“Actually, maybe I should have him check me over,” I say after a few quiet minutes. “My head is pounding, and my ribs hurt like a sonofabitch. At the very least, maybe he can give me something for the pain.”
Lyric nods. “I’ll get him,” he says. “Need anything else while I’m out there? Something to eat or drink?”
As if on cue, my stomach growls, which only sets off a wave of nausea, reminding me that I had a lot to drink before shit hit the fan. “Maybe some crackers to sop up the alcohol in my stomach.”
“You got it.”
A few minutes later, Sawbone strides into the room. “Lyric said you wanted to see me.”
“Where is he?” I ask, my eyes darting from him to the door and back again.
“Getting you something to eat. Is everything okay?”
I fiddle with the quilt covering me, nervous about going behind Lyric’s back. “I, um…” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “I remember everything.”
Sawbone nods. “Makes sense. The amnesia doesn’t stop you from forming new?—”
“No, I mean, I remembereverything.”
His eyes widen as he rushes to the side of the bed. “You mean…” I nod, confirming his unspoken question. “Wow. That’s great. I’m sure Lyric was thrilled when you told him.”
“I didn’t tell him.”
“But… why?”
“What if this is a fluke or something?” I ask, tears filling my eyes.
“Well, there is a risk of you losing them again if you experience another trauma, but why borrow trouble?”
“Because Lyric’s been through enough,” I explain. “What will it do to him to lose me again?”
“Pres is stronger than you’re giving him credit for, Mellie. If you lose the memories again, he’ll help you find them. He loves you.”
“And I love him.”
“I know. That’s never been in question.”
“So, you think I should tell him?”
“I do.” He lifts a bottle of painkillers off the nightstand and taps out a few pills into his palm. Then he grabs the bottle of water and hands me both. “Here, these will help with the pain. As for this other business, I can’t tell you what to do. I think he deserves to know, but I can respect the fact that you’re unsure about it.”
“Will you tell him?”
“No. I don’t like lying to him, but I guess I’ll file this under doctor-patient confidentiality.” He smiles. “Can I offer you one bit of unsolicited advice, though?”
“Sure.”
“Don’t wait too long to tell him if the memories stick. Lyric loves you and can forgive pretty much anything where you’re concerned, but secrets are hard to get past.”
22
LYRIC
It’s been a week since Mellie’s fight with Peach, and the atmosphere at the clubhouse is… off. I can’t put my finger on it, but Mellie’s acting strange, and Sawbone has been avoiding me as much as possible. As for the others, it’s like everyone is walking on eggshells.
“Yo, Lyric,” Zombie says, pulling me out of my head. “We gettin’ started or what?”
I called church out of desperation to figure out what the fuck is going on, but I don’t even know where to begin.
