A Flash of Light

Chapter 5

After getting the shocking memory back, I didn't know what to think, or do. Should I tell him I knew the truth of it? Why hadn't he told me? Mr. Keene had said that his son had saved my life. I thought it another lie, but I had the memory back now. Loud and clear. Why didn't Rayden just let me get hit by a car if he thought I was a liability? Wouldn't it have made things easier for everyone on their side? All he would've had to do was grab my phone after I was dead.

I didn't hear from him until Tuesday afternoon. I'd just got home from work when I got a message from him.

Rayden:    "Tell me you're home."

        "I have an emergency."

        "Really need your help."

        "Please."

Me:        "What is it??"

Rayden:    "Are you available?"

        "I'm just around the corner."

Me:        "Just got home."

        "Ach. Sure."

        "This better be good."

        "I'm coming outside."

Rayden:    "Thanks."

       

I did a quick refresh and changed into a light blue floaty dress. Then hurried downstairs. His yellow sports car was already waiting there.

"What's wrong?" I asked, sitting down. He was wearing navy chinos and a light blue shirt. Beastie Boys playing on his stereo again.

"Hello to you too," he said.

I looked at him unamused and said, "This better be good. Where are we going?"

"Don't you think it's nice to see me? Surely our relationship is not limited to Wednesday calls, Thursday lunches and weekend get-aways?" He asked in that irritatingly fake seriousness.

"What do you need my help with?" I asked with my no bullshit tone.

"I forgot it's my Mum's birthday. We're going shopping," he said excitedly.

"There's a vein in my head," I gritted out, "That's going to pop RIGHT NOW. Rayden! I just had a really long day at work. Don't you have like an actual girlfriend to do this stuff with?"

"An actual girlfriend?" He asked, his amusement blatantly obvious.

"Yeah. Look at you. Guys like you have a different girl for every day of the year," I ranted.

He looked at me in disbelief. "A diff... I mean that's a lot of sex to be had." He massaged his stubble. "I hope I keep all these women satisfied. Top performance every night." He brushed imaginary sweat from his brow then continued, "Actually, I'm so relieved you brought this up, Eveline. It gets so hard when people don't understand. I mean I had to stop trying to remember their names. So now I just call them by the dates. Like March 19th, what a bitch! Or April 3rd, huh what a drag... But May 20th, she's a gem... I've actually been meaning to bring this up with you for a while. As you know, next year is the leap year. A whole extra day with no one to fill it. Whaddya say, wanna be February 29th?" He raised his brows at me suggestively.

"What an honor," I said with exaggerated bravado, "I would like to thank my Mum and Dad for the genes, my sister for always believing in me... wait. Does the position come with a trophy?"

He answered very seriously, "Naturally. And there's full pay package, dental care, gynecological services."

Despite myself, I laughed. It was just so stupid and I was so tired.