“What’s wrong with your mouth?” Tripp asks.
“Broken jaw; it's wired shut. I think they’re just trying to torture me,” Dayne grunts.
“Ah,” Tripp replies then looks Dayne over again. Not one ounce of recognition, fuck!
Melina goes over to the bed and gives Vance a kiss on the lips. “Hi, honey.”
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey, Tripp. How you feeling?” Melina asks sweetly.
Tripp shrugs. “Not remembering anyone is hard, especially after Vance has been telling me how close we are. I really want to remember, but nothing’s familiar.”
“And here I thought I was unforgettable.” Dayne snorts.
“Asshole.” Vance snickers.
Tripp watches the little brotherly exchange and is actually jealous. He’s supposed to be a part of that. But now he’s just a stranger on the outside looking in.
“I'll be back; I'm gonna go get Ryder,” Melina says and heads for the door.
“Don't take too long nurse Melina or you might miss your shot at seeing my ass when I go take a piss,” Dayne calls after her as best as he can.
Melina lets out a bark of laughter. “I wouldn't dream of missing that,” she responds as she shuts the door behind her.
Vance, on the other hand, kicks Dayne in the shin. “Watch it,” he warns.
Dayne rubs his shin. “Ow, dickhead. She knows I’m joking, or did you forget that we’ve bonded and have a special connection. She understands me, man.”
Vance snorts and rolls his eyes.
“Wait, so why are the three of us in the hospital? What happened?” Tripp asks, looking between Vance and Dayne.
“I'm a detective for the LAPD and am working on a serial killer case, but I got reassigned by request. It seems that this pissed off the serial killer because he's actually after me. So he decided to fuck with me and go after you guys and my brother,” Vance says with a grimace.
Tripp stares at Vance for a moment then says, “You're kidding, right?”
“Nope,” Dayne chimes in. “No joke, brother. We got our asses kicked by a serial killer. You better thank god that we all made it out alive. Well, almost all,” Dayne murmurs.
“Almost all? Someone died? Who?” Tripp asks.
“This kid, Bryan, that we took in. He was one of Melina's students, she teaches dance,” Vance replies softly.
“Shit, I'm sorry.” Tripp sighs.
Vance just nods. Dayne also looks solemn. Once again, there is a knock, and in comes Melina with the last of their foursome – not including Mike, of course. Just like Tripp and Dayne, Ryder looks like shit. His face is bruised and swollen. His left arm is in a harness that keeps it tight to his chest. Tripp is guessing that he has a broken collarbone. His hair is a disaster. Melina sets him up next to Dayne, who brings his hand up to pat Ryder's shoulder, but Ryder holds his other hand up and speaks before Dayne lands his hand on him.
“Motherfucker, you touch my shoulder and I will re-break you're motherfucking jaw,” Ryder snaps, his voice hard as a rock. The look he gives Dayne is even harder.
Dayne snatches his hand back as if it just got snapped at by a rabid dog. “Fuck, man. Why don't you just bite my fucking head off next time,” Dayne says.
“Fuck you,” Ryder growls.
“Alright, boys, knock it off. Dayne, Ryder is in a lot of pain and is very uncomfortable, so just leave him alone, okay?” Melina asks calmly.
“Fine, jeeze.” Dayne snorts and shifts in his wheelchair so that he’s farther away from Ryder.
“Ryder, can I please brush your hair? I can't stand it looking like a bird's nest,” Melina complains.
“Whatever,” Ryder mumbles.
Melina puts her purse on the chair and searches through it before pulling out a little portable brush. Vance watches her lovingly as she goes back over to Ryder and starts working the knots out of his hair. Tripp looks at the people surrounding him. They’re a family and he’s part of it, even if he can't remember. They still want him with them; otherwise, they wouldn't be here spending time with him, trying to help him remember his past.
Nothing Tripp does helps him remember anything. Not his parents, his stepparents, or even his brother. He sees a fuck load of pictures, hears millions of stories, but nothing clicks. Two weeks have passed and he’s out of the hospital and living with his “friends” in a rented six-bedroom house a couple of miles from their beach house. It’s him, Vance and Melina, Ryder, Dayne, and Xander. The sixth room is for Mike when he returns, but meanwhile they are using it as their jam room. Of course, he can’t remember shit about playing the keyboard.
Vance insists that he live with the rest of them because of the whole serial killer thing; he wants everyone together so that he can make sure they are all protected. The house’s security is the newest in modern technology, and Tripp can't imagine anyone being able to get into the house who isn't supposed to be there.
Tripp's hair has pretty much grown back in, but he now has a three inch jagged scar on the top right side of his head. His left knee, which is broken, is in a hard brace so he can't bend it. Crutches are his new mode of transportation.
The doctor had suggested that he get a psychotherapist to help work on his memory. He figured it couldn't hurt, so he had the doctor refer someone to him. He already called and set up an appointment for the therapist to come to the house.
Tripp is sitting in the living room when he hears the doorbell ring. Melina, who is acting as their live-in nurse and caretaker, calls out that she'll get the door. A few minutes later, Tripp hears her and another female voice talking. A woman? Hopefully she is easy on the eyes because Tripp doesn't want to be staring at some fat old guy for an hour every day.
Tripp watches as Melina leads the most beautiful woman he's ever seen through the doorway to the living room. She’s almost the same height as Melina and has long, light brown hair with bangs that sweep across her forehead. She has a cute nose and sexy lips that he instantly wants to kiss. She’s wearing little makeup, which he likes, and her outfit is a bit conservative, but that’s probably because she’s working.
The gorgeous therapist is wearing gray slacks with a dark purple three-quarter sleeve button down blouse that is tucked into her pants, showing off her tiny waist. She is smiling a bright smile as she talks to Melina. Then her light green eyes meet his and Tripp's breath catches. Tripp never believed in love at first sight until this very moment - at least he doesn’t remember believing in it. Her smile fades and her brows furrow.
“Tripp? Is it really you?” she asks, confused.
“Yeah?” Tripp says hesitantly, not understanding her change in demeanor.
Melina also looks at her in confusion. “Do you know Tripp?” she asks the therapist.
“Uh, yeah...” she starts, but Vance walks into the room before she can finish.
“Holy shit, Anna?” Vance exclaims and rushes over to her, giving her a big hug. “What are you doing here?”
“Vance? Oh my god! I'm supposed to be here to work with someone who's lost their memory, but when I saw the name, I assumed it was a mistake. This isn’t the house you guys live in with my brother...”
“Oh, Anna. No, it's Tripp. Tripp's the one who lost his memory. We’re just renting this place for a while. Long story,” Vance says softly and takes her by her shoulders.
“Is this a joke, Tripp? Is this your way of getting me over here after blowing me off?” she asks, a little anger underlying her tone.
“Huh?” he answers, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Anna turns to Vance. “So you’re saying he has no idea who I am?” she asks, devastation now in her voice.
Vance shakes his head sadly. Anna's hand comes up to her throat and she subconsciously fingers the ring that is hanging from a gold chain around her neck. She glances over at Tripp and his heart shatters. She looks as if someone just killed her puppy.
“What's going on?” Tripp asks.
Vance turns toward
Tripp, tucking Anna under his arm. He walks her over to stand in front of Tripp, who is sitting on the couch, his bad leg propped up on the ottoman.
“Tripp, Anna is Mike’s sister. She was your high school and college sweetheart. After college, you became a Navy Seal and got deployed to Afghanistan, and you two decided to end things for a while. She’s the one I told you about in the hospital.”
Tripp nods in understanding then frowns hard. “What do you mean ‘for a while’?” he asks and looks at Anna.
“We had always talked about getting back together, but we were both in different places in our lives. It was actually about two and a half weeks ago that we had planned to meet and talk about possibly getting back together, but then I couldn't get a hold of you. I thought maybe you were reactivated and went on a mission and couldn't call me, or that you changed your mind. I never expected this,” Anna explains softly, watching him the whole time with her beautiful light green eyes.
Tripp looks at Vance and opens his mouth to ask him why he didn't tell him about this but Vance beats him to it. “Dude, I didn't know you two were supposed to meet; it must’ve been right before the incident. You never told me.”
“Vance, why don't we leave them alone to talk,” Melina says quietly.
Vance nods and follows Melina out of the room. Anna walks around the ottoman so that she doesn't have to climb over his leg. She sits down on the couch next to him and turns slightly so that she can face him. She looks him over from head to toe.
“We were in love?” Tripp asks softly.
Anna smiles sadly. “Not ‘were’…are. I still love you even if you don't remember me; I can't just forget how I feel about you.”
Tripp swallows back the lump of emotion in his throat. “I think I may still love you, too. When you walked in the room, and your eyes met mine, I felt like it was a love at first sight thing. Maybe it's just more of just how I really feel.” Tripp meets her gentle gaze that is welling up with tears.
Anna smiles. “That’s great! Not just for us, but it means that your brain is starting to recognize people that are familiar.”
Tripp smiles slightly, happy to hear that he may be making progress. He searches her eyes. “Do you think if I kiss you it might help jog my memory?” Tripp asks, his voice husky with lust.
“It's possible,” Anna whispers.
Tripp doesn’t give her a chance to change her mind. His instincts take over, as his hands dive into her hair to cup her head, and he crushes his lips against hers. Anna clutches his t-shirt. God this feels so right, like he's done it a million times; probably because he has. Tripp needs more. He grabs her and lifts her onto his lap – careful of his leg - so that she straddles him. She gasps and brings her hands up to cup his face. Both of their lips part at the same time, their tongues meeting and tangling together.
Tripp wraps his arms around her and holds her tight, never wanting to let her go. A memory pops into his head. He was in Afghanistan in the middle of a firefight, and all he thought about was how he had to get home to Anna. He wasn’t going to get killed and make her have to bury him. They were supposed to marry and grow old together. Even though they weren't together, he knew that they would eventually find their way back to each other.
Tripp rips his mouth away from hers with a gasp. His hands smooth down her hair and over her shoulders, needing to touch her. Needing the connection. “Oh god, my Anna. You...you’re all I thought about when I was overseas. I had to stay alive for you, to come back so that we could get married and have kids...fuck, I love you, I love you so much,” Tripp cries as his hands continue to roam all over her body.
Anna lets out a sob and wraps her arms around his neck. Tucking their faces in each other’s neck, they just hold each other and cry for god knows how long. It isn't until Vance walks in that they separate. Anna crawls off his lap and sits down next to him.
“Shit, is everything okay?” Vance asks, his tone concerned.
“Yeah, Tripp remembers me.” Anna sniffs and swipes the tears off her face.
“What? That's great!” Vance exclaims joyfully. “Did you say something to trigger it?”
Anna chuckles. “No, we kissed.”
“Well, shit. Does that mean I have to kiss you so you'll remember me?” Vance asks Tripp.
Tripp brushes the tears off his face and smiles. “Fuck you, dude. Don’t you dare kiss me.”
“Oh, I think I'm gonna have to try it,” Vance says and starts toward Tripp.
“Vance! Don't do it,” Tripp warns, but he’s still smiling.
Vance has a wicked smile on his face as he closes in on Tripp. He tries to fight him off, but Vance bats his arms away and grabs his face then plants a big fat kiss on his mouth. When Vance pulls back to look at him, Tripp gives him a nice slap across the face.
“Asshole.” Tripp laughs and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand while Anna giggles next to him.
“Anything?” Vance asks hopefully, as he straightens up.
“Déjà vu. Have we done that before?” Tripp asks.
Vance throws his head back and laughs. “Yeah, man. When you came back from Afghanistan, I planted a good one on ya.”
Tripp smiles and shakes his head.
“Listen, I hate to break you two up, but, Anna, it's been an hour and I don't know if you have other clients that you have to see.” Vance winces.
“Oh, shit. Yes, I do. Thanks, Vance.” Anna utters.
Vance gives her a nod, winks at Tripp, and then leaves them alone again. Tripp snorts. Vance is crazy. He really wants to remember him.
“Tripp, I hate to leave, but I have to. Can I come back after work?” Anna asks.
“You better,” Tripp says and takes her hand in his.
Anna smiles. “I love you, Tripp.”
Tripp smiles. “God, I love you, too, Anna. I can't wait to see you again tonight,” he says then kisses her knuckles on the hand he’s holding.
“Me, neither,” Anna murmurs and leans in to kiss him again.
“Wear a skirt when you come back,” Tripp whispers against her lips.
Anna smiles. “Now why would I do that?”
“Because I don't want to have to rip a pair of perfectly good pants,” he mutters and kisses her again.
Anna shivers then pulls away and stands up. “I gotta go. I'll see you later, love,” Anna says and blows him a kiss as she rounds the ottoman.
“Can’t wait. Don’t forget the skirt,” Tripp calls after her.
Anna sends him a mischievous smile over her shoulder before leaving the room. “We’ll see,” she says then disappears from view. He can hear her say “bye” to Vance and Melina before the door opens and closes. Holy shit. This is incredible. Tripp’s relieved to have finally remembered something. Something as wonderful as Anna. He finally has hope. Things are starting to look up.
Chapter 14
Melina walks into the living room to see Tripp, Dayne, and Ryder watching some home movies that were taken over the years. Tripp's memory is starting to return, but it’s a slow process. He says it’s like a broken TV, where you catch a glimpse of the picture here and there, but never get to see the whole thing.
Tripp's girlfriend, Anna, has been coming over every day for a month now. She's really working with him on what she calls “getting his brain into shape.” She makes him play the little kid’s memory game, the one with the cards. He hates it, but does it for her. She also has him working Sudoku puzzles and other things that will help exercise his brain.
Melina and Anna have formed a fast friendship and have even spent time together without the guys. They have a lot in common and get along great. It’s also nice to have another girl in the house. Sometimes living with five guys is a nightmare, and Melina has freaked out on one of them on many occasions. And it's not like she can really have Harper over since she and Dayne are...well, Melina doesn't really know what they are. She guesses they aren't anything because they haven't spoken or seen each other since that one night they were togethe
r. But if Dayne is around while Melina is on the phone with Harper or something, he leaves the room. That just turned out to be a huge mess.
The guys’ injuries are healing. Their faces are at least back to normal. Dayne's mouth is still wired shut, and he’s lost a lot of weight from having to drink his food. He’s pretty much miserable all of the time. Ryder's collarbone has healed nicely, but the doctor still wants him to take it easy. Tripp's knee is on the mend, but he still needs the brace and crutches.
“Hey, three stooges, dinner is ready,” Melina calls.
They all look over at her at the same time, which makes Melina laugh. She shakes her head as she walks back into the kitchen where Anna is finishing putting the salad together. Vance is working on his laptop at the table.
Vance has been working himself ragged trying to find anything on Tripp's little brother, Damien. He has dark circles under his eyes from staying up half the night working, and he’s even lost some muscle mass from not working out as much as he used to. She’s really worried about him - physically and mentally.
Melina walks up behind Vance and puts her hands on his shoulders. “Van, honey, it’s time for dinner. How about a break?” Melina pleads.
“In a minute,” Vance murmurs as he continues to type.
Melina starts massaging his shoulders knowing how tense they are. Vance lets out a cleansing breath. His fingers freeze on the keyboard and he drops his chin to his chest. “Shut the computer off, my love,” Melina purrs next to his ear.
“Mmm, anything you say, just don't stop,” Vance moans and closes the laptop.
Melina rubs his shoulders for about another minute before she leans down and kisses his cheek. “There’s a full body massage in your future if you keep off that computer tonight,” Melina whispers in his ear.
Vance shudders and turns his head so that he can kiss her on the lips. “Deal,” he says.
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