Unforgettable (22 page)

 
“Hey, do you want to watch some TV or something?” I asked as I walked into the room. He spun around and I felt myself go hot and cold in one horrifyingly humiliating second. Clutched in his hand was a huge, lifelike penis.

Chapter Nineteen

 
Holy crap. He found my vibrator stash. I could feel the blood rushing to my face. Will my humiliations never abate? But wait. I didn’t recognize that monstrosity as belonging to me.
Oh my god
. The realization hit me that I had just caught Ethan with
his
vibrator. My face got even hotter than I believed possible. I didn’t know what to do, but I couldn’t look away. I was enthralled by the sight of that huge penis in his hands. Whoa. I shook my head.

 
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” I started backing out of the room while covering Lucy’s eyes with my hand. She
so
didn’t need to see this.

 
“Wait. Jules don’t go; it’s not what you think.” Well, he
would
say that wouldn’t he?

 
“Hey, I’m no one to judge you. Honestly. I’m open minded.” I kept backing out until I was in the hallway then I turned around and practically ran back to the kitchen. I needed a minute to absorb what I had just seen but I didn’t get it. Ethan was right on my heels still carrying the vibrator in his hands. Well, maybe it was just a dildo; I couldn’t tell from this angle.

 
“This isn’t mine.” He thrust it in my face and I couldn’t help but admire the impressive size of it. “This is Vlad, don’t you remember?” He named his fake penis? I thought only I did that. I shook my head at him. I think I would recognize my own special friend.

 
“Really, Ethan, it’s okay.” I was trying to wrap my head around this latest development but it was just too much.

 
“Vlad the Impaler?” he questioned me again. Wait. Now that he said it again, that name did seem slightly familiar. “We have a lot of fun with him. Well, you do, but me too because we incorporate it into our sex, but it’s for you.” His eyes were imploring me to believe him. He seemed to be telling me the truth, but what the fuck was he doing messing with it?

 
I held up my hand. “Stop. I need a second here.” If it was indeed mine, and I guess that really made more sense, the embarrassment was all on me.

 
“Why were you playing around with it?” That was a question I needed answered immediately.

 
“It’s not like I was stroking it.” He sounded exasperated. “I had just picked it up when I was in the sex drawer looking for the remote for the DVD player.”

 
“The sex drawer? Uh uh. I keep my
things
in a box under the bed.” I told him piously.

 
“Babe, we have a sex drawer. Come with me.” He took my hand and pulled me and Lucy along with him and back to the bedroom. I wanted to protest but I had to admit to curiosity. The drawer was still open and he pointed down before helpfully putting on the lamp right above it.

 
Holy moly. I had been right earlier in thinking we may be a little kinky. I recognized “Steve” sitting in the drawer beside several new items. I must have really broken out of my shell. I couldn’t imagine leaving all these items out where anyone could find them. I reached out and picked up a bottle. Strawberry flavored lube. Interesting.

 
Ethan put the vibrator back in the drawer and shut it so I decided to give him a break, even though I was cringing inside. “Okay, I believe it’s mine. Sorry, you just caught me off guard, that’s all.”

 
“Well, obviously you caught
me
off guard.” He wanted to laugh it off and I was just cowardly enough to let him. This was just one thing too much at the end of a long and stressful day.

 
“So, um, did you want to watch some TV?” I asked again, remembering the reason I came back here in the first place.

 
“That would be great. I was just thinking that we could watch a movie back here where it’s more comfortable and farther away from the cat.” I winced as I was reminded of what had just happened. I looked over the bed which was all smooth and straightened then back to Ethan.

 
“Good idea.” I set Lucy down on the bed and walked over the TV. I could see a movie propped next to the DVD player.
50 First Dates
. I liked this movie, and I really needed some comedy in my life right about now. I turned back to Ethan. “This is kind of weird.” He looked at me questioningly. “Just everything. You, me, my amnesia, the cat, the vibrator. Everything.” I made a sweeping motion with my hand as if to encompass the whole room. I could have made a longer list that included much more, but I figured he could get idea.

 
“You’re right. I’ve been so set on getting you to remember that I didn’t realize I might be pushing you too hard. We can just sit and watch a movie and relax for the rest of the day, all right?” He had walked over to me as he talked and so he was standing just inches away from me right now. I was getting those same overwhelming feelings again but this time I welcomed them. I needed something steady to anchor to. My life had become a freakish situation comedy. I reached out and grabbed his hand and he gave me a squeeze. “Come on, you relax and I’ll take care of everything else.”

 
Ahh, just the words I needed to hear. I wanted to let someone else take care of everything for me, if only for a few hours. I needed the mental break.

 
“That sounds wonderful. Do you mind if I take a bath first? I really need to unwind.” Baths were my little escape in my day and always had been. The first house I had looked at in my price range had only had a shower so I had immediately crossed it off my list. I had to have my baths.

 
“Yeah, you go ahead and take as long as you need. I’ve got some things I need to do anyway.” He paused. “So I guess I should probably post that you’re sick and won’t be updating for a bit?” He was asking me? He knew way more than I did about that.

 
“Sure, do what needs to be done. I’m obviously worthless with that right now.” I shrugged my shoulders. What was one more thing added to the list today? I went over to my side of the dresser and pulled out some panties and a pair of pajamas, glad that I had upgraded my nightwear in the past two years. Ethan had left the room when I started digging for my clothes so I took the opportunity to walk back over to the “sex drawer” and investigate closer.

 
I pawed around awhile at first afraid to touch anything, but I had to admit, if only to myself, I was impressed. I was finally in one of those couples. The kind that was adventurous and still sweet. Yay me! I moved around the items until I could see everything in the back. There was a remote back there. Hmm, I guess Ethan was telling me the truth. I pulled it out and noticed something else. What the…? I pulled out a headband with buns made of fake hair on each side. Princess Leia buns. I got a mental picture of Ethan in nothing but a light saber belt. Holy Shit. My face started flaming again. This was too much for even the new me. I hastily shut the drawer and put the remote on top of the table before scurrying to the bathroom and shutting myself in.

 
I had so many things to think about I didn’t know where to start. I started the tub and poured in some of my bath crystals. I had remembered a few important things today, and I was incredibly thankful for that, but I was still mostly blank. The fact that everything I remembered included Ethan did not escape me, however. He was my key to remembering.

 
I stripped out of my clothes and stepped into the water while it was filling. I loved the water pouring over my feet, and I have always vowed that when I get enough money for luxuries I was going to get a tub with jets. I smiled when I remembered my bank account and the fact that Ethan told me I’d be getting a big advance from my cookbook. I made the decision right then that a whirlpool tub was going to be the first thing I bought.

 
I relaxed back in the hot water and closed my eyes. What a day. I mean, it was something from the moment I woke up. I needed a mental break but my mind wouldn’t let me have it. The images of the day kept swirling around in my head. The fish market, the cat, memories flashing back, my mother, the sex. Whew the sex. I let my mind stick on that subject for a while, replaying the event and the time leading up to it. I could safely say that I wanted Ethan even without any memories of our relationship. He was just …awesome. I would have been attracted to him if I had just met him on the street, but once you add in all of his tremendous attributes, who wouldn’t find him appealing?

 
I leaned forward and turned off the water when it got within a half inch of the rim. I let my mind settle back on Ethan. He was different than I remembered him, more attentive as well as assertive. It was a strange mix but I liked it. I also liked that he was here for me when I needed him. I knew Carrie would have taken me under her wing in a heartbeat, but somehow it was just easier with Ethan.

 
I soaked in the tub for a while until I realized that I needed to be out there with Ethan. He was going to be the reason I would get my memory back, I just knew it.

 
I hit the drain and stood up. I couldn’t get out of the tub fast enough. I thought about what Ethan and I had been talking about before my mother had shown up. We were going to get to the bottom of what happened on Friday. I hurriedly dried off and threw on my pajamas. I couldn’t wait to be back in the same room with him.

 
I hardly stopped to analyze my feelings as I turned and looked out the hallway. Where was he? I couldn’t hear a TV on from the living room or the bedroom so I went into the office. He wasn’t there but the computer was still on.

 
I walked back out to the kitchen where I was greeted by the smell of popcorn. Ethan was grabbing a bowl out of the cabinet as I came in. I could see a frown on his face when I walked in.

 
“What’s wrong?”

 
“Not a thing.” He deliberately pasted a smile on his face while he set the bowl on the counter. “Did you have a nice bath?”

 
I let him change the subject because if it was something bad I really didn’t want to know. Not tonight anyway. I wanted the rest of the night to go smoothly.

 
“It was great.” I mean what else was there to say really? I walked over to him and practically nudged up against him. “Do you want me to get the drinks?”

 
“Got it covered.” He motioned to the counter behind him where he already had some glasses filled with iced tea. He also had a bag of Hershey Kisses sitting there. My heart seemed to flip over in my chest. I could go through a whole bag of kisses during a movie. I ate those like other people ate popcorn. My heart warmed as I realized he knew that much about me. This man was just too perfect.

 
The microwave beeped and Ethan pulled out the popcorn and poured it into the bowl.

 
“Shall we?” he asked as he scooped up the bowl in one hand and the kisses in another.

 
I just nodded and grabbed the glasses before trailing him into the bedroom. He walked to one side of the bed and I went to my side, the side next to the “sex drawer.” Just being in here was making me think about what was inside it and I was feeling my cheeks warming. I set the drinks down on the table and noticed the remote control I had found in the drawer a few minutes ago.

 
“Here.” I handed him the remote and sat down on the bed.

 
“Where did you find it?”

 
“Uh, it must have fallen behind the table.” I certainly wasn’t going to admit where I found it. He just looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I tried braving it, but my stupid blush made it impossible. “Oh shut up.”

 
He chuckled and went over to put the movie on. I settled on the bed and watched while he got everything ready. He looked so big and firm and I couldn’t help but notice the way the muscles on his back rippled when he moved. He was like my perfect man ideal. Well, besides the fact that he was younger, but to be honest, I hadn’t really given that a thought since Carrie had left. The more I got to know him the more that didn’t seem to matter to me.