Free Reclaimed by Sarah Guillory Page A

at. I just didn’t know how he managed to voice the fears I couldn’t.
    “Because when you walk down the street, everyone knows who you are. You don’t have to impress anyone or try to get noticed.”
    “I don’t want to be noticed.”
    “Not all the time,” he said. “But you don’t want to be forgotten either. When no one knows you, you have to prove yourself every single day. It’s exhausting.”
    I understood what he meant. Having to reinvent myself was something I both looked forward to and feared. I didn’t know who I would be when I no longer lived in Solitude.
    “It’s not that difficult to fit in around here,” I told him. “Get on the football team and complain about the heat, and you’ll be a local in no time.”
    He smiled and leaned back. The hum of insects made me drowsy.
    “So why Solitude?” I asked.
    “Mom found a doctor in Middleton who thinks he can help me with my headaches.”
    “So that’s why you were here in October? To meet with the doctor?”
    He shrugged. “I don’t remember being here before.” His face was so full of remorse that he didn’t have to say the words. “I’m really sorry.”
    “Me too.” Because October was part of the reason I was lying in the sun with Ian right then. I hated that he didn’t have the same memories of me that I had of him. “Why don’t you remember?” I turned my head to look at him, but he was staring off into the trees. He looked like he was searching for the words, but I knew he wouldn’t find them there. I never did.
    “I don’t know,” he finally said. “I really don’t.”
    I didn’t push it. Not knowing the cause had to be the worst part about the whole thing.
    We listened to the water and the wind. There was the occasional sound of a boat passing, but mostly it was quiet. The silence was one of the most beautiful parts of the Point.
    “I thought I was going to hate it here,” Ian admitted after a minute.
    “And now?” I opened my eyes, turning my head to look at him. I wondered how long he’d been watching me; the thought made my insides squirm.
    The corners of his mouth curved up in an endearing grin. “It’s looking pretty good so far.”
    I smiled back. “So you don’t miss Massachusetts?”
    “Right now I can’t think of one good thing about it.”
    His eyes drifted to my lips, but he didn’t try to kiss me.

NINE
IAN
    We built a fire as the evening wore on, needing light rather than warmth. The party really started as the stars, and two more boats full of football players and alcohol, showed up. Laughter echoed over the lake.
    “I’m serious!” a guy said as I stepped out of the shadows and sat near the flickering light. “She was home from college to watch her little brother compete.”
    “The only action you got was poison ivy.” Steven laughed.
    “Keep it up,” the guy warned, “and I won’t let you have any melon bomb.”
    Steven shut up.
    “Melon bomb?” I asked.
    Steven grinned. “Drunk watermelon. Chris here fills it with vodka.”
    Chris lifted the lid of the cooler, revealing a huge watermelon surrounded by ice.
    “How much did you put in?” Steven asked.
    “More than enough,” Chris promised. “It’ll knock you on your ass.”
    I passed on the watermelon, but took the beer Steven offered me even though I didn’t drink it. The smell gnawed at the back of my mind, a finger that seemed to probe my memory, sending up images I couldn’t hang on to, like wisps of smoke.
    Kyle loped up, his girlfriend trotting alongside. “New Guy!” he hollered. He was already drunk. I wondered if he even knew my name.
    “Drunk Guy!” I hollered back.
    Kyle laughed and slammed a large hand on my shoulder. “Where’s Oliver?” he asked. His girlfriend scowled.
    I shrugged, though I was pretty sure I’d seen her helping one of the girls who’d already had too much to drink. Jenna seemed to make taking care of people her responsibility.
    A scrawny boy walked up and tossed Kyle some tubing.