RYDER’S POV
“... I know exactly why you started this."
Suddenly, my chest tightened, making it hard to breathe.
I slowly turned back around to face him, feeling the icy wind bite at the back of my neck. Merrick held my gaze, refusing to let me look away. He knew exactly what memory he was dragging out of the dark and into the harsh yellow light of the parking lot.
I didn't answer…because I didn't have to as the memory flashed behind my eyes.
It had been late August. The clinic had smelled like rubbing alcohol and stale coffee. Merrick and I were sitting in the stiff plastic chairs of the waiting room, killing time before our pre-season physicals.
I had been staring blankly at a muted television screen, completely zoned out, until a hushed, desperate voice in the corner caught my att
