My Almost Ex (The Greene Family #2) - Piper Rayne Page 0,19

the step above where he’s sitting. “I’m not suggesting it does, but let’s say she never regains that memory? You could get what you’ve wanted all this time.”

“What?” My head whips in his direction.

“It’s not like you’re a vault. I know you still love her.”

“I’ve moved on. I’ve got Alicia now.”

He chuckles. “You don’t love Alicia.”

“I could… maybe.”

“Bullshit. I hate to give you the bad news, but there’s been one woman your entire life, and that’s Lucy Davis.”

I refrain from saying she’s technically still a Greene. That would just make his point further.

“Maybe if you admit that to yourself, you could think more clearly.”

“And what would you do, oh wise one?” I cross my arms.

“If it was Cora, you mean?”

I blow out an annoyed breath. “Yes, if it was Cora.”

“Easy. I’d go along with the story that we’re still married, and we’d live happily ever after. Then if she ever did get her memory back, I’d just have to lock her in a closet until she came to her senses.”

“You’d deceive her?” A smile tips my lips because I actually envision it happening.

“She’s my world. Hell, if it wasn’t for her, I’d be facedown in my own vomit. That woman saw something in me I didn’t even know was there.”

“I’m not sure any of us knew it was there.”

He picks up a piece of chalk on the stair and throws it at me. “Hey, asshole, you’re the one who wants advice.”

“Not if it includes ignoring reality.”

The door opens and Cora comes out, then she hands us each a bottle of water.

“Where’s the beer?” I ask.

“It’s noon.” She sits down next to her husband and he swings his arm between her legs, resting the side of his body against hers and his hand against her calf. “You two fix this?” Doubt is clear in her voice.

“Don’t lose your memory, otherwise Toby is gonna lock you up in a closet. He can’t live without you.”

She looks at him and kisses him. “Same.”

“You’re both delusional.” I shake my head and they laugh.

Cora stands from the stairs and meets me at the bottom. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I am the smartest one here, so here it goes. You ready to hear it?”

“I’m ready for anything,” I say.

“You need to help her. I know that you might end up right where you were a year ago at the end of this, but you know as much as we do that you’re going to help her. You love her still, so let’s stop pretending that you hate her and wish her ill. It’s killing you to see her struggling.”

Goddamn, Cora. “I fucking hate you.”

Toby laughs. “See why I’d lock her in a closet?”

I shake my head as Cora places her hand on my shoulder. “We all know how much you hate the unexpected, and where this will end up, I don’t think anyone can predict. She could regain the memory of why she left and decide that it was the right thing to do. Or she might never regain the memory of why she left you. You might just fall in love with her all over again. She might be a completely different Lucy than we know. But stop the act and get it going, because the longer you try to act like you don’t care, the longer until it’s over.”

It’s not that Cora doesn’t have a point. She should’ve continued her schooling to get her doctorate in psychology.

“What do you expect me to do?” I ask.

“She remembers you, she remembers me, and although she might not want to, she’ll probably remember Toby.” She gives me a wink.

“I’m a memorable guy,” he says.

“It’s a great start. Maybe you take her to the cabin. Walk her to where you got married. Show her memories of her life here with you.”

My jaw clenches when I think about how I’ll be inflicting pain on myself if I do that.

“She shouldn’t be at the inn. She should be sleeping at the house. She should be surrounded with memories of the two of you.”

“Fuck, Cora.” I push my hand through my hair.

Her shoulders rise in a cocky shrug. “Just say I’m right.”

“Am I really going to do this?” I say more to myself than her.

“I promise you this. If this ends badly, I’ll gladly serve you a beer at noon next time.” She smiles wide and slaps me on the back.

I look at Toby, and he’s looking at her as though she hung his fucking