She raps her knuckles against the door, then opens it while crooning his name like he’s a frightened animal about to dash out of the room. “Hi, Aiden. Look who’s here?”
I rush past her and make a beeline straight to Aiden’s bedside. Tears of relief clog the back of my throat, and I reach out so I can touch him. I stop midway, not wanting to hurt him, and notice Hawk lounging on the chair beside the hospital bed.
Hawk stands and glances at Aiden. “I’ll leave you two alone, but take it easy.”
He walks past me and gives me a sympathetic look, then disappears out the door.
Aiden blinks open his eyes and lifts his gaze to my face. His pupils are blown wide, likely from the pain medicine. Slowly, his lips curve into a drowsy smirk.
“There’s my pretty girl,” he coos, his words slurred together.
His gaze rakes over me and pauses on my right arm, which rests in a sling against my chest. Shadows creep over his features, and his smile falls.
“Is he dead yet?” he whispers.
I check the room to ensure we’re really alone and the nurse isn’t hanging around to listen to our conversation. I take the seat by his bed.
“I don’t know,” I say. “Your friends are tight-lipped about that kind of stuff. Didn’t Hawk talk to you about it? He’s been hanging out in here with you.”
Aiden hums and glances at my sling before turning his head forward. “They haven’t told me much either, other than they’re taking care of it.”
He mumbles something beneath his breath that I don’t catch, then jerks his chin at his arm.
“Get these straps off me. I want to hold you.” When I hesitate, he looks at me with tears in his eyes. “Please, baby.”
I stand and work the straps undone one-handed. It’s harder to accomplish with my non-dominant hand, but Aiden patiently watches and turns his wrist to help. Once they loosen and come free, he leans forward and draws me into an awkward hug, angling our bodies so we don’t injure ourselves.
He cups the back of my head. His fingers stroke through my hair, and he rains kisses over my face before slanting his mouth over mine in a deep kiss.
“I missed you,” he whispers between kisses. “He didn’t touch you, did he?”
“No, Haze got to him before he did anything.” I hook my arm over his shoulder and hold on to him, scared that if I let go, he’ll disappear.
There’s a time to tell Aiden what Brandon said and did. Right now isn’t the time. If he knows Brandon belittled me and held me at gunpoint, he’ll lose his mind and reopen his stitches.
Aiden relaxes and buries his face in the crook of my neck, then inhales.
“I thought I lost you,” I whisper as I fight back the tears.
He lifts his head with a soft laugh and cups my cheeks, his thumb swiping away the straggling tears streaming down them. “You remember what I said about how the Grim Reaper can’t rip me from your side?”
“I didn’t think you were serious about it.” I laugh through the tears and lean into his touch.
His smile tightens. “Neither did I.”
We stare at each other, time lost and unimportant. His gaze sweeps over my face like he’s memorizing me all over again. I shiver as he traces his fingertip over my features.
I can see the gears turning in his mind through his eyes as fear creeps into them. He sucks in a trembling breath before saying, “Baby, I’m gonna be honest with you.”
Shaking, I nod and lean back. I reach for my nape, and Aiden catches my wrist.
“It’s okay,” he murmurs. “Just listen to me.”
My shoulders droop, and I wince from the sting. “I’m listening.”
Aiden slips his palm over mine and threads our fingers together. He sucks in a shaky breath. “I was bitter about dying, even at the end. I’ve heard stories about people accepting their death before moving into the afterlife. They think about all the good things they’ve accomplished.” He squeezes my hand. “All I felt was regret.”
“Oh.” My stomach sours, and I drop my gaze to my lap.
