Page 20 of You Again

Mom waits for Dr. Strouse to step out before rounding on me. “Is this because I’m leaving?”

“No,” I groan. “I like the idea of a new place. And maybe I’ll go out if I’m not afraid of running into someone I know every moment of the day.”

“Rosalie—” Mom clamps down on her bottom lip.

“I’ve made up my mind.”

“I don’t want you going alone,” she says, standing next to the patient table I sit on.

“Fran’s there. Besides, Grammy is coming! She’s going to move in with me. I won’t be alone.” I clear my throat, hoping it doesn’t give away the lie I’ve just told. Because I am determined to convince my Grammy to come with me. Another last-second-thought-turned-decision.

My last-second thoughts are awesome today.

“Rosalie, maybe you should know a few things first⁠—”

“No. Mother. You know what happens when the unknown is sprung on me.” I swallow and shake my head. “My memories will come back. Just be patient. I won’t have to learn anything because I’m going to remember it all.”

At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

Nine

Present Day

“Fran!” I call, very aware that I am walking into my best friend’s house unannounced at eight in the morning, all while bellowing for his wife. “Franny!”

“Kitchen,” she calls back. The best thing about Fran is that she doesn’t get fazed or offended by anything. She doesn’t care that I’m barging in before ten in the morning. She’ll just go with it.

I’m greeted with orange juice, muffins, and a scowling Callum. So, Fran doesn’t care, but maybe Callum does. The man is in boxers and a T-shirt. So what? We share a locker room; I’ve seen him in less. What’s his problem?

“Good morning to you, too,” he says, unnaturally grumpy. Fran and Callum are both sunny humans.

But I don’t care about any of that at the moment. “Fran, Stella told Roman and Roman told me⁠—”

“Oh brother,” Cal mutters.

I ignore Cal and keep talking. “That she saw Robert yesterday.”

Fran’s face is full of compassion. Even Callum’s morning glare has softened. The last six and a half months have been the hardest of my life. They both know it. They’ve both been up close and present through every bit of it.

While I’ve had to take a backseat to Rosalie’s life, Fran still gets to be her best friend.

“She did,” Fran says, holding a muffin out toward me.

I don’t take it. I couldn’t eat if I was starved. “And? Is she okay? Was she upset? Did he hurt her? If he hurt her⁠—”

“Sweetie.” Fran sets her muffin on the counter and steps around the island to reach me. She rests a hand on my upper arm and pats. “He did not hurt her. He said hello. He mentioned Margo. She doesn’t remember the pain he caused her.”

“Okay.” I swallow. And then it hits me—somehow this situation could be even worse. My Rosalie might not be feeling hurt, but she could believe herself in love with that man—with Robert. “And?”

“And it was confusing and a bit shocking. But she handled it well. No attacks. He’s married.”

“I’m aware.” I grit my teeth. “To Margo.”

“Yes. He told her.”

I hold my breath. Because as much as I don’t want her to be in love with Robert, I also don’t want her hurt by him again. That man already did his damage. “You’re certain she’s okay?”

“She’s having…” Fran’s shoulders rise in a slow shrug. “Feelings. Confused, unsure feelings. In her mind, he didn’t do all those awful things. It’s strange.”