Beautiful One by Mary Cope Page A

caught.”
    When she exited the room, I grabbed the phone.
    Five missed texts. The first four were from Aidan.

    10:28: I’m here. I’ll order you a non-fat latte.
    10:35: I’m sitting outside.
    10:45: Your latte is getting cold.
    11:02: I can’t believe you stood me up.

    Melissa’s text was last.

    4:25: Mason and I are on our way to pick up Maggie. We’ll be at the hospital soon. I love you.

    Several missed calls and messages, but the only one I listened to was Aidan’s at 11:28 a.m.

    â€œ I can’t believe you. You text me and wake me up, tell me you’ll meet me, and you don’t show up? Is this your way of getting back at me? Thanks… thanks a lot.”
    I tried to call Aidan, but the cell service was so bad it wouldn’t go through. I tapped out a text and hoped it had enough power to reach him.
    Me: I’m at the hospital.
    Aidan: What happened?
    Me: My phone’s gonna die. I’ll tell you later.
    Aidan: Saddleback or Mission?
    Me: Mission .
    Aidan: I’m on my way.

    I put my cell phone back in the drawer then I gingerly got out of bed. Clutching the IV stand for support, I rolled my way into the bathroom. I stood at the sink and gasped in horror at my reflection.
    Thin red scrapes covered the left side of my forehead, and I was bruised above my cheekbone. I touched the back of my head and felt a swollen egg-sized lump. My hair was a matted mess. I felt a bandage, and, for a second, I wondered how much hair they’d had to shave off to stitch me up.
    Desperate for a toothbrush, I swished some cool water in my mouth and spit. I tried to untangle the matted mess of hair with my fingers but gave up when the standing became too much. I rolled myself back to bed and carefully climbed back in.
    About a half an hour later, Aidan walked in the door. As usual, he looked amazing. Thankfully, I wasn’t hooked up to a heart monitor, or it would have been beeping out of control. He winced when he saw me.
    Aidan’s eyes were fixed on mine. His voice was soft and soothing while he stroked the bare skin of my arm, careful to avoid the IV line. “What happened?” he asked.
    I proceeded to tell him what I could remember. His expression ranged from pained to relief when I told him I was going to be fine, and Maggie was okay, too.
    Aidan moved his chair and leaned in close. He picked up a loose strand of my hair and tucked it behind my ear. He stared at me for a long time as if he were struggling for words.
    I whispered, “Talk to me…”
    Aidan exhaled before he began. “I was scared, Liz, scared of how I was feeling for you.” Shamefaced, Aidan paused for a moment. “You know me, usually if I hang out with a girl, it ends up as a hook-up. I never told anyone about my mom, my life… it scared the crap out of me.” He reached for my hand and held it while the pad of his thumb swept back and forth. “I’m sorry for being such a jerk at your party. Dancing with that girl. I know I hurt you. After I kissed you in your room, I knew you’d expect things to be different between us. I wasn’t ready for a relationship. Or, I thought I wasn’t ready. I was an idiot, and, like a fool, I pushed you away. I didn’t realize how much I cared about you until I cut you out of my life. I feel like I lost my best friend.” Aidan paused and shifted in his seat, “I know I hurt you, and I hate myself for it. I’m so sorry. I wish I could go back and change every stupid thing I did, but I can’t. All I can do is ask you to forgive me and hope you can.”
    We sat in silence for a few minutes. I tried to absorb his words. His gaze met mine and he let out a deep breath. He seemed so vulnerable and stripped bare.
    â€œI miss you, Liz. I miss everything about you. Do you think we could start over?” The desperation in his voice was undeniable.
    Aidan was still holding my hand when Melissa and Mason