Addicted

185

His crystal blue eyes had so much pain in them, it actually ripped a tear in my heart, making it hard to breathe.

"You've forgotten a lot. I'm your boyfriend. We started dating a month after you moved to LA. You've also forgotten  your best friend Katrina Stuart." That name tickled my brain like I was supposed to know it, but I just couldn't place it. "You've known her since high school and moved out here to be closer to her as well as to make it as a writer."

I felt my face screw up in confusion. "What are you talking about? I don't know anyone by that name. I never had any friends in high school. I always bounced-"

"-bounced around from foster parent to foster parent. I know. You told me. Kat was the only friend you made after your parents died in a fire."

I was in actual shock.

How does he know about the foster homes and my parents? To be honest, I was getting a little scared. He would have to be a serious stalker to know my past life.

He reached across the table and rested his hand on top of mine.

"Chloe, I know this seems crazy to you, but I need you to trust me."

The waitress showed up then, with my order. "Anything else?" she asked.

I started to tell her no, thank you, but he spoke up.

"No, you can go."

"That was rude." I replied.

I pulled my hand away, unable to think that this could actually be real. It didn't make any sense. I started picking at my food, my appetite not really relevant right now.

If I had an accident that bad, that made me lose selective memories...why wasn't I in a hospital?

"I don't think that this was a good idea. I should go back to work now." I kept my gaze averted away from him, as I started to slide out of the booth, leaving my entire meal.

"Wait, please." The begging tone was back in his voice, causing me to look up and meet his gaze. "Look in my eyes. I need you to trust me Chloe. Just a little. Do I look like I would hurt you? I know this is hard to believe."

He ran his hands through his hair in frustration, staring into my eyes. Something inside those blue depths told me that he wouldn't hurt me, and that I could trust him. I stopped moving and sat still in the booth, holding his gaze.

"Colby, right?" He nodded, biting his bottom lip, his eyes still sad. "I know that I said that I believe in everything but come on! I had an accident that only made me forget certain things in my life, yet I haven't been in the hospital and you won't tell me what this 'accident' was. How am I supposed to believe that?"

He shook his head. "You can't, I guess. I don't want to drop all of this on you at one time, so how about you just trust me instead? Hang out with me, meet the others...again, talk to Katrina even." He glanced at his phone which had just vibrated. "Look, I'll text you so you'll have my number, okay? When you're ready, we'll talk, or hang out. Whatever you want. Do me a favor though?"

I pursed my lips, looking at him skeptically. "What kind of favor?"

He took both of my hands in his, and I let him, closing my eyes for a second against the electricity that zinged through my body again.

"Read your story. The one you've been working on. Read it. The main character's name is Cole. That's my name. I don't know what you actually wrote because you wouldn't let me read it. You said that no one sees your work because you thought you weren't good enough, especially before it was finished. I just know that you based that character off of me."

I chewed the inside of my cheek, trying to decipher what I saw in his eyes.

How could he know that I was writing a story?

Hell, how could he know everything that he did know about me? It didn't make sense.

Could I actually trust him?

This whole thing was just too crazy though.

"Fine. You seem to know a lot about me, so there has to be some reason why."

I noticed that he was still holding my hands, and I felt him rubbing soft circles into the back of my hand with his thumb.

"Thank you." He murmured. "Will you do me another favor?"

I raised my eyebrows at him. "What more could you possibly want?" I laughed out.

He nodded towards my food.

"Eat and have a conversation with me before you go back to work. I'll tell you a little bit about myself, if you want."

I was intrigued to know more about him. I was drawn to him and really didn't want to leave just yet.

One second I was scared and wanted to leave, now I wanted to stay and find out more about him? He was making me loony bin crazy. I nodded and opened my crackers to start eating.

"You talk, I'll eat." I replied, scooping chicken salad onto a cracker.

He cracked a grin.

"Okay, I love the beach at night. The crashing of the waves. It soothes me somehow. I don't get along easily with people...or I didn't use to. I think it's easier now."

"What changed that?" I asked, swallowing a mouthful of food.

A sad smile crossed his full pink lips.

"You." He said simply.

I didn't reply, but I felt the blush creep up my cheeks.

"Anyways, it's October so that's great. I love Halloween. Horror movies are always fun."

"Who's your favorite villain?" I asked.

"Freddy Krueger." I stopped eating mid chew and just looked at him, narrowing my eyes. "What?" He asked, widening his eyes a little and looking at me like I was crazy.

"Nothing, sorry. He's just my favorite too. Why is he your favorite?"

He smirked at me again, almost causing me to choke on the bite I had just swallowed. "Because he can get to you in your dreams. There's nowhere to hide inside your own mind. You're just stuck there."

I nodded, really getting into the conversation.