One Wish

Chapter 26

Eli

The rest of the day goes by quickly. Way too quickly. We kept our promise to have an early dinner and veg out in front of the TV, watching Frozen, which wasn't my choice. However, watching Audrey sing "Let it Go" at the top of her lungs was certainly the highlight of my evening. It was like listening to a cross between a cat being strangled and an adorable kitten meowing. I found myself laughing harder than I think I ever have in my lifetime. At one point during an episode of Friends, we fell asleep, and I awoke the next morning with Audrey curled in my arms, her soapy smell invading my nostrils and causing heat to rise throughout my body. Audrey wriggled, then moaned before finally shooting out of bed claiming she hadn't meant to fall asleep when she did, and then running to the bathroom, slamming the door a little more forcefully than she probably intended. She seemed so flustered that she never even gave me the chance to get any words out of my own. I get it, though. She will always have that thought in the back of her mind that it's not her body that's being embraced, it's not her body that's being touched, and it's not her body that I'm having a reaction to. I'm guessing she noticed with the way she shot up from the bed and ran with her eyes wide open. I can't help that, though. It's a natural reaction to have when you wake up to the most beautiful soul in the world. I find myself transported back to those awkward teenage moments where you're obviously both attracted to one other, but at the same, you're dancing around each other, wanting to say the words, but each one keeping quiet.

True to her word, Audrey meets up with Trent to say goodbye before we make the thankfully uneventful journey back to LA. A million calls await us both, so we dutifully go through as many as we can. My agent and assistant are still pissed at me, both telling me I'm mad because Kendra's not worth the time, blah, blah, blah. Normally, I would totally agree, but this time, I have to bite my tongue. I know for a fact that Kendra's not worthy of my time after the way she's treated me. This is all for Audrey. Sweet, lovable Audrey.

"I could understand the amnesia, but this..." Jack says, leaning his back into the chair in disbelief.

The moment Audrey could, she rang Jack as she wanted to tell him everything. Apparently, he was the only one who knew something was wrong before I did, which kind of annoyed me. But then Jack gave her the time to be listened to when I did not. And for that, I only have myself to blame.

"I know it's a lot to take in," Audrey soothes, reaching out to pat him on the knee. "It's taking a lot for Eli and I to get through. I just wanted you to know, because I really like you, and if... if I wake up, I want us to be able to keep in touch."

Jack fixes his gaze on the wall and then bends forward, leaning his chin on his clenched fists. Once he's taken a breath, his gaze locks on Audrey. "So, you're telling me you're a lady called Audrey from Sheridan, Wyoming, who made a wish on her twenty-first birthday to be Eli's wife for a month and it came true?"

Audrey opens her mouth to say something, but I beat her to it. "I know it sounds crazy, but yes."

Jack locks his gaze with mine before shaking his head. "Wow. Either this is true, you two are playing some kind of sick joke on me, or you're both under some mass psychosis shit that I really need to call a doctor about."

"I swear to you that we're telling the truth. I wouldn't lie about something like this."

Jack stares at Audrey. "How would I know that, though? I really don't know who you are."

"I do," I interrupt, causing them both to snap their heads towards me. "Audrey's as honest as they come. She's sweet, kind, caring, and... well, very funny at times." I give Audrey a goofy smile and my heart lights up when she returns it.

"Wow!" Jack shouts, startling me. "It sounds like you're in love with her."

My perplexed gaze meets with Audrey's as she gazes into my eyes. Can she see it too? Can she feel the undeniable pull between us?