Page 113 of Slapshot Baby

Her mouth twitches. She makes notes on her tablet, then looks up.

"You were a stubborn patient."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It wasn't one."

I walk out into the parking lot and pull my phone from my pocket.

Kai:

My memories are back. All four years. Confirmed by Dr. Harold today.

Her response comes in under a minute.

Ava:

Are you serious right now?

Kai:

Would I joke about this?

Ava:

You would absolutely joke about this.

Kai:

I'm not joking. Come to my place tonight. Seven.

Ava:

Kai Donovan, if this is a prank, I will end you with my bare hands.

Kai:

Bring those hands. I have something for you.

By the time I go for the walkthrough, all I can do is stand in the middle of the space with my hands in my pockets, picturing Ava moving through it. Her fingers trailing the wall, eyes measuring the light, that quiet inhale she does when something meets her standards.

She rebuilt my entire life without asking for anything back. I've been carrying that debt in my chest like a second heartbeat.

At seven, she's in my kitchen with bare feet on the hardwood and her hair down. She leans against my counter and steals grapes from the bowl I set out.

The evening light highlights the curve of her jaw and the slope of her neck.

My chest pulls tight the way it always does when she's standing in my space looking like she belongs in it more than I do. The key sits heavy in my pocket, and I close my hand around it once before letting go.

I give her every detail about regaining my memory. Her hand finds mine across the counter when I tell her about Theo's gum.

"I'm so proud of you," she says.

She's mid-sentence about Jordan's hug when I pull out the key from my pocket and set it on the counter between us.

She stops talking. Looks at the key. Looks at me.

"What is that?"