Page 154 of Unspoken Rules

I frown. “Do you think I would—”

“No,” he cuts me off, shaking his head. “That isn’t what I was thinking at all. I just meant you graduating. The job. Being here. Three years ago, you were still in Providence. Chris was still in college too. That’s all meant.”

I see in his eyes he’s telling the truth. I nod and get up. But before I go to Chris, I face Cole.

“At least now you don’t have to worry about him being mad at you.” Cole frowns. “About anything.”

I turn on my heel and head into Chris’s room, hoping this is some kind of miracle in disguise.

Chapter Sixty-Six

Bryson

I knock softly on the door before going in.

Chris smiles so wide when he sees me. The room is empty otherwise, and I realize Tabitha must not be here yet.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” he says.

I smile back, but it’s forced. My heart hurts. He may not remember everything, but of course I remember all too well. It’s hard to forget.

“How you feeling?” I ask, taking a seat in the chair beside his bed.

“Like I got hit by a train going full speed.”

I chuckle. “They giving you anything good for it?”

He holds up a button connected to a wire. “Yep.”

We both laugh.

“So what the hell has been up?” he asks.

I glance at him. “I’m not sure how to answer that,” I say.

He frowns. Then understanding crosses his face. “Because I don’t remember. Yeah, it’s weird as hell. I mean, how do you just forget, like, three years of your life?”

“I’m sure it’ll come back to you,” I say reassuringly, though I’m not sure it’s the truth. And selfishly, I’m not sure I want it too. This is a fresh start for all of us. All of my mistakes with Chris have been erased.

“Maybe. Maybe not.” He sighs, resting back against the pillow and wincing.

“You good?”

“Just tired. Sore.”

“I’m glad you’re okay, Chris. I was so worried.”

He smirks. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. Hell, if going to school across the country didn’t kill our friendship, nothing will.”

My stomach turns bitter.

“Yeah,” I mutter. His breathing slows, and I figure he’s sleeping. So I get up before I lose my shit in here. I feel like I’m in some sort of interrogation. I’m so bad at lying, but if I want things with Chris to be normal, I have to lie.

“You’re leaving?”

“Uhm, yeah. Your mom will be here soon. Cole probably wants to come back in too.” His eyes open and he frowns at me, a strange look in his eye. “I was told not to share too much, so it doesn’t confuse you and fuck with your memory, but I work in Boston and have to head back tomorrow. Now that you’re okay—”

“You can’t stay longer?” he asks. The look in his eye has my stomach dropping. Fuck, he really doesn’t want me to go.

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