Page 123 of I Dreamt That You Loved Me

I was never entirely sure if these things had really happened or if Eddie made up stories just for fun, knowing I had no memory of it. “You’re just making shit up.”

He held up his hands, laughing. “I swear on my life, it happened. I’m sure there’s videos of it,” he said. “You know your music’s all on Napster, right? I checked it out the other day.”He pointed to his computer in the corner. “All the teenagers are discovering your music now. It’s pretty dope.”

I wouldn’t know. My lawyer had urged me to sue for copyright infringement, but what did I care? I didn’t have a computer, had never been on Napster, and never listened to my old music.

“I’ll see you in a few weeks.” I shouldered my bag and grabbed my helmet from the breakfast counter. “With any luck, no one will show up.”

“Keep dreaming, baby. It’s gonna be a packed house. You should play some of the old stuff. And if you’re trying to come up with new music for the album, I really think some of those songs you recorded are good. You should have another listen.”

“Nope. I listened to it once and that was enough. And I’m not playing the old stuff.”

“Then what the fuck are we gonna play? You’ve got what, one song?”

“Come out a few days early so we can rehearse. I’ll have enough for an album by then.” I was talking out of my ass. I didn’t know if I’d have more songs written by then but I sure as hell needed to.

“Fuck off,” Eddie said, heading to his bedroom as I headed out the door. “I’m going back to bed.”

Cleo was waiting for me on the front steps.

She looked a lot different than last night, more like the girl I remembered, in cutoffs and a white ribbed tank top with CATHARTHIS written across the chest. Clever. Hair in a high ponytail. No makeup. She was even more beautiful without it.

When she joined me on the sidewalk, her green eyes were nearly translucent in the sunlight, until she hid them behind an enormous pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses.

“No motorcycle today?”

I hiked the backpack up on my shoulder. It was bulky with the helmet in it, and I briefly considered asking if I could leave it in the apartment but thought better of it. The apartment wasn’t mine anymore. My old keys didn’t even fit the locks. Something I’d discovered upon my return to New York two years ago.

“I parked down the block.”

“But you’re wearing shorts.” She looked down at my faded black cargo shorts.

My gaze roamed down her long, toned legs to the Doc Martens on her feet. Black, painted with orange poppies and silvery green foliage. “So are you.”

Even behind the sunglasses, I could see her rolling her eyes. “I’m not driving a motorcycle.”

We strolled up the street and entered the park. A hive of activity.

“Do you still hate New York?” Cleo asked as a skateboarding crew zipped past.

Wheels grinding on asphalt. Wu-Tang Clan blasting from a boombox held aloft on a skater boy’s thin shoulder.

“No. I never really hated it.” This city had a heartbeat. A frenetic energy that pulsed in your veins and became addictive. On the flip side, it was big and loud and aggressive. Not the ideal place when you’re feeling lost and confused. “I was overwhelmed by it at the time.”

She nodded. “I get that. It can be a lot when you’re not in a good mental space. But I’ve missed the energy of this city. There’s no other place like it.”

I was surprised she’d ever left. I never thought she would. Then again, she probably hadn’t been in a good mental space either.

Every time I thought about that asshole holding a knife to her throat, rage consumed me. I wanted to tear this whole fucking city apart until I found him and brought him to justice. I wanted him to pay for what he did to her.

But I shoved those thoughts aside and focused on the moment. Cleo was right next to me and I didn’t want to miss a single second with her.

“So tell me about your life now. Where have you been? What have you been doing? Tell me everything.”

“Nowyou want to know everything,” she said under her breath.

She gave me the side-eye and I got the feeling she didn’t want to tell me a damn thing.

But a few seconds later, she started talking.