Page 79 of Game Changer

“Is she gone?” AJ asked when it got quiet, keeping his eyes closed.

“She is. Do you want her back?” Lisa stood as if to follow the nurse.

“NO! I want you alone. I miss you. There’s always someone else here.”

“I miss you too, Pim. How are you feeling?”

“A little clearer today, I think. Maybe? My headache isn’t as bad. I’m awake more and more, though pretending not to be depending on the company. I’m slowly putting the jigsaw pieces back together in my brain. I definitely remember how much I love you.”

Lisa blushed as she stood to kiss him. “You have no idea how glad I am that you’re coming back to me,” she told him, staring into his eyes. “I miss you so much.”

I love when I make you blush. Your pink cheeks… those sparkly eyes… biting your lip. Man, I wish my hands were free so I could grab your chin, kiss you and bite that lip for you.

“Tell me what I’ve missed. Tell me what happened. What’s happened since…? I’ll probably fall asleep at some point, but please just tell me.”

She nodded and began to fill him in on everything he’d missed. He dipped in and out of sleep, but she was enjoying knowing he was inching closer to his old self.

“I forgot to ask how Jer’s face is?” he mumbled to her. “Did I break his nose again?”

“Again?” Lisa repeated, horrified.

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Jeremy answered, grinning as he came into the room and took a seat next to the bed. “My face is as gorgeous as ever, man. See? A couple bruises can’t hold this pretty-boy face back. Gained me some real sympathy with the lovely nurse, so of course, I totally forgive you.”

They laughed together. “I really am sorry, Jer. Can I play the brain damage card? How much mileage can I get out of that card? I mean, it’s the truth, after all.”

“Don’t sweat it, and you’ve been playing that card for a while – though it has nothing to do with your accident!” he joked.

True statement.

Chapter 23

The doctor had told AJ’s friends and family to keep a light visiting schedule for the first week or so after he woke up. Immediate family plus Lisa, Jeremy, and Britt were the only names on his shortlist - and in paired rotation, never all at once. It was too overwhelming. AJ was in awe of Lisa’s strength around Britt. From all accounts, Lisa had not beaten Britt senseless – at least not yet - and had handled her with grace and kindness despite the feelings AJ suspected she harbored towards her.

Why the hell did you marry her again?

Can’t I just claim amnesia on this one?

It’s a shame you can’t claim the head injury is the reason you married her.

“Well, well, well, look at you!” She beamed when she walked in and leaned over to give him a kiss hello.

That smile. I’ve missed you.

His body instantly relaxed when she came in the room.

“I had an accident,” he told her. “They had to change my bed again.”

‘Cause you needed to tell her that right away, why? Or, y’know, ever.

“Don’t worry about that,” she answered. “They told us it would be a while before everything worked how it’s supposed to, remember?”

Yeah, but what if that never works right again?

Fuck, that’s a depressing thought. Not to mention, embarrassing.

“This is my boyfriend AJ, can’t get it up, or control his bladder. He’s a sheer joy to be with.”

Shut up. You know she’d never think like that, let alone say it.

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