Chapter 1

Three years into my intermittent amnesia, I overhear my boyfriend, Ryan Cole, chatting with his buddies.

“Ryan, Willow loses her memory every few months. The eight of us have been taking turns pretending to be you and dating her for three years.”

“But your wedding’s coming up. So when are you finally taking over?”

“No rush.” Ryan pulls the woman beside him closer, smiling casually.

“Tessa’s pregnant. She needs me right now. I can’t leave her.”

“I’m taking Tessa to Iceland next month to see the northern lights. So one of you will have to stand in at the wedding for me again.”

“Oh, and one more thing.” His tone stays lazy, but the warning is clear. “You guys can play along all you want, but don’t actually sleep with her. I’m serious.”

For the past three years, every man who held my hand, hugged me, or even slept beside me after one of my memory lapses was never the real Ryan.

Three years.

Eight memory lapses.

Eight different men had taken turns playing my boyfriend.

But what they don’t know is that my memory came back two years ago.

…

Ryan lights a cigarette and says, almost lazily:

“I’m going to make it official with Tessa at the courthouse, then take her to Iceland for a private wedding. She’s pregnant with my baby. I owe her that much.”

“Just keep Willow off my back for now. Once Tessa has the baby, I’ll switch back.”

Tessa Shaw is Ryan’s assistant.

Ever since she showed up, Ryan has had eyes for no one else.

Someone in the room finally snaps.

“You don’t think that makes you a complete bastard? Willow has been with you for years. You’re really doing this to her, and you don’t feel guilty?”

Ryan flicks ash from his cigarette, calm and unhurried.

“What I feel for Willow now isn’t love. It’s obligation.”

That is when I push open the door.

The room goes silent.

Josh Miller, one of Ryan’s friends, walks over, takes my hand, and puts on an affectionate smile.

“Willow, what are you doing here?”

He is the one playing Ryan this time.

I pull my hand away and look at him like I have never seen him before.

“Who are you?”

Josh’s eyes widen.

“You… you forgot again?”

“I don’t remember anything,” I say calmly. “I only remember that my name is Willow Bennett. My boyfriend is Ryan Cole. We grew up together. And our wedding is on May twentieth.”

Josh rushes over to Ryan and leans in close, lowering his voice.

“Ryan, please, pick someone else. Willow’s great and all, but she’s way too possessive. She’s got rules for everything. I seriously can’t take it anymore.”

Everyone in the room holds their breath, terrified Ryan might pick them next.

After three years of dating me, everyone knows I’m a lot to handle when it comes to relationships.

Ryan looks around the room.

Finally, he pulls one man forward and puts him in front of me.

“This is Ryan. Your boyfriend.”

I stare at the tall, handsome man in front of me, momentarily stunned.

Damon Hayes.

Manhattan’s famously untouchable golden boy.

And the same man who just spoke up for me.

Perfect.

Handsome. Powerful. From the right family.

Not a bad choice.

I throw myself into Damon’s arms.

“That’s right. You’re my boyfriend. I may have lost my memory, but I’d know you anywhere.”

Damon stiffens.

But he catches on quickly. He wraps one arm around me, awkward and tense.

“Yeah,” he says stiffly. “I’m your boyfriend. These are all my friends.”

Damon starts introducing everyone in the room, one by one.

When he gets to the real Ryan, Tessa suddenly wraps her arms around Ryan’s neck and kisses him deeply in front of everyone.

I watch them without any expression.

Tessa lifts her head and gives me a taunting smile.

“You’re not jealous?”

I blink at her, confused.

“He’s not my boyfriend. Why would I be jealous?”

Ryan’s face darkens.

Tessa, however, looks satisfied.

“Good. Looks like she really did forget again.”

Damon clears his throat and takes my hand.

“Willow, it’s too loud in here. Let me take you home.”

The moment we step out, I hear one of Ryan’s friends teasing him behind us.

“Ryan, what are you staring at? She’s already gone. What, you already miss her?”