Chapter 44

-James-

"Ash, can you tell Seb that I'll be taking J home?" I placed my arm around her, and we walked out the door.

"Hold on, Buck. Sebastian told me to take her home. And with the way you look, I really think I should." Asher looked at me with concern in his eyes.

I shot Asher a quick glare. "I'm good, Ash." I took my arm off Jianna's shoulder and leaned in closer to him so Jianna wouldn't hear. "I can't let her out of my sight now, man. Not after what happened."

Asher looked at me, still with concern in his eyes. "I don't know Buck."

"Come on, Ash. I can't lose her. Not again. Not the third time." I pleaded.

"You owe me. And you'll tell me everything as soon as you get back." Asher glared.

"Deal. Although, that might be a while. I don't plan on leaving her side any time soon." I said. I placed my arm back around Jianna and looked at her. "Don't worry, I'll get you home safe and sound."

Jianna looked at me nervously. "Are you sure, James? Maybe Asher should--"

I cut her off. "Don't worry about it, J. Asher's just being overly cautious. I promise I won't let anything happen to you." I reassured her.

Jianna relented. "OK. But you're going to tell me everything, OK? Everything. I need to know why you look like this." she caressed my face, and I closed my eyes to her touch.

"Let's go." Asher handed me the keys to his car, and I escorted her to the garage. Not once letting her go.

"James." she looked at me with a little crooked smile. "We can walk faster if you let me go."

"No way!" I exclaimed. Sounding louder than I intended.

"Whoa! OK." Jianna chuckled.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to yell." I looked down, a little embarrassed of my outburst.

She chuckled. "I like being this close to you anyway." I felt her discreetly inhale. I'm guessing she likes the way I smell. Thank god I took a shower. A smile crept on my lips.

I pressed the keys and heard the chirp of a car at the end of the endless row of cars in the garage.

"I guess that's us," I remarked.

I led her to the car, placed my stuff in the trunk, and was about to open the door for Jianna when I saw that she was already in there. I went around and got into the driver's seat.

I looked at her with a puzzled look, and then she finally looked back at me.

"What is it?" she asked, stifling a smile.

"I was going to try to be chivalrous, but I guess old habits die hard." I chuckled.

Her smile dropped, and she tilted her head. The same way when she's trying to figure out something really incomprehensible. I know that head tilt well.

"What do you mean?" she looked at me curiously.

I couldn't help but find her bewitching. "Never mind," I said, retracting my previous statement. "I'm just glad you're safe with me now." I reached out to hold her hand, and just like muscle memory, her hands intertwined with mine, and she turned her head to look outside the window. Just like she always did. I smiled, started the car, and drove out of the garage.

The car was silent except for the soft purring of the engine. I stole a glance at Jianna, who was looking out of the window, lost in thought. She looked so beautiful. I wondered if she remembered anything.

"Hey." I broke the silence. Jianna turned around and looked at me.

"Do you... Do you remember anything at all?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" she replied.

"Do you remember me?" I asked, squeezing her hand a little bit tighter, hoping that it would make her remember.

"Of course I remember you." she smiled. "You saved me from that asshole in the train, remember?"

"No. No. Before that." I said, squeezing her hand a little bit more.

"Ummm... I don't know, James." she sounded confused. "Should I?"

I looked at her. Searching her face for any clue that she had finally recognized me.

"I--No. I guess not." I replied, discouraged.

I looked back at the road, and even though there was no one on the road, I still felt suffocated.

"Hey, James." she looked back at me. "How come they called you Bucky?" she whispered.

"Huh?" I replied, not looking at her.

"Back at Sebastian's house." she looked at me, trying to remember something. "Asher called you Bucky."

"Oh. Umm..." I thought hard. Why did they call me Bucky?

"I guess because of my last name? I really don't know." I answered. "They've just been calling me that for as long as I can remember."

"Hmmm... Interesting." she looked back outside and returned to her deep thoughts.

Why can't she remember me? I wondered. But that's not important now. What's essential is that Jianna is alive. I've made her fall in love with me before. I can do it again.

After hours of driving, I turned to look at Jianna, and she was fast asleep. I looked down, and she still had her hand on mine. I tried to let her go so she could be more comfortable, but she shifted in her seat, squeezed my hand, and placed it on her chest. I almost crashed the car when she did that. I guess subconsciously, she remembers. It was as easy as breathing.

I decided to call it a night, so I turned it into a nondescript motel. I parked the car in front of the door that said "OFFICE," lightly kissed her hand, and slowly placed it on her lap. Then went in to get us a room.

I rang the bell, and I heard someone hacking from the back office. Then, an old gentleman with a cigarette in his mouth came out.

"Whatdya want?" he asked, barely able to keep the cigarette on his lips.

"I need a room," I replied.

"No shit. I didn't get up from my comfortable chair to assume that you were here for a brunch reservation." barked the old man.

OK asshole. I thought.

"It'll be $75 a night. And I run a legitimate establishment here." looking at the car and the sleeping Jianna. "whatever...that is...is none of my business as long as you make sure it remains none of my business. You get me?"

I looked at him sternly and handed him a hundred-dollar bill.

"I expect to not be disturbed." and handed him another hundred.

He took the two bills and pocketed one of them. He then gave me a key with an ancient-looking keychain and a number 10 on it.

I grabbed the key and left the "office." I got in the driver's seat and drove toward room 10.

I parked the car and looked at Jianna, still sleeping in the passenger seat. I didn't want to wake her up. I always loved how beautifully peaceful she looked when she slept. I tucked a stray hair behind her ear, leaned forward, and kissed her on the cheek.

"Hey baby," I whispered. "we're gonna stop here for the night, OK?"

She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at me. "Was I snoring?" she asked.

I chuckled. "Not that loud," I joked.

She laughed. It was my laugh. It surprised me.

"What is it?" she asked, her lips still traced with that laughter.

"I missed that," I whispered.

She leaned closer and caressed my face. "I don't know what you're talking about, James. I don't know how you know me from before. But I know what we have goes deeper than I can comprehend." she leaned in a little more. "James. I know we have a connection. I may not remember a whole lot right now, but I know what I feel, and I know that my feelings for you are strong. It is so strong, so intense, that I can't fully understand it. And I'm scared. I'm scared, James."

I looked at her, feeling the tears gathering in my eyes. I knew it was just a matter of time before her memories would return, but even with her memories repressed, she could still feel her love for me, and that's what mattered.

"We'll figure it out, J. We always do." I leaned my forehead to hers.

"Together." She whispered