Page 36 of Dear Future Husband

That wasn’t cryptic at all.

I opened my mouth to snark out as much at the sweet-talking nurse, but the door opened, cutting me off. Once again, Doctor Brown walked through the doorway. “Hello again, Miss Belle. I’d like to introduce you tosomeone.”

I gazed back, expressionless, showing no signs that I was the least bit interested, but he moved from the door, allowing me a full view of the young man that stood behind him.

The first thing about him that caught my attention was the brown, wavy hair containing hints of gold. Like chocolate ice cream with hot caramel sauce. My gaze melted down his face to the shadow of scruff along his jaw and upper lip, then back up to his dark, emerald eyes staring after me in wide anticipation.

He was waiting for my reaction. I instantly registered that everyone in the small room was waiting for my reaction. I felt like a zoo animal as they gawked at me in silence. Maybe sleep wasn’t all that bad. The darkness of my mind didn’t stare back at me all creepily.

Unable to handle the quiet and watchful eyes any longer, I slanted a pleading look to Betsy.

Betsy, in her corner, let out a hearty chuckle. “How about we exit for a few minutes and let these two get reacquainted?”

I scowled. That wasn’t what I wanted at all, and the woman knew it as she shot me a wink before pivoting for the exit. She gestured for Doctor Brown and Chelsea to follow her out. Doctor Brown gave me a curt nod and smile before exiting while Chelsea grabbed the still nameless young man’s hand. He returned the gesture, then she, too, walked out the door.

Whelp, it was quiet again.

This entire experience so far had all been overly dramatic and now exceptionally awkward. I felt exposed under this stranger’s silent gaze, especially since I couldn’t recall what I looked like. This boy was—pretty—very pretty, but for all I knew, I could have a snaggletooth, lop-sided face, and overgrown eyebrows that had absolutely no relation to one another.

I tried not to let the insecurity tighten with anxiety inmy stomach. If he was going to stare, then so would I. Tilting my chin down, eyebrows slightly raised, I peered at him through my lowered lashes.

I better be hot. This look could be intimidating, seductive even, if I were good looking, but if I was ugly—this probably looked horrifying.

He finally returned my stare with a challenging, quizzical look. “What?”

“He speaks,” I mused roughly; my voice still terribly scratchy.

A low chuckle escaped him. “I’m sorry, it’s just… It’s been a long time waiting for you to wake up—I’ve missed you.” His face softened with the admission.

“That’s nice.” I forced a smile. “And your name is?”

He joggled his head, shaking away the dazed fog from his eyes. “Right, sorry. It’s Trey.”

I gave him a pleased nod. “So…are we?” I wiggled a finger between the two of us. Trey picked up what I was laying down and gifted me another husky chuckle that warmed my achy limbs.

He hesitated for only a moment before he said, “No, I was best friends with your brother, Liam. We all went to school together.”

“Interesting.”

Again, lots of missing pieces to the information I was being given. Specifically, with thewas best friends. I hummed with understanding, then gestured to the chair next to my bed.

“You can sit. I’m not a biter, just a napper.”

A smile tugged at his mouth.

“I’m going to need you to be honest with me,” I started, watching as Trey nodded and dropped into the seat next to me. “People have been beating around the bush all morning regarding my family and the killer knock to the head that put me to sleep. So, please, just be real with me. My brother—Liam, was it? He’s dead, right? I’m guessing my mom is too?”

His face fell cold into a tight, stony expression. A muscle in his jaw jumped as he again nodded his response. I leaned my head into the pillow at my back, sighing with comprehension.

There was a tragedy. I waited for an ounce of pain, or sense of loss to hit me, but it never came. I guess it’s hard to ache for someone you lost when you can’t remember ever having them.

Trey watched me with that same pain-filled, stoic expression.

I smiled at him. “Thanks for being honest.”

He gave me a sad up-tilt of his mouth. “Of course. Always.”

“Okay, I need you to be honest with me again and I mean brutally honest, no lying,” I said, intentionally cutting through the solemn tension that coated the air around us.