Somebody to You

Ch. 35

Nick

I was going stir crazy by day three at home with just my mom & Demi. I needed to get out of the house & do something, but my mom was insisting on me taking it easy. I was actually looking forward to my doctor's appointment & therapy session I had that day. I was looking forward to riding in a car, since my doctor said I couldn't drive for a week. I was also looking forward to the sunshine, too. I didn't even care if it was only for a few hours. After my appointments, though, I asked my mom if I could take her to lunch & she was cool with it. We went to a place with an outdoor patio, thankfully. I wanted as much sun as I could get. I was looking a little pale I noticed.

While mom & I were eating, she brought up the night before when Joe had come over with his son. "Isn't Damon adorable? He looks so much like you & Joe when you were little." Mom said, casually. I nodded as I ate my salad. "And I'm so glad you are starting to remember some stuff from the last four months." She was smiling at me as I ate. I nodded again. "I wish you would remember something about Demi, though." She sighed.

I rolled my eyes & dropped my fork. "It may happen, it may not. And is it really that big of a deal? So I lost a few months of memories." I shrugged my shoulders & looked around at the people walking by. "I remembered a few other things, too. I just didn't say anything because I don't want Demi to get her hopes up."

Mom's gasped with excitement. "What else did you remember?"

Taking a deep breath, I leaned back in my chair. "I remembered working in the studio with Greg & I remember when Macy started working at the gym. I remember... um...." I cleared my throat & leaned forward. "I remember a lady friend who visited me while I was recuperating."

Her lips were pursed in disappointment. "You mean some girl you hooked up with?"

I looked away, shaking my head. "Yea, well, it's a memory. Can we focus on that?"

"You remember a girl who broke your heart, but not the girl who helped repair it. You remember a girl you had meaningless sex with, but not the first girl you have fallen in love with since you were 18." Mom said, sadly.

Our food came, so I didn't have to keep talking about it. When the waitress left, I smiled at Mom. "It'll be okay, Mom." I put a french fry in my mouth, giving her a charming smile.

"I adore Demi & she changed you, Nick. For the better. You have a shot of having a family with a girl who adores you. I just wish you would try a little harder."

I let out a laugh as I picked up my sandwich. "Try harder? What am I supposed to do?" I took a bite, watching my mom, waiting for an answer.

"Demi said you didn't want to look at pictures the first night home."

I wiped my mouth off & shook my head. "Jesus, Mom. I was exhausted. I missed my home. I just wanted to watch tv & then go to bed. I didn't want to look at a bunch of pictures that would have made her sad. I do feel bad that I don't remember, ya know."

"Could have fooled me." Mom said, then took a bite of her sandwich.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, making a face.

Mom finished chewing her bite, then leaned on the table. "You've been a complete jerk to her. You're acting all nonchalant about all of this, like you don't want to remember her. You talk to your friends about girls in front of Demi & you ignore her when she's around."

"Mom, I don't remember her. Or anything about her. I'm being normal like the doctor said. I'm not trying too hard, so I don't feel overwhelmed."

"Do you want to remember her?" Mom asked, with that look on her face that said she better like the answer to her question.