But until I knew what was going on, why I reacted to him the way I did, and why he and his brother had lied to me about their connection, I refused to get anymore involved with either of them than I already was.
Halfway through our meal, Belinda turned her attention back to me. I froze with my straw in my mouth.
“How’re you enjoying Malibu?” she asked.
I swallowed my mouthful of soda and set my cup down. “Um, it’s different than New York, but it’s okay, I guess.”
She gave me a friendly smile, then turned back to Larissa. I blew out a breath. They talked about the new classes Belinda would be teaching—she was a college professor and a research scientist—when she mentioned studies about near death experiences and déjà vu.
“Is that a common thing? The déjà vu?” I asked, suddenly interested in their conversation.
“More than people realize. Have you ever experienced it?” she asked.
I nodded, unsure if I should divulge the extent of my experiences.
“Care to share?” She pushed the basket of breadsticks toward me, a warm smile on her face.
“It’s nothing major, really. Just small things. Like when I’m riding in a car or someone says something that sounds familiar.” I shrugged and pulled a breadstick from the basket.
“And do you find that these experiences happen more often when you’re around certain people or in specific places?” she asked.
I half expected to find her recording my answers or taking notes. Shifting in my seat, I cleared my throat. My thoughts circled back around to Trent, but I shoved him from my mind.
“Yeah, sometimes,” I said.
She nodded like I was saying the most fascinating thing she’d ever heard.
“What causes déjà vu?” I asked.
“Well, that depends on who you ask.” Belinda laughed.
Larissa sliced a look in my direction, amusement on her face. I couldn’t tell if she was truly pleased I was taking an interest in her friend or if she thought I was just being polite.
“Some think it’s just a medical thing, a warning sign of a potential seizure. Others dismiss it as nothing more than a strange sense of familiarity,” she explained. “Personally, I think déjà vu are repressed memories from a past life.”
I nearly choked on my breadstick. “What?” My eyes watered, and I took a drink of my soda.
“Is it really that far-fetched?” she asked simply. “There is so much we don’t know about our world and our minds. Isn’t it even remotely possible that these instances of déjà vu are just us remembering something from a different lifetime?”
She explained it like it was a no-brainer, and it was easy to believe her. But past lives? I wasn’t sure I believed that.
“Okay, Belinda, I think that’s enough,” Larissa said in the same tone she used to reprimand Little Frank.
I didn’t know if I was relieved or upset that Larissa intervened. Belinda was definitely eccentric, and she’d certainly given me a lot to think about, but I highly doubted I had a past life with Trent that was coming back to haunt me. Unless… Was he experiencing the déjà vu around me, too?
I didn’t say much during the drive home. I couldn’t stop thinking about everything Belinda had said. The only time I had déjà vu was when Trent was around, so clearly whatever was happening to me was tied to him and only him. But why? Sure, I had the unshakable feeling that I knew him, but I knew, deep down, that I didn’t. Did I?
“Thanks for inviting me tonight,” I said when Larissa turned onto our road.
She smiled. “Thanks for going. I hope Belinda wasn’t too much for you.”
“No, not at all. I actually thought she was pretty cool.”
As soon as Larissa pulled into the garage, I was out of the car and in the house. I raced up to my room, closed my door, and called Abby. If anyone could fill in the missing pieces, it was her. Thankfully, she answered on the second ring.
“Hey, what’s up?” she asked.
Now that I heard her voice, I was second-guessing my decision to call her. What was I supposed to say? She was going to think I was crazy. I sure felt like it.
“Chloe? You still there?”
“Yeah, sorry. So, can I ask you a question?” Kicking off my shoes, I sank onto my bed, tucked my legs underneath me, and chewed nervously on my pinky nail.
“Yeah…” She drew out the word.
This was a bad idea, but it was too late now. “Okay, this is going to sound crazy, but… just answer me, okay?”
“Okay.” Her tone was packed with confusion.
“When I was in Keene Valley, did I ever go out with anyone?”
Abby laughed. “What kind of question is that?”
I frowned. “Just answer me. Please.” I shifted farther onto the bed and sat with my back against the headboard. “It’s important.”
“There was that one guy. What was his name…? Brett? No, that’s not right. Trevor?” She ran through a list of names, but I tuned her out.
I dated someone in Keene Valley? I had no recollection of that at all. How was that possible? My heart thudded painfully against my ribcage.
“Maybe it was Matt? Hmm.” She paused. “I honestly don’t remember.” She laughed. “You only went out with him a couple of times, though, and then he just disappeared.”
I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the confusion that swirled around me. “Was there ever a guy at school named Trent?” My voice trembled.
“Trent who?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted, realizing I had no idea what his last name was. “But he’s tall. Dark hair. Gorgeous blue eyes.”
“If there was a guy at school who ever looked like that, I’d remember him.” Abby laughed again. “What’s with all the weird questions?”
I
