The Lost Days (Prairie Town Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

girl who had accompanied them—Kelly was her name.  She seemed so sad about the situation, maybe even a little sympathetic.
    Maybe she did feel bad for him, but that’s not what he wanted.  He didn’t need anyone’s sympathy.  He didn’t even want to remember anything anymore.  He just wanted to move on.
    “Here.” The doctor held a tissue out for him to take and he snatched it from his hand, holding it up to his nose as his eyes met the girl’s again.  The last thing he wanted to do was cry in front of her, or any of them for that matter.
    “I’m so sorry about my brother,” Laney said as she stood from the table and hugged her purse to her chest.  “He doesn’t forgive as easily as I do.  Devin...”
    His eyes snapped to Laney again.
    “I believe you.  I believe that you really did lose your memory.”
    “That’s bullshit, Laney!” Jeb was at it again.  His hands flew into the air and he was acting like a mad man as his friend, Callum, quickly stepped aside to avoid his swinging fists.  “He tortured Lydia when we were little; he intimidated you when you dated him; he got me thrown in jail!  Or, have you forgotten that?”
    “No, I haven’t forgotten that, Jeb.  I’m just saying that I believe him.  It’s possible for a person to lose their memories.”
    “In movies, maybe,” Jeb muttered, side-eyeing Devin something fierce.  “This is real life, Laney.  People don’t just conveniently lose their memory like that.  Oh, I’m sorry,”—he scoffed—“I guess it makes sense if you’re about to be thrown in prison for the rest of your natural born life.”
    “I don’t know what I did to you...” His voice weakened, trembled in despair as he stood from the floor and leaned against the wall.  “But I’m sorry for it, all right? I’m really sorry.  If I could remember any of it, then I’d deserve to live with the guilt.  But I can’t remember it, okay?  I don’t remember anything.”
    “People had to tell me my own damn name.  My parents are strangers to me.  I didn’t recognize my brothers.”
    Oh, hell.  He was going to cry in front of them.  It was humiliating and he felt lower than dirt as he bowed his head and pinched his nostrils together to stop the flowing blood.
    “I’m truly, truly sorry for whatever I’ve put you through.”
    The room was quiet.  No one said a word.  When he finally lifted his head to peer at them, one by one, and he tried to convey just how sorry he was as more tears spilled down his cheeks.
    “I’m sorry, Lydia.  Whatever I did to you when we were kids—I’m so sorry.”
    Lydia really was a pretty girl.  Her green eyes welled up with tears as she leaned against Callum and quickly wiped at her cheeks.  “I forgive you, Devin.”
    “What?” Jeb’s mouth fell open.
    “Laney, Benji.” He sniffled and blinked rapidly to clear his vision.  “Whatever I did on that night...whatever I said to you...please forgive me.  I wish I could take it back.”
    Benji grabbed Laney’s hand and held it tightly within his own, giving him a firm nod.
    “I forgive you for that, Devin,” Laney whispered with a small, quivering smile.  “We all forgive you.”
    “WHAT?” Jebson bellowed.  “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
    “Mr. McIntosh, I’m going to have to ask you to step outside.  You were in agreement to come here this evening and you are disrupting this session.” Doctor Thompson’s voice was firm as he pointed towards the door.  “Please step outside.”
    “This is bullshit.” Jebson snorted with a roll of his eyes.  “I can’t believe you people are falling for this.  He’s lying!  Can’t you see that?  He’s pulled the wool over all your eyes, but not me—No, Sir.  Abso-fucking-lutely not.”
    “Come on, Jeb.” Callum gripped his friend by his upper arm and pulled him towards the door.  “Don’t cause a scene, man.”
    “I’m not causing a scene!  He’s the one who’s pretending to be