“Thank you,” I whispered, probably for the hundredth time.
He nodded, throat working as he swallowed hard. “I mean it, Sam. I’m not saying it to just make you feel better.”
Each word he spoke caused his lips to graze my cheek, sending a shiver through me. Reluctantly, I pulled back. “I know.”
A faint smile appeared. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“I really don’t think Del could’ve done something like that, but be careful.” His eyes locked on to mine. “Please.”
“I will.” I didn’t want him to worry, but talking with Del was something I had to do. And the faint smile was still on Carson’s face, but it never reached his eyes. He was worried, and he had good reason to be. If it hadn’t been me, then whoever the killer was had to be worried that I’d get my memories back.
Later that evening, after I’d changed into a pair of comfy sweats and a cropped hoodie that I’d found in the closet, I sat on my bed and took the Tiffany’s necklace off. Holding it up so that the ceiling light reflected off the white-gold design, I tried to remember the first time I took it off.
Nothing came to me—no feelings, thoughts. I sighed, laying the necklace on the comforter.
Footsteps in the hall drew my attention. I looked up, seeing the shadow of the body first before the person reached the open door. It wasn’t someone I’d expected.
Del.
My breath caught as he stopped in the doorway and leaned against the frame. I had no idea where my parents were, and I was pretty sure Scott was in the basement. “How did you get in here?” I asked.
His brows slanted. “The front door was unlocked.”
“And you just let yourself in?” Coldness had crept into my voice without my meaning it to be there.
“Yeah.” Confusion was etched across his face as he inched into my bedroom. He was wearing the same dark slacks and button-down shirt he’d donned for the funeral. “Since when has that been … the necklace?” He stopped just shy of the bed. “You took it off?”
Scooping it up, I ignored my nervousness. “I was just looking at it.”
His eyes flashed, not nearly as glassy as they’d been at the barn, but the scent of alcohol was still wafting from him. “I left the party.”
“Oh?” I held the heart tightly, the metal biting into the fleshly part of my palm.
“You’re pissed. I know.” He sat on the edge of the bed, twisting his midsection so he was facing me. His eyes were glued on my hand. “Veronica and Candy were just messing with you.”
My brows rose. “Messing with me? And you just …” I trailed off. What he did or didn’t do wasn’t the problem here or what was even important. “Del—”
“I didn’t do anything. I know. And I should’ve made them stop.” He took a breath, rubbing the heel of his hand over his jaw. “I’m sorry. I don’t like seeing you embarrassed and hurt.”
I blew out a tired breath as I studied him. I couldn’t help but see him and Cassie together, but could he have been responsible for all this? My instinct told me no, but how could I really trust that? And that wasn’t even the reason for why this needed to end.
Letting out a sigh, he sprawled across my bed, on his side. “Don’t you like the necklace, Sammy? If not, I can buy you a new one—something better … with sapphires? They’re your favorite stone. Well, they were. …”
My fingers loosened around the necklace. “I don’t need a new necklace.”
He looked up at me, his eyes full of uncertainty. “Then tell me what I need to do to make you happy. I can take you to that restaurant in Philly that does the sushi the way you like it. Or we can spend the weekend at the Poconos. I’m sure your parents will be okay with that.”
I winced. There wasn’t anything he could do. Lies about our relationship and my suspicions aside, this was coming. I knew days ago that I needed to end things with him. I just didn’t feel what I should when we were together. My breath didn’t catch. There wasn’t a soft flutter in my chest. My stomach didn’t get tipsy just hearing his name. Those were all things that I felt for another boy … and that was just wrong.
Del must’ve seen it in my eyes because he sat up, searching my face intently. “We can make this work.”
“I don’t think we can,” I said softly.
He looked away, shaking his head slightly. “Is it because of what happened today?”
“N-no, not … not really,” I stuttered. Had I done this before? If so, did I suck as badly at it then as I did now? “I’m sorry. I really am. I just don’t—”
“We can work on this.” He turned to me again, eyes so dark they almost looked black. “You just need more time.”
I met his stare. “Time isn’t going to change anything. I don’t feel that way for you. We’d make good friends, but—”
“I don’t want to be friends with you.” He jerked back, eyes widening. “I can’t believe you’re doing this after everything.”
This hurt more than I had expected. I wrapped my fingers around his wrist and turned his hand over.
“Don’t,” he whispered. “Sammy, don’t do this. …”
Wetness gathered in my eyes as I placed my hand over his, pressing the necklace into his open palm. The moment my hand touched his, I shuddered. The memory came on so quickly it left me spinning. A dull gray film dropped over my eyes.
“Don’t you dare act like this is my fault!” I screamed.
“I’m not acting like anything! Jesus.” He flopped back on his bed, grabbing the remote control. “I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal out of this. You had fun while you were doing it.”
Tears clouded my eyes as I looked down. Humiliation didn’t even cover it as I thumbed through the photos on his phone. Pictures all linked to text messages he’d sent Trey, who in turn had sent them to everyone.
I sat on the edge of the bed. I was so stupid, so freaking stupid. I wanted to die.
He nudged me in the back with his bare foot. “Don’t be upset with me over this, okay?”
Don’t be upset? Everyone had seen these pictures. No wonder Veronica looked like she’d scored the entire spring Prada line this morning. And I bet Cassie was just thrilled. In that moment I hated them all.
Muttering under his breath, Del sat and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Look, all the guys think it’s hot as hell. They’re jealous of me.”
I stiffened. All the guys … The entire baseball team had been sending these pictures back and forth. Mortification squeezed my chest, stealing my breath. My brother had seen me doing … doing this? So had Carson?
I shrugged off his embrace and stood. “Don’t touch me.”
Del rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
“I can’t believe you did that.” I threw his cell phone. It hit the hardwood floor, bounced once, and then cracked. A sick sense of justice filled me when the screen went gray.
Del shot off the bed, grabbing his phone. “Damn it, Sammy! Do you have any idea how much this cost me?”
“Do you know how much that embarrassed me?” I fingered the heart at the end of the necklace. “Or do you even care?”
He looked up, eyes narrowed. Tossing the phone aside, he stalked toward me. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
Swallowing, I backed up. “I hate you,” I whispered.
“No, you don’t.” He grabbed my hand, squeezing so that the heart dug into my palm. I winced. “And don’t pull your little ‘I’m going to break up with you‘ bullshit. You know you’re not. So just get over it.”