When I got the call from Noah I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was. Everything in my life had changed since that night. Every little thing.
Bad things always happened in the dark.
CHAPTER FIVE
ELLIOT
“Irish?”
I jumped as AJ’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I pinched the bridge of my nose as a slight pounding formed in my temples. I felt like crawling under a table and rocking myself back and forth until the images of what I’d seen left my mind, but they never did. They were always there. Silently haunting me.
“You were thinking of that night again, weren’t you?”
I drank down another glass of water that appeared in front of me.
“Leave it alone,” I said, my voice sounding husky to my own ears. “I don’t wanna talk about it, mate. I really don’t.”
“I know you don’t, and that’s why you have to talk about it,” AJ pressed. “You did everything you could, mate. Every little thing. It’s not your fault.”
But it was my fault. I should have moved faster once I got Noah free, I shouldn’t have lingered for those few seconds after I made sure that she was breathing, and I definitely shouldn’t have wasted time by kissing her.
“I hovered with Noah when I got her free.” I cleared my throat. “Those precious seconds could have saved me sister.”
“Elliot.” AJ moved closer to me. “You read the coroner’s report and you saw Bailey for yourself. She died on impact. She was gone long before the fire had the chance to claim her, brother.”
I looked into my empty glass.
“If you hadn’t of stayed with Noah for those few seconds you’d be dead too, your parents would have buried both of you.”
“Please, bud.” I swallowed, not being able to listen to his reasoning. “I can’t talk about it; it rips me apart inside when I think about her. I’m barely holdin’ it together. Please.”
“Okay,” AJ said, his hand giving my shoulder another squeeze. “Come on, let’s get you home. Being here isn’t helping you tonight.”
Unfortunately, AJ was right about that. Tonight, the drink didn’t black out my demons or bring me the numbness I craved. All it seemed to be doing was giving me a headache, and that was one thing I could do without. I downed another glass of water AJ got me then got to my feet. Out of the corner of my eye I watched as AJ held his hands out as if he was preparing to catch me should I fall. I wanted to laugh but found my throat couldn’t quite figure out how to do that any more.
“I’m grand, AJ,” I sighed as I lifted my arm and patted his. “Barely tipsy. No need to be me shoulder to lean on, the drink didn’t hit the spot tonight.”
“I’m always here with one to lean on whether you need it or not,” he said with a grunt. “I’m always gonna be here for you, mate. You’re my brother and I love you.”
“I love you too, brother.” I gave him a hug. “I’ll be okay,” I lied with ease. “I’m just in a bad place right now. I’ve never . . . I’ve never felt so lost before, man.”
Before AJ could say a word, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. Hurriedly, I took it out and my pulse spiked when my mother’s face flashed across the screen.
“Ma!” I answered, panicked. “What’s wrong? Are ye okay?”
“I’m fine,” she answered hurriedly. “I’m okay, honey.”
I gripped AJ’s arm as relief flooded me. “Ma, it’s late. What—”
“Elliot,” she interrupted tentatively. “Samantha just called me. It’s Noah.”
Fear just about stopped my heart beating at the mention of Noah. Her mother wouldn’t call so late unless it was something serious.
“What, Ma?” I rasped as my free hand clenched into a fist at my side. “Please, don’t say it. She can’t be dead too. Please.”
AJ placed his hands behind his head as he stared at me with unblinking eyes.
“No, she’s alive,” Ma sniffled. “She’s awake, but somethin’ awful is wrong with her.”
She was alive. I could have vomited with relief. Whatever was wrong with Noah didn’t matter because she was alive. I wasn’t going to bury her like I’d had to do with Bailey. She was alive.
“What is it?” I demanded. “Is she paralysed?”
“No, physically she’s fine. It’s her mind, honey.”
“Her mind?” My frowned deepened. “What the devil d’ye mean, Ma?”
“She can’t remember anythin’.” Ma began to cry. “She thinks it’s 2015. Samantha and John are so worried.”
I tried to digest my mother’s words, but it seemed too far-fetched to be real. I shook my head, trying my best to clear it so I could think. I repeated what my mother had said in my head before I spoke out loud.
“2015?” I said, feeling bewildered. “You’re tellin’ me that Noah can’t remember the last five years of her life? She thinks she’s twenty-four again?”
“Amnesia,” AJ muttered, lowering his arms. “She has amnesia.”
“Worse than that. She thinks you’re still her boyfriend, she had no idea John was sick . . . she doesn’t know about the accident that killed . . . that took our Bailey and almost her too. She doesn’t even know her own husband. She’s doesn’t know about anythin’ and she’s really, really scared. She’s askin’ for you, honey. Samantha and John need ye to go to King’s College Hospital. Noah needs ye, Elliot. Will ye go to her?”
“I’m comin’,” I said as I looked at AJ, who gave me a nod. “I’m comin’ to her, Ma.”
I wasn’t sure who hung up first, me or my mother, and I didn’t care.
“My car’s outside, Irish,” AJ said as he jogged after me. “I’ll get you to Noah in twenty minutes, brother.”
I didn’t answer
