But that was what Ryan was asking her to do. Ryan wouldneverabandon her in the same situation. He’d probably lock her in his basement until she got her memories back.
“What do the doctors say?”
He waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Give it time. Blah fucking blah, something along those lines. I’m fine.”
He’s fine. On the drive to the clubhouse, all she’d prayed for was that Ryan actually be unharmed.
And he was. Lisa got her wish.
But this—this felt like a nightmare with her eyes wide open.
Being rejected by Ryan so nonchalantly, like she didn’t matter to him at all, was a Freddie and Michael tag-teaming kind of nightmare.
She couldn’t ask, “What happens to us now?” because she was afraid of the answer. Give it time, she thought. Head injuries took time to recover from. That’s all Ryan needed to recuperate, and then he’d regain the memories of them together.
Patience and time.
Swallowing, she laced her fingers together. She really wished she were a woman who could throw a whole mess of a chaotic scene, because deep inside, her mind was screaming. How could this happen to them?
Fate brought them back together, but for what? To drive them apart only months later.
Impossible.
She couldn’t accept that.
“Ryan...”
Her man, who loved her so much, wasn’t there as his gaze raised and lingered on her face, and that killed her the most. “You don’t remember us, do you?”
“I’m sorry,” he said evenly.
It wasn’t his fault, she reminded herself, but the emotion burning her chest to ashes didn’t know that.
“You’re gonna be alright, Lisa.” He said, smiling, but it wasn’t her Ryan’s beautiful smile he gave her. “Did Tomb bring you? Do you need a ride back home?”
Was he kicking her out? Un-fucking-believable. Her jaw tightened as she snapped her teeth together and shot to her feet. What else could she do? Argue with him to love her?
She still had pride somewhere.
Patience and time, she reminded herself.
“If you don’t want to be at the hospital, at least have Denver check you over, please. You can’t take head injuries lightly.” She croaked, forcing herself not to cry. He frowned, and it was the first reaction she’d seen from Ryan since she walked through the door. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
She had to get out of there; too many people were already watching them.
“I’ll take you.” Tomb stepped up to her, and Lisa shook her head.
“I’m fine.”
“Honey, let Tomb take you home.” Vince came up to her, rubbing the top of her arm as she watched Ryan saunter back to the bar. He sat down like he didn’t know he was breaking her world in half, watching as her blood and soul poured onto the floor. “He’s not himself right now, honey,” Vince went on. “I’m gonna stay here with him, make sure he’s fine, don’t worry, okay?”
“Thank you, Vince. Call me if he...”
“I absolutely will. I promise. He’s better here with his brothers, familiar ground, you know?”
She nodded but didn’t understand.
Lisa wanted to be the one taking care of him, but if Ryan himself didn’t want that, what other option did she have but to wait, be patient, and hope she woke from this nightmare soon?
