Page 95 of It's a Date (Again)

Tyler cocks his head and takes a step toward the table. “What? You said it was me.” He speaks in a low voice.

“I know, but I was wrong.”

“Did your memories all of a sudden come back?”

“No, I still don’t remember. But I know it wasn’t you.”

“How?” His eyes become slits, and I’m not even sure he can see me.

“The man I was willing to risk my life for just to tell him I love him would finish my sandwiches.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I know how silly they sound, but deep down I know they’re not silly to me.

“You think I’m not the one because I wouldn’t eat your leftovers? That’s what dogs are for, not boyfriends.”

“It’s more than that.” I raise my chin. “I can’t put it into words, but I know it in my heart, and I don’t need my memories to recognize you’re not the one I love.”

“Wow.” He takes a step back and runs a hand down his face, pulling at his skin. “You’re a real piece of work, Peyton.”

“I’m sorry. I wish—”

“Save it,” he interrupts, flicking a hand at me dismissively. “I don’t need to hear this speech again.”

“What do you meanagain?”

He lets out a heavy sigh, looking away for a moment before meeting my gaze. His eyes are clouded with frustration. “You broke it off with me the night before the accident,” he scoffs.

“What? Why in the hell did you show up at the hospital claiming to be my boyfriend if I had already broken up with you?”

“I came there to win you back, and then when I found out about the amnesia, I figured it was an opportunity for me ... like fate.”

“That’s not fate. That’s lying. That’s taking advantage of someone. That’s being a horrible person,” I yell. I can’t believe he would do something so low. How did I not see it?

He takes a step back. “I am not the bad guy here. You’re the one that led me on, Peyton. You showed up at my place the other night telling me you loved me and that I was the one for you. And now you’re just breaking it off willy-nilly.”

“I didn’t remember breaking up with you the first time,” I seethe.

Tyler shrugs. “That is not my fault you didn’t remember.”

“But it is your fault you lied to me about it.” I raise my chin a little higher.

This is why I’ve been so confused. Tyler has been straight-up lying to me the entire time, manipulating me. He was clearly the one I told Debbie about, the one I said I was going to break up with because I kept catching him in little lies. Turns out, I did end it with him. He just didn’t tell me. I wonder what else he lied about.

Realization sets in, and I scowl at him. “Wait, did we even sleep together?”

His shoulders slump the tiniest bit, but I notice it. “In a technical sense, yes,” he says with a firm nod.

“What does that mean? ‘In a technical sense’?”

“You fell asleep, and we slept next to one another.”

“Oh my God. You said we slept together, Tyler. What is wrong with you?”

“Dang, that’s messed up,” the man behind the counter pipes in, shooting a glare at Tyler.

“Nothing is wrong with me. I was just trying to show you how strong our connection was ... is.” Tyler reaches for my hand, but I swat it away.

“Don’t. We’re done ... again.” I turn and head for the exit.

The man behind the counter tells me to have a good night. I tell him the same.