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  Been There Before

  Love Medicine - Book Three

  Cecilia Fyre

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to others. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Published 23 June 2020

  © 2020 Cecilia Fyre

  Cover: Lyss Em

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Thank you!

  About the Author

  Also by Cecilia Fyre

  1

  “Let’s try this again!” Stuart called. “Ricco, slower this time. Girls, make sure you in the camera’s line of sight. That last one was wobbly. Peter, the noise on that bike is fucking irritating. What gives?!”

  Lea squinted at the scraggly looking crew. Her mouth was full of sand, her eyes itched. She’d had enough of this bloody desert. How they could stand it, riding in this heat, clad in leather from head to toe, and with the helmets on?

  Ricco coughed as he struggled to turn the bike and push it back up for another take. The cough sounded painful and Lea frowned. She wanted this to be over, and Ricco needed to be done.

  The dust cloud from the bikes wafted in her direction, and Lea retreated down the hill to where the crew vehicles were parked out of sight. She had seen enough. To her, making reality TV didn’t look like fun. Maybe she could wait in one of the air-conditioned Jeeps.

  Saige sat in the shadow of one of the three vehicles and was packing up her sensitive photography equipment a long time ago. It wasn’t worth risking the lenses in this dusty hellhole. Saige had come along to document this episode of Ricco’s travel show for a high-end biker magazine, but she seemed just as ready for it all to be over.

  “Are they almost done?” she asked.

  “I don’t know.” Lea sighed and sank onto the blanket next to Saige. She found a water bottle in a cooler under the Jeep and took a big swig, which she swilled around her mouth and then spat into the sand. “I hope so. I’ve swallowed enough dirt to start a potato farm in my stomach.”

  Saige gave a crooked grin. “None of us will be sorry for this one to be in the can. Aurora said—”

  She broke off, looking guilty

  “What did Aurora—” Lea began, but Saige pointed.

  “Hey, look, I think they’re done. Here comes Peter.”

  She got up and hurried over to her husband who had just appeared over the top of the hill on his cross-country bike. He beckoned Lea to join them.

  Lea frowned. What did he want with her? Had something happened to Ricco? She got up and retraced her steps onto the dune. “Is everything okay?”

  “Not sure. Ricco wants me to get the trailer and load up his bike.” He sounded grumpy. “I thought we were gonna ride back to Roy’s Inn. Easier than loading those fuckers on the trailer out in these dunes.”

  Lea’s insides felt heavy. “Where is he?”

  “He’s coming back on foot.” Peter motioned behind him. “Looked all pale and sweaty when he took his helmet off. Got overheated is my guess. Long ass day.”

  Lea squinted up the hill. There Ricco came, walking unsteadily down toward them, carrying his helmet. With his other hand, he was shielding his eyes from the setting sun.

  She hurried up the incline, patting the pockets of Ricco’s big biker coat she’d worn since lunchtime when he had changed into a shorter leather jacket. The coat kept some of the sand off, and for the first time in about a week, Lea hadn't felt itchy. She located Ricco’s sunglasses in an inside pocket.

  “Here.” She opened the glasses for him. Ricco took them from her with shaking, freezing cold fingers.

  “Migraine?” Lea kept her voice low. Ricco nodded.

  “Don’t tell the others.” His voice was cracked and sore. “They don’t know.”

  “All right.” Lea followed him downhill, not daring to offer more support. Ricco’s shoulders were tense and Lea wondered how bad his head was already.

  One of the drivers stood by the Jeeps, smoking a cigarette. Seeing him gave Lea an idea. Hurrying ahead she gave the guy her biggest, sad-eyed smile. “Hey, Ben, would you mind driving me back? The others are still packing up, but I’m really sore. You know, that accident.”

  They had told the crew about her fall on the stairs and that her hip still gave her trouble. They’d left out the miscarriage. Health secrets are our speciality, apparently.

  Saige, who was helping Peter with the trailer, gave her a worried look. “You okay?”

  “Sure, it’s nothing,” Lea said. “I just really had enough.” Lea turned to Ricco, who had slunk into the shadow of the Jeeps. “Ricco’s gonna come with me. You don’t mind, do you?”

  Peter grunted, but only shrugged. Never mind him. Lea gnashed her teeth. She had to get Ricco away from here. So what if the others thought she was a spoilt brat. They didn’t have a lot of time. He’d waited much too long, and they hadn’t brought any rescue meds out into the desert. This had been a big mistake, and she couldn’t believe they’d forgotten something so essential.

  Lea opened the back door of Ben’s Jeep. When Ricco didn’t move she gave him a nudge. Peter and Saige were both staring at them. She pressed her lips together. If it was up to her she’d tell them everything.

  He clambered into the backseat. Lea climbed in after him. She scooted close and gave him a quick once over. His hands shook as he tried to buckle his seatbelt. Lea came to his aid. “Here, lean into me, and close your eyes. Nobody will know behind the sunglasses.”

  "Oh, doc…” His voice was a whisper. Lea took his hands in hers. They were like ice.

  “I’ve got some plastic bags in my purse,” she murmured. “Just tell me if it gets too bad.”

  “Okay.” He pressed his lips together, determined not to need them. Lea prayed he wouldn’t.

  “There’s no shame in it, you know.” All this would be a lot easier if the others knew what was going on, and make adjustments to the shooting schedule.

  “Stuart knows.”

  At that moment, Ben the driver hoisted himself into the seat, ending the conversation. Lea gave him a quick smile in the rearview mirror. They didn’t need to have that conversation right now.

  Praying that Ricco’s self-control would hold Lea clutched his hand. Ricco’s fingers tightened every time they hit a pothole on the bumpy dirt road. At last, they turned onto a paved road, and the rest of the crew disappeared from view.

  The next twenty minutes seemed endless. Ricco’s breaths too shallow and fast. Lea squeezed his thigh. He gave a tiny whimper. Lea wondered what Ben was making of this. It had to be clear to their driver that it wasn’t her who was unwell.

  At long last, the low, dusty buildings of their motel came into view. Ben parked next to the reception. Ricco was out of the car before the engine was off, and Lea quickly followed. “Thanks so much,” she said to Ben. “See you later!”

  Ricco had stopped next to the car, clutching the door. Lea put an arm around him and unclenched his fingers. “Come on, honey. Nearly there.”

  He lowered his head and gripped her hand again. "Okay." He leaned into her, heavy and feverish.

  Their room was on the second floor in the back. Lea led Ricco toward the staircase. He had trouble steering a straight line. Lea clenched her jaw. Why had he waited so long? If she’d gotten him back to the room and given him the rescue meds sooner, all this could’ve been avoided.

  They had a tense moment on the stairs. Ricco suddenly stopped, clutching his head. Lea had to use all her strength to k
eep him upright. Her injured hip gave a twinge. She’d mostly healed, but propping up Ricco’s weight still wasn’t ideal.

  Somehow they made it up the stairs, and somehow Lea got their door open. Ricco made straight for the bathroom, struggling to get out of his jacket. “Too hot.”

  He was frantic and clumsy. Lea helped to get the heavy leather jacket off his shoulders. She tossed the jacket on the floor, keeping an arm around him. He was shaking.

  In the bathroom, Ricco slumped to his knees. Lea knelt by his side. Just as he began to heave, his phone buzzed in the coat Lea was still wearing. It took a while to fish it out. She glanced at the screen. “It’s Stuart. Should I answer?”

  “Yeah,” Ricco gasped.

  Lea took the call. “Hi, Stuart.”

  “Hey…is that Lea?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Are you guys okay?” He sounded concerned. “You were out of there hella fast.”

  “Been better, to be honest.” Lea sighed.

  “It’s his head, isn’t it?” There was some of the exasperation that Lea felt in his voice.

  “Unfortunately.”

  Stuart sighed. “Is there anything I can do?”

  Lea thought for a moment. “Actually, there is. I had my kit bag in the other Jeep. Could you get that for me?”

  “Sure. Do you want me to bring it to your room?”

  Lea glanced at Ricco, who was resting his head on his arm, breathing hard. She rubbed him between the shoulder blades. “Right now isn’t great. Give me half an hour and I’ll come down to the diner.”

  “All right. I’ll wait for you there.”

  “Thanks, Stuart.” Lea hung up and put the phone on the edge of the bathtub. Ricco seemed done for now. He had slumped in on himself, and Lea pulled him close. He hid his face against her neck. His forehead felt hot. She worried that she would soon be unable to get him off the floor. “You belong in bed, honey.” She stroked his neck.

  “Okay,” he croaked weakly.

  It hurt Lea’s injured hip to help Ricco to his feet. She winced and he stopped, swaying but trying to pull away. “Is it your bad leg? Shit.”

  He staggered, trying not to lean on her. Lea pulled him close before he could go down again. “It’s okay, don’t worry about it. I got you.”

  Somehow they got into the bedroom. Ricco crawled onto the bed. Lea went and pulled the curtains shut. Then she turned back to him. “Trousers off.”

  Ricco fumbled with the buttons. Lea pulled his shoes off. There was sand everywhere, it was disgusting. She helped Ricco get his pants down over his hips. When they were finally off he pulled the covers up over his face, groaning.

  Lea got a wet washcloth. She perched on the bed and placed the cloth on his forehead. He felt blindly for her hands. Lea took his fingers. “I didn’t bring any IV medication,” she said. “Do you want us to go to the hospital?”

  He shook his head. Lea sighed. “There’s Lioresal in my kit. I’ll fetch that from Stuart in a minute.” She had to ask. “Ricco, tell me the truth. Did you take the Elavil at all while we’ve been here?”

  He didn’t answer for a moment. Then he whispered, “No.”

  “And why not?” Lea fought her exasperation.

  “It makes me slow, and I can’t think.”

  He pulled the washcloth off and twisted it. His gaze flitted to Lea, then he squinted at the window where a small sliver of sunset was still visible. Shuddering, he quickly turned his face away.

  Lea took the cloth from him and used it to wipe his face and neck. He let her do it but wouldn’t meet her eyes again.

  “Ricco, I hate to be the nagging girlfriend, you know that,” she said with emphasis. “So I’ll be the annoying doctor instead. You need to take your meds, the migraines will never get better without treatment. You’ve tried long enough to go without, you need the constant preventative treatment.”

  “Isn’t there something else?” he pleaded. “These pills are awful.”

  “You have to give them a chance to work first.” She had to be firm. Right now, she was his doctor. “You’ve barely even started taking them. Things need some time to settle, but unless you give it a chance you’ll never know whether Elavil is the answer.”

  His eyes filled with tears. Lea’s heart threatened to break. “Oh, don’t cry, Ricco, please!”

  He rolled over, away from her, and hid his face in his arms. Lea sighed. She didn’t want to be annoyed, but it was a challenge. Her first instinct was to make peace right away. She didn’t like discord and valued total honesty in a relationship.

  But she was really mad this time. He’d been selfish to let this go on so long without telling anyone. Again she had to deal with his mess. So instead of comforting him, Lea returned to the bathroom to clean up. She hung up Ricco’s jacket and put the trashcan from the bathroom close to the bed.

  “I’m going to fetch my kit,” she said. “And I’ll see if I can’t rustle up some tea. If you feel sick again, there’s a bin on the floor here. Don’t get up. I’ll be back soon.”

  She didn’t wait for a response, just picked the key up from where she’d dropped it by the door and let herself out of the room.

  She’d have to be quick. This attack was bad. He needed his meds, and if he tried to stand he might very well fall. She hurried toward the diner adjacent to the motel that had become the crew’s meeting point.

  The car park was deserted. Their group had been the biggest booking this place had had in weeks. Lea couldn’t get away fast enough from this desolate speck in the middle of nowhere, but now they wouldn’t be going anywhere for a few days.

  Lea spotted Stuart in a booth at the back, nursing a lonely cup of coffee. Lea waved but made for the counter first. A bored-looking waitress was drying glasses. Lea scanned the menu overhead. “What kind of herbal teas have you got?”

  “Say what?” The waitress looked confused.

  “You know, peppermint, chamomile, ginger tea? Something like that?”

  Looking doubtful, the waitress rummaged under the counter. “There’s some weird smelling tea bags here – says fennel on the box.”

  “They’ll do. Could you brew a really big jug, with four or five of those? Oh, and boil the water in the kettle, if you have one. Don’t microwave it!” Lea shuddered. Microwaved tea was one of the most disgusting habits she'd come across since moving to America. "Oh, and a large glass of ice chips.”

  “Sure.” The waitress regarded her as if Lea had lost her mind, but she went and filled up the kettle.

  “Thank you.” Lea did her best to smile, then went to join Stuart. “Hey.”

  “Hey yourself. How is Ricco?”

  Lea grimaced. “Not good.”

  “Proper migraine attack, is it?”

  “Afraid so. It’s pretty bad.” She pointed at the black bag next to Stuart. “There’s some medication in there that’ll help.”

  Stuart sighed. “I’ve told him a hundred times, he’s gotta speak up when shit gets too much. But he’s funny about what he lets people know. Does he think he’s some kind of superman? It’s really bitten him in the ass this time.”

  It cost Lea something to say the next thing, but Ricco would insist on it. “Listen, don’t tell the others. I don’t like secrecy either, but he’d not want them to know. And if he starts fretting about who knows what he won’t get better.”

  “Doesn’t seem fair when you’re the one who keeps picking up the pieces.” Stuart gave her an empathetic smile.

  Lea said nothing. Stuart was one of Ricco’s best friends, but she liked gossip even less than secrets. Ricco’s privacy was so precarious she had to protect him wherever she could. He trusted her to be on his side. So all she said was, “Promise you’ll keep his secret? Just tell the others he’s tired, and that he swallowed too much sand. Which is true, by the way. Today was disgusting.”

  Stuart sighed but nodded. "Of course I'll keep his secrets. I always do."

  “Thank you.” She smiled at Stuart and scooted from the
booth. “I gotta go back to him now.”

  Stuart handed her the bag. “Tell me if you guys need anything.”

  “I will, thank you. Go and rest now, you look beat!” Stuart waved as she departed. He looked like he didn’t like this any more than she did.

  Lea stopped at the counter where the waitress had prepared a large jug of tea and a glass of ice chips. “Great, thanks so much. Put it on our room, number two two five.”

  The waitress gave her a grumpy nod. Lea slipped the strap of the heavy bag over her head and, with difficulty, juggled the pitcher and the tumbler as she headed for the door.

  She was halfway across the car park when she realized she’d have to stop. The jug was too heavy, and the ice chips had made her fingers numb. She looked around for somewhere to make a pit stop.

  A picnic table sat under the overhanging second floor of the motel, and Lea reached it just in time. Some hot tea sloshed over her hand as she put down the pitcher, and she cursed under her breath. She scooped up some ice chips and held them against the burn.

  “But how d’you know?” someone said above her. Lea craned her neck but couldn’t see through the floor of the walkway.

  “Cuz that thing was right there.”

  It sounded like Aurora and Saige. They had to be standing outside Saige and Peter’s room. Should she call up to them? But they’d ask her what she was doing with the tea and the ice, and she’d just sworn Stuart to secrecy. Better to sneak away before they looked down.

  “You mean the necklace?” Saige said. “That same one?”

  Lea froze. Necklace? Her hand, now cold from the ice, went to her neck where the Love necklace lay against sweaty, dusty skin.

  Sage continued, “So, you saying they were already a thing?”

  “Guess they were,” Aurora said. “I told you it was weird. How fucked-up is that? Why didn’t he say something? I would’ve done him regardless.”