Remember Me (Men of Honor Series Book 1) by Lara Van Hulzen Page B

let it go when they reached the steps to the deck.
    “Hey, I have an idea,” Emma said as she and Mike came up the sand with the surfboards. “Why don’t we all get showered and changed, and Tess and I will make dinner. We can sit out here and eat. Enjoy the evening.”
    “Sounds great, babe.” Mike gave her a kiss on the cheek and then headed around to the garage to put the boards away.
    “I think that’s a perfect idea,” Tess agreed. “Let me help you with those.” She took her board from Emma, and they made their way around the house. Ben watched her go, his heart breaking as she went.
     
    ***
     
    The waves rolled in, adding a peaceful background to their dinner. Mike’s side of the deck held a small table with four chairs where the two couples dove into pasta with meat sauce, salad, and garlic bread laid out family style.
    Ben took a sip of water and leaned back in his chair. Emma was talking to Tess about flowers for the wedding. Tess swirled noodles around her fork and took a bite, listening to her friend. She looked happy and content.
    He thought of all the planning they had done and how excited Tess was for their wedding. It made his stomach ache to think of how she must have felt when he left her. When he walked away from the life they had, the life they wanted to build together.
    He knew she’d fled San Diego about a month after and started her life over, but he could only get tidbits of her life from afar, not the details, and it cut his heart into pieces. Seeing her now, how well she was doing, he didn’t want that to change. He never wanted to hurt her ever again.
    But if he was going to protect her, he needed answers now more than ever.
    “You okay?” Mike asked. He refilled Ben’s water glass for him.
    “Yeah. Thanks.” Ben took a swig. “I was just thinking.”
    “Careful. That can be dangerous.” Mike winked at him.
    “Tell me about it.” Ben gave his friend a half smile.
    “How are you feeling? You took in a decent amount of salt water today.”
    “Actually, I feel great. Mainly just tired.” Ben looked at Tess and Emma, their heads together, now talking babies. He watched Tess’s face for any sign of sadness or regret for the future Ben had taken from her. They’d talked about having kids, but never decided on a number. Just open to what God would give them.
    Afraid he would blurt something right then and there about his love for her and recovering his memory, Ben stood up. He had to get out of there. Get some space to think. “Thank you so much for dinner. It was fantastic, as always. But I think I’ll turn in early. I’m beat.” He picked up his plate and glass from the table and took them into Tess’s kitchen.
    Much to his chagrin, he heard Tess’s footsteps as she followed him inside. He rinsed his plate and cup and placed them in the dishwasher.
    “You okay?” Her voice had always been like a salve for his soul, but right now it only made his heart ache more. He loved her so much and there were just too many secrets between them. Secrets Ben had to keep for now, for her safety.
    He turned and pulled her into his arms, the only way he knew to avoid her eyes. “I’m fine. Really. Just tired. Can I see you tomorrow?”
    “Of course.” Her breath against his chest was warm.
    “Do you mind if I take you to work and pick you up? I need to use a car, if that’s okay.”
    “Absolutely. You know you can anytime.”
    “Perfect.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
    He let her go and headed to Mike’s before she could easily persuade him to stay longer. Saying a quick “goodnight” to Mike and Emma as he passed, he went straight to his room and picked up his cell phone.
    He paced the room and dialed a number, in awe of how fast everything had come back to him.
    “This is Dane,” a man’s voice said.
    “Dane. It’s Ben.”
    “Ben! Where have you been? I’ve been trying like crazy to find you.”
    “I got in an accident and had