Page 70 of Diamond in the Rough

Jake frowned, trying to force a memory to the surface, he couldn’t remember her face, but he remembered her voice.

“You were pretty out of it when we first met, but I’m glad to say your throat healed up nicely.”

“My throat…” Jake gasped. “It was you that helped after Richie strangled me.”

“Yep, a while ago now. I treated you in a certain someone’s beds if I remember correctly.”

Jake smiled and nodded. “Yeah. You know Mad—”

“Shush,” Zoe said, glancing over her shoulder. “But yes, he helped me out with something years back, and I thought we were even, but then you were wheeled through the door.”

“Did he ask you to take care of me?”

Zoe helped him back into the bed. “No, but one of his ‘friends’ did, and here I am, sorting you out again. Who’s the guy that’s been visiting you?”

“He’s called Billy…”

“Not a friend?”

“Definitely not.”

Zoe bit her lip. “I’ve tried to get him to leave, but he’s persistent. Does he know about you and…?”

“No.”

“He’s intrigued, keeps asking about your condition, whether there’s any permanent damage.”

“And is there? This brain bruise you were on about?”

“As long as you look after yourself, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make a full recovery. A few more days in here, and then bedrest at home.”

“That’s if Billy doesn’t kill me first.”

Zoe breathed out of her nose. “He doesn’t look at you like he wants to kill you, more like you’re an enigma. You’ve piqued his interest, the same way you piqued your friends’.”

Jake shuddered. “Not the same way.”

“If he manages to get in here, play oblivious. Play the guy who’s lost his memory. If he finds out about you and—”

“He’ll kill me.”

“I’ll discharge you as soon as I can, but for now…”

“I can’t remember a thing.”

****

Zoe knocked Jake’s knee with a hammer, and his leg jumped. She smiled, then continued to tap Jake’s body at seemingly random points.

“Now you’re just doing it for fun.”

“Testing your reflexes. Now hold up your finger and press it to mine.”

Their forefingers touched in midair. “What does this test for exactly?”

“That your brain’s in working order. I’m gonna move my finger, and I want you to keep yours touching mine.”

“Right…”

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