“Ryder.” My breath hitches and Jayson releases me. I reach over and Ryder takes me from Jayson like a parent would a child.
“I’m here,” he tells me like a promise, holding me close, our faces meshed cheek to cheek.
“Liz, is that what happens every time?” Jayson wants to know.
“I think so. I don’t know.”
“Fucking Christ!”
“Jay,” Ryder warns.
“What if she were driving, Ry? What if that shit happens when she’s behind the wheel of a car? Did you ever think about that?”
Ryder releases a “fuck” in reply.
“Or if she’s walking across the street. In the shower. Jesus!” Jayson yells out. “How many times, Liz?”
I refuse to answer and bury deeper into Ryder.
“How many, Liz!”
Jayson’s sharp bark makes me jump.
“Jay, calm down,” Ryder warns him.
“Liz!”
I snap fully back, going from helpless to fighting mad in an instant. Why is it that Jayson seems to bring that out in me?
“I don’t know!” I yell back. “They’ve been happening more and more over the past month, ever since I came here. They’re usually triggered by some word or something someone says. I don’t know how many. They just happen. I don’t keep count.”
“You saw Dr. Clairemont today. What does she say about it?” Jayson continues to press.
“She thinks my memory is coming back. She wants to push me harder.”
I feel Ryder tense up. He pulls away from me and I feel it as if an entire ocean has sprung up between us. What must he be thinking? What did he see when he got here and Jayson was comforting me?
“Ryder, no,” I plead, needing to bridge the distance that just formed between us. “It won’t change anything. It won’t change how I feel about you. My memories will never change the fact that I’m in love with you,” I assure him, completely forgetting in that moment that we have an audience.
“What?” a pained voice breaks behind me.
Shit!Fuck!
“What did you just say?”
“Jayson, I—”
“Youlovehim? What the fuck, Liz?”
I watch as Jayson spears Ryder with a look so malicious, I’m actually afraid of him. His fists curl inward like he’s imaging strangling Ryder with his bare hands. Jayson takes one lethal step forward. I release Ryder and turn around to slam my open palms on Jayson’s chest before he can take another step.
“Jayson. Stop!”
His body is vibrating so hard, I’m surprised the entire library isn’t shaking on its foundation.
“Jayson!” Those liquid silver eyes morph from menace to heartbreak as they snap to me. “I’m so sorry. We didn’t want you to find out like this. It’s my fault. It’s all my fault. Please, please just stop.”
“Why Liz?”
