The nurse glanced up, her brow arching. “You remember who Whiskey and Women is, but you don’t remember her? Or him?” She nodded to Stilts. “Or your dad?”
I pursed my lips. “I remember what I remember, okay? I don’t make up the rules.”
Gorgeous Anna laughed and it was like wind chimes on a spring morning. “Yeah.” She grinned. “Ford Dupree is my uncle.” Then she tipped her head back at the ceiling and let out a little groan. “Or he was.”
Stilts chuckled again like they were sharing an inside joke.
My forehead crunched. “Was?”
She looked back down at me. “I disowned him today.” But I could tell by the way she said it she was kidding.
“Here.” Stilts walked over and put his phone in my hand. Then he pushed play on a TikTok video. Huh. So I remembered Whiskey and Women and TikTok but not her. How could I not rememberher?
It took a second for me to realize I was watching myself. And her. Mostly I was watching her. On a football field, with a crazy amount of spectators. We hugged and I grinned. Oh, she was crying. Against my neck. And I looked happy about it. Thrilled.
When it was over and I handed back the phone, I was the one chuckling. “Youlikeme.” I clicked my tongue. “Imma get you back.” She blushed again and tucked her hair behind her ear. I squeezed her hand, which I was still holding. “We’ll invite your uncle to the wedding. He can be the best man.”
“Oh my gosh. Stawp.” She rolled her eyes but giggled.
“What’s your name?” I asked Stilts, as I threaded my fingers through Anna’s. She totally let me too.
Stilt’s mouth was upturned, laughing at me brazenly holding her hand. I didn’t care.
“Madden. Frist.”
“Madden.” I scoffed. “And you play football? Just like the video game? Your momma and daddy had your life planned out from conception.”
Now he scoffed. “You’re one to talk, Blue Bishop.”
I shook my head. “I don’t believe y’all. That isn’t my name. You all think you’re funny. And now that I’ve got amnesia or whatever, you’re trying to pull one over on me.”
A doctor walked into the room. A no-nonsense guy with gelled brown hair and thick-rimmed glasses, wearing his fancy white jacket that said “I am in charge here.” “All right. Party’s over. You two need to head on out. Visiting hours ended four hours ago.” I checked the clock. Two a.m. “You can come back tomorrow morning at eight.”
Anna took a step to go, but I tugged on her hand, pulling her back to me.
“Nuh-uh.” I shook my head, pushing through the pain it caused. “The girl stays. Or I’m outta here.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” the nurse said. “And she’ll come back tomorrow. Won’t you, Anna Dupree?”
Before Anna could agree I shook my head once more and tightened my grip. She totally squeezed back. She didn’t want to go. “Nope,” I said. “She stays. Or I will get my amnesia’d butt up out of this bed and leave. Wherever she goes, I go. The end.”
The doctor’s eyes narrowed and his lips pursed for a moment. “Fine.” He nodded at the nurse, motioning for her to follow him into the hall.
I was acting like a complete tool to the doctor and nurses, but truth was, I’d thought I was going insane until Anna walked in. When she’d entered the room, she’d brought peace with her. If she left me alone, here with all these other strangers, I might actually tip over the edge and end up in the mental ward. I stared up at Anna, unabashedly watching her. Which made her blush some more. I could look at that face all dang day.
I pulled her onto the bed next to me, scooting over to make room. She snuggled into my side, making all kinds of happy things happen in my gut region. Oh, she smelled good. Like some kind of flower I couldn’t quite place.
I tossed my chin up at Stilts. “You should come back tomorrow. I like you.”
“Sure. I’ll be here.” He walked over and offered me his fist.
I stared at it. “What am I supposed to do with that?”
Anna leaned forward and bumped her knuckles to his to demonstrate. “It’s called a fist bump.”
“Oh, niiice. I like that.” I mimicked what she’d done.
Stilts tossed his chin up once more. “I’m glad you’re okay, Blue,” he said and then walked out of the room.
