.
“When I saw your face,” I said, focusing on Ethan. “I had a memory. Of you.”
His eyebrows lifted, and a slow smile tugged at his mouth. The way his eyes lit up reminded me of Aiden. He looked so much like his brother. But more open and carefree, less guarded.
“Me? I’m your first memory?” he said, like he couldn’t quite believe it.
I nodded.
“I knew you always loved me the most,” he joked. “Wait until I brag about this to Tristan.”
“Who’s Tristan?” I asked.
“Our oldest brother,” Ethan answered. “You probably won’t remember him anytime soon. You and Tristan argue a lot. Especially about the family businesses and which way to steer them to keep up with the new generation and...”
Aiden cleared his throat. Loudly.
Ethan stopped mid-sentence. “I forgot I’m not allowed to tell you stuff,” he said, glancing offscreen. “Sorry, Aiden.”
Aiden didn’t respond, just stared. I wasn’t sure if it was a warning or something else. So, no talking about the family business.Got it.I’d expected him to want to keep something much more nefarious from me.
