EVERYONE SEEMED SURPRISED WHEN I knew their names before they even had the chance to introduce themselves to me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Harry wink at me and I smiled. Travis and Megan were the last ones to show up and they were both shocked at how I knew their names. Megan was standing right behind her brother and a check mark went off in my mind. Harry said she would always be glued to his heels and there she was standing right behind him. Travis' glasses sat on the tip of his nose and—of course—he was wearing a plaid shirt. I wanted to laugh and thank Harry at the same time.

I soon enough found myself joining Olivia at the kitchen table. Billy was in the living room with everyone else and I was not interested in watching what they were watching. I pulled out one of the chairs and when Olivia looked up from her phone to see me, she knitted her eyebrows together. I sat down and scooted the chair closer to the table. I placed my elbows against the wood and Olivia turned her phone off completely. She was smiling and I could tell she was studying me. Her hand was on her phone so if she suddenly lost interest in me, she would have something else to entertain her.

"So you know Harry," she said after a while.

"That I do."

"How?"

"We work together."

"In the herb shop?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Huh," Olivia sat back and stared at me harder. "I'm very impressed at how well you know everyone. Did Harry talk to you before we arrived?"

She was probably the only woman who made me feel this uneasy. Jillian made me feel uncomfortable but not like this. Olivia did not seem to hold back on anything. If she wanted to know something, she went for it without a single regret. My eyes wandered to the tips of her hair and I noticed how pink they were. The color was slowly fading but the pinkness was still there. Harry mentioned how she changed it a lot. What color was she going to pick next? I met her gaze and realized she was still waiting for me to answer her question.

"No—"

"There's no need to lie," she grinned. "He did the same to all of us. Personally, he gives us all good clues on how to remember each other. What clue did he give you about me?"

"You're the shortest one in the group."

"That bastard," she snarled. "What about Valerie?"

"Valerie is a blondie. It rhymes."

"Clever," she no longer seemed upset. "Harry told me you're not from around here?"

"I'm from Portland."

"What made you want to pack up your bags and come over to here to Seattle? Portland isn't that far away, you know."

I looked at Olivia with curious eyes. She sure was asking me a lot of questions. A part of me was not the slightest bit bothered by it, though. Harry warned me about her. If I got uncomfortable at all during this conversation, I would just excuse myself to the bathroom. However, I wanted to stick around and see what other questions she had in store for me. She had questions and I had answers. If I allowed her to question me, perhaps she would let the table turn and let me question her? I hoped so.

"I wanted a change in scenery."

"Want to know what I think?"

"Do I have much of a choice?"

"No, not really, nope," she smirked.

"Sure, I'd love to know what you think."

"I think you left Portland to get a fresh start," she said and I tilted my head to the side. "You needed to get away from your family and needed some time alone. Instead of moving hours and hours away, you came here to Seattle. You're not too close but not too far, either. If you suddenly get homesick, you can pack everything back up and drive...what? Two or three hours back to Portland? You want a life where drama is not involved. You work in the herb shop because it's small and you don't see many people. I must be getting something right because you look like you've just seen a ghost."

I did not bother to change my expression. Olivia did not know all of the details, but she was most definitely scratching at the surface. How did she know all of this? I felt ten times smaller underneath her stare and I felt the palms of my hands already sweating. She was small but she was scaring the hell out of me right now.

"How—"

"How do I know all of this?" she asked. "I'm just a lucky guesser. It runs in my family. My grandma is a psychic."

"Really?"

"Totally," she nodded her head. "She has this crystal ball and she wears a bunch of costume jewelry and—"

"Are you ladies behaving yourselves back here?"

I turned my head to see Travis entering the kitchen. He was holding a bottle of beer with one hand and pushing his glasses further up his nose with his other. His plaid shirt was no longer tucked in and his shoes were no longer on his feet. Megan was no longer on his heels and I wondered where she was. Travis smiled at the two of us and I smiled back.

"I'm just telling her about the folks." Olivia said.

"Which folks?"

"My grandma," she said. "You know, the one who is a psychic."

"Oh, not this again," Travis rolled his eyes. "She's new, Olivia. She doesn't have a single clue that you're lying to her."

I looked at her, "What?"

Olivia shrugged, "I'm testing you."

"Don't believe a single thing that comes out of her mouth," Travis warned me. "She claims her grandmother is a psychic but they all deserve to go see a psychologist."

"Yikes," Olivia laughed. "I thought we were friends."

Travis winked at her and cleared his throat, "We're all about to head outside in a minute. Harry said the food is finished and we can get in the pool before we eat. I need help throwing Megan into the pool, Liv. You up for it?"

"Only if I get to push you into the pool."

"Push Billy."

"He forgot his swimming trunks."

"And that'll make pushing him into the pool so much fun."

"Just let me go change into my swimsuit. Sydney and I will meet you guys out there in a little bit."

Travis nodded his head and walked around the table to the back door. He opened it—leaving it wide open—and stepped out into the night. Olivia was back on her phone and chewed on her bottom lip as she stared down at the bright screen. She was no longer paying attention to me but I had no other choice but to stay in here. Jillian was with everyone else and every time she saw me, she looked like she was ready to run me over with her car. I had no idea if Harry told her that he invited me but I had a strange feeling he forgot to mention it.

Olivia soon enough got up from the table—saying she needed to go change into her swimsuit—and left me alone in the kitchen. I looked over at the covered food on the stove and was suddenly eager to go ahead and eat. The candy bar, that I sat down on the counter, was still where I left it and I stood up to go get it. My fingers wrapped around the bar and I slowly took the wrapper off of it. Some of the chocolate automatically melted at the touch and I knew this was because I was nervous. Olivia made me feel this way by getting almost every single thing right about me. Travis made me feel a little better by stepping in and telling me not to listen to anything she said.

I chewed on the chocolate bar and walked around the kitchen in circles. As of right now, Harry was keeping the beers inside until everyone went outdoors. I opened the refrigerator and just as I was about to grab one of the cold drinks, I saw someone enter the kitchen out of the corner of my eye. I turned to see Amelia holding her son. Her eyes were on my hand and she was biting her bottom lip. I stood up straight and closed the fridge back, eyeing her cautiously.

"Hello," I said.

"Hi," she smiled and I looked at the newborn. He was sleeping and his fingers were constantly moving. "Are you about to get a beer?"

"Not anymore," I said.

"Are you sober?"

"I'm pretty sure I am."

"Great," she walked towards me and handed George to me. I had no choice but to take the baby from her or else she would have dropped him. It took me a couple of seconds to make sure he was comfortable and when he did not stir, I stayed perfectly still. "Logan is getting ready to help everyone set things up outside. Just hold him until I get finished in the bathroom, okay? He won't wake up. But if he does, just rock him and his eyes will close back."

"Why are you leaving your baby with a—"

Amelia hurried out of the kitchen.

"—stranger?"

I wanted to tell her Olivia was in the bathroom but Harry's house was huge. There had to be more than one bathroom in this place. I was left alone with the baby Harry told me not to hold. I looked down at George and he was actually kind of cute. I stayed standing, though, because I did not want to risk waking him up. Even though he barely had any hair, it was the same color as Amelia's. His eyes remained glued shut and the longer I stared at him, the more he looked like a baby doll. He was wearing blue pants with multiple trucks on them and a shirt to match. White socks covered his feet and he was wearing a bib with the words 'Mommy's Favorite' on it. I smiled.

Cute.

I waited patiently for Amelia to return and I had a feeling she was taking her sweet time. She was getting a small break from her son. I did not mind holding him in the middle of the kitchen. He was not a bother. He was quiet and I liked quiet. I kind of wanted a beer, though. I wondered if Amelia went to go change into her swimsuit, too, or if she just had to use the toilet. If she was changing into her swimsuit, she was probably going to have Logan watch their son.

I smiled at the little boy and just as I thought his mother was coming back to get him, Harry came inside of the kitchen instead. He stopped when he saw George and I and crossed his arms across his chest before asking, "Didn't I tell you not to hold the baby?"

"I couldn't help it. He's so cute."

"Until he farts on you."

"I'll live through the smell."

"Will you?"

"I have strong nostrils."

"Liar."

"You're just jealous because I'm holding George and not you."

"Ah, another lie."

"Why are you friends with a liar, then?"

"Because I can tell when someone is telling the truth and when they're lying," he says. "I'm very observant."

"Are you now?"

"You lie a lot."

My heart stopped and I felt as if I was about to drop the baby. Harry was smiling but I was unable to tell if he was joking or not. Was I really that bad of a liar? I rocked George in my arms slightly to try to distract myself from what Harry just said. He was joking. That was all. I was very confident when I lied to him. He should not have been able to tell I was lying. I simply smiled and tried my best not to make it obvious that I had been caught.

"Where's Amelia?" I asked.

"Changing into her swimsuit, I believe."

"And where's Jillian?"

"Why?" Harry asked, taking a step toward me. "Why do you want to know where she is?"

"You said you wanted to compliment her," I shrugged my shoulders. "Did you do it, yet?"

"Oh," he frowned slightly. "Yeah, I complimented her when she first arrived."

"Did she reject it?" I was still smiling but it was obviously fake.

"No," he shook his head. "She accepted it."

"Well, she's a smart lady, then."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Go for it," I said. "I'm pretty sure I have the answers you seek."

He cleared his throat and took another step toward me, "What do you do when the person you love doesn't love you back?"

I raised my eyebrows and stared at him. Was he talking about Jillian? She seemed to feel the same way about him. They acted like they were in love...so were they? I looked down at George once again to distract myself and continued to rock him in my arms. Why was Harry asking this to me? I did not want to get involved in his relationship with Jillian.

As much as I wanted Harry for myself, it was impossible. It was weird feeling this way for a man I had not even known for more than a month. I thought I was going crazy. I had to be going crazy. Harry was not for me and I was not for him. Jillian was the right one for Harry and I had lost the man I thought was for me. I was not going to take Harry away from Jillian just because the man I loved passed away.

"I don't know," I finally said. "I guess you just fight for them until you can't anymore."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Move on, Tarzan."

"What if I can't?" he asked. "What if I'm so attracted to this person that my heart refuses to move on to someone else?"

"Look, I'm sure Jillian will understand." I tried to sound reassuring. "She's a tough cookie. I bet the two of you will even remain friends."

"I'm not—"

Greysen walked into the kitchen and stopped when he saw the three of us. First, he stared at Harry before looking at me and he ended his route by looking at George. Harry looked bothered that he was in here but he tried his best to keep it hidden. I tightened my arms around George a bit and tried to look occupied with the infant. My gaze met Greysen's and he looked upset. His lips were in a thin, straight line and I noticed his hands were balled up into fists.

"Harry?" Greysen never looked away from me.

"Yeah?"

"Jillian needs you," he said through gritted teeth. "You do remember your girlfriend, don't you?"

"She needs me?"

"She went to your room and told me to come get you. She took her purse and she was fishing in it for her med—"

"Dammit!"

Harry was out of the kitchen before I could even process what was going on. I was left with Greysen and I did not feel good about this. I wanted to find Amelia and give her back her son. I walked out of the kitchen before Greysen had the chance to say anything and George moved in my arms. I looked in the living room and found Logan sitting on the sofa beside Megan. Valerie was too busy shouting at the television to notice me standing there. Logan stood up and smiled.

"Want me to take him off your hands?"

"Please," I grinned.

Logan took George away from me and went back to the sofa. He handed his son to Megan who carefully held him. She cradled him gently and she smiled at him. I watched as he then walked out of the living room and went into the kitchen. I took his spot on the sofa and Megan nodded at me. I nodded back and Valerie continued to yell at the television screen as if the people could actually hear her.

"Where'd he go?" I asked Megan.

"He probably went to go help the other guys take the food outside. Harry is with Jillian right now but they have it under control."

"Do you know what's wrong with her?"

"Health issues," Megan sighed. "None of us really know exactly what it is. Jillian never told us and Harry hasn't, either, so we kind of ignored it."

"Should we be helping with the food?"

"No," Valerie said, not even looking at me. "Let the guys do it."

"I feel so useless just sitting here, though."

"Then go help them, then," Valerie sighed. "I'm watching TV."

"I'm watching George until either Logan or Amelia returns," Megan pointed out.

I stood up from the sofa and made my way back outside. Greysen was no longer in the kitchen and I was glad. I found Travis laying down on the grass and he was staring up at the dark sky. I was astonished by how the backyard looked now and I felt as if oxygen had been stolen from my lungs. The patio lights were on and they danced across the backyard in different patterns. The lights reflected over the pool water and it was outstanding to look at. I wanted to sit out here for hours and look at this beauty.

Amelia was already in the pool and Olivia was right along with her. I assumed they both came out here when I was in the living room with Valerie and Megan. The two of them were holding a bottle of beer as they let the water soak the bottom half of their bodies. I stopped by one of the pool chairs and pulled my shirt over my head and wiggled out of my shorts. Olivia was cheering from the pool and when I looked at her, she was cheering for me. I laughed and joined them in the water. It was cold at first and my body stiffened as soon as I was fully in the water.

"Aw, she's cold." Olivia smirked.

Amelia splashed some water in my direction and asked, "Better?"

"No!" I shouted and she burst into a handful of giggles.

"Where's George?"

"With Logan," I responded then paused. "Wait, no, because Logan is helping with the food. He's with Megan."

"Want a beer, Sydney?" Olivia asked.

"No, but thank—"

"Aye, Billy!" Olivia yelled and her boyfriend stopped what he was doing to look at her.

He was placing beers into the cooler and he smiled at her. She pointed to one of the beers before pointing to me. He nodded and grabbed one before tossing it in the direction of the pool. I gasped when the bottle hit the water. I grabbed it before it had the chance to float away and I simply held it. I did not want to drink this but I could change my mind later on.

"Have you ever been to Fred's Diner?" Olivia asked me.

"No," I shook my head. "Why?"

"They have the best cakes!" Amelia exclaimed and Olivia rolled her eyes. "You can't choose a favorite. It's hard to do so! I could eat a thousand cakes if my body could handle it. I'm also working on getting rid of this baby fat so I haven't had one of their cakes in a while. We should all go sometime. Have you had a tour of Seattle, yet?"

"Barely," I smiled, thinking of hanging out with Greysen and Harry.

"It's official, then," Olivia grinned. "We're all going to go to Fred's Diner and give our new friend here a tour of this beautiful city."

Billy sat down on the edge of the pool and let his feet soak in the water. Olivia pulled herself out of the pool and sat down beside him, laying her somewhat wet hair on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead and the sight of them made my stomach do constant flips. They were cute together. Greysen sat one of the pots down on the table and looked at me. I waved but he did not wave back. My hand fell back into the water and he pointed to the house. I pointed to myself in a questioning manner and he nodded before going back into the house.

"I'll be back in a minute," I said before getting out of the pool.

"Don't take too long!" Amelia called after me. "We'll be eating soon!"

I pulled my shirt over my head and walked into the house. Greysen was standing in a very narrow hall and when I approached, he looked angry. I stopped in my tracks and took precaution. Why did he look this way? I took a couple of steps back and that made Greysen take a few steps forward. He never once blinked and this frightened me even more.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked.

He laughed a mirthless laugh, "I've been watching you and Harry."

"So?"

"I've seen the way you look at him and I've seen the way he looks at you," he sounded disgusted. "Who do you think you are? Coming in here and confusing the hell out of him? He has a girlfriend, Sydney, a girlfriend he loves very much. They've been together for years and he isn't going to throw all of that away for you. He won't leave her for you. I hope you know that."

I was frozen. Water dripped from my swimsuit and soaked into the beige carpet below. What the hell was wrong with him? He had no right to confront me like this. I was not a fool. I knew Harry was not going to leave Jillian for me. I was not going to take him away from her, either. I would not come off as a whore who took any man she wanted. I respected Harry's relationship with Jillian. Even though they had their ups and downs, they were happy together. Greysen had no idea what he was talking about. Harry and I were only friends. Anything more than that was simply impossible.

"He won't leave her for you," he repeated. "Stop confusing him, Sydney."

"You've got some nerve," I fired back. "What's gotten into you? I don't have any feelings for him and you should know better than confronting me this way. I barely know you! Do you just go around confronting people you barely know?"

Greysen blinked, "Well, I—"

I turned around and stormed away from Greysen. My eyes were watering up and I did not want him to see me cry. I wiped away the few tears that had fallen and walked out of the house through the front door. I was not going to leave just yet. Harry invited me and it would be rude to leave without saying anything.

My bottom lip trembled as my heart began to break into two pieces: one half trying to run away to Harry and the other half trying to stay with the memories of Elijah. I had no idea which half I wanted to save. Which half was I willing to lose? I wanted to scream. This was too much and Greysen was right. Harry was not going to leave Jillian for me. He had known her for years and had known me for barely a whole month. More tears began to fall and I squeezed my eyes shut, shaking my head.

As much as I hated to admit it, I wanted him to be mine.