took a deep breath, his gaze wandering the apartment and then coming back to her. “Brian. I’m Brian.” He ran a hand through his thick hair, which was cut short and stylish. “Okay. This is so strange. I’m Brian, and we dated for about three months before, um, the attack.”
She blinked. He was cute and tall, and she could see herself dating him. Well, before she’d met someone like Adare. “My sister didn’t like the guy I was dating.” In fact, Faith had moved Grace to a hospital across town and hadn’t allowed anybody to visit her until they found the criminal who’d hurt her.
Brian winced. “Yeah. Your sister couldn’t stand me.” His grin was rueful. “I don’t blame her, not completely. Seven years ago I was a struggling musician and not really worth much. I also partied a lot and could have been considered an asshole, and she was this famous neurosurgeon and you were getting really successful with your photos.” He looked around at the assorted toys. “I grew up, I guess.”
It looked like it. “We dated?”
“Yeah.” His voice softened. “I really liked you, and I tried to visit you in the hospital, but your sister nixed that idea. Then you disappeared, and I never found out what happened.”
“I’m sorry.” That had to be so weird. “So, you rented my apartment?” That was kind of strange.
He chuckled. “I was living with you, and for a while, I waited for you to come home. Then, I met someone else, but I’m still here. For now. We just closed on a house across town, a cute bungalow with a fenced back yard, and I’m procrastinating with packing.” He leaned down and picked up a stuffed animal that looked like a cross between a dog and a unicorn. “I guess I’ve moved on, but I had to in order to deal with your loss. I’m sorry if that’s hurtful. Where have you been?”
She relaxed her body and took a couple of deep breaths. “I came out of the coma five years ago and have been, um, in rehabilitation. In Europe.” Yeah, that sounded like a good story.
He smiled again, his face lighting up. “I’m so glad. I really am.”
She stared at his handsome face, her headache intensifying. “I wish I remembered you.”
He breathed out. “Well. Maybe I can help. Is this the first time you’ve been back home?”
She no longer had a home. Not really. “Yes. I thought coming to Denver might help shake loose some memories, but so far, nothing.”
“Okay.” He leaned forward. “What if I showed you around town? Like went places we used to go? Maybe that would help?” When she didn’t answer, he chuckled. “Sorry. This is all just so much. I’d like to help.”
She could see what she’d liked in him.
A door to the right of the kitchen opened, and a woman walked out with a toddler in her arms. “I fell asleep with her again, and apparently nap time is now over.” She looked around and started, her green eyes widening. “Grace. Oh my God. Grace!” Wonder danced over her pretty features.
Brian stood and took the little girl, hugging her.
Grace partially stood, staring at the blonde. She was on the tallish side with pretty features, dressed in yoga pants and a T-shirt with the word “NOPE” across her chest.
The woman looked at Grace and then Brian and then back at Grace. She grimaced. “So. We ended up together.” She held up a hand. “We didn’t plan it. You were gone, and we tried to find you, and somehow…”
“We found each other,” Brian said over the toddler.
The little girl had green eyes and blond hair, like her mother. She looked at Grace and sucked her thumb, her eyes sleepy.
“I’m glad,” Grace said, turning back to study the woman. They must’ve been friends. Who was she? Trying to remember was increasing her headache, so Grace sat back down, deflated.
Brian sat. “Grace doesn’t remember us. This is Bobbi. You two were good friends.”
Bobbi stepped over a couple of stuffed animals to sit on the sofa with Grace, facing her. “You don’t remember? But you’re out of the coma. That’s amazing.” She reached out to touch Grace and then pulled her hand back. “We tried to visit, but your sister—”
“Can be a little overprotective,” Grace said, her mind reeling. How many friends had she left not knowing what had happened to her? Darn Faith. She had always been so focused on school and career and probably hadn’t even thought