Chapter 14 #2
He’d never been in a hospital room before. There were a lot of things he didn’t understand, things he worried he’d break or mess up, so he kept his hands in his pockets as Lea wheeled a lounge chair closer to the side of Beth’s bed.
“Sit. Have you eaten tonight?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I’m not?—”
“I’ll order us up some burgers.”
“Us?” he asked.
Lea narrowed her eyes slightly at him. “I’m only here for her, so I’m sitting with you.”
He nodded. “Okay.” He relaxed as his eyes remained glued to Beth.
She looked so small. Pale. Fragile. He sank into a chair, trying to stay quiet as he watched the monitors while Lea disappeared out the door.
He felt every single one of Beth’s heartbeats in his chest. Every faint move she made was as if his own body was struggling.
Lea came back with two sodas, and he sipped the cold drink while she took Beth’s vitals again.
When she finally sat next to him in another lounge chair, she asked, “Do we know what caused it?”
He shook his head. “Not… technically. Beth said Ian’s name.
Then, after the ambulance disappeared with her, I saw him near the building, watching.
He was dressed in all black, even had a fucking black stocking hat on.
” His jaw tightened. “He can’t get away with this.
Not something like this, right?” He turned to Lea.
She shook her head and touched his arm. “No, not something like this.” She motioned to Beth. “This was attempted murder.”
His gut twisted.
“When she wakes in the morning, we’ll get more details. Then we’ll deal with him.” Lea’s voice was quiet but firm.
Aaron’s gaze flicked to Beth, and he watched her chest rise and fall steadily.
He could still feel in his mind the warmth of her lingering from the picnic, from the way she had laughed and trusted him. That warmth pressed against the fear and rage and made him aware, more than ever, of why he had to stay grounded, stay present.
When their burgers arrived, he ate as if on autopilot while Lea chatted, about what he didn’t know. He was pretty sure she was just filling the air with words.
Since he’d been a best man men at their wedding, he was often around the couple and really liked Lea a lot. Somehow, her chatter soothed his worry and, most importantly, his anger towards Ian.
When the sun was just coming up outside the windows, Beth shifted and coughed lightly, and his chest seized.
Without thinking, he moved forward. His hand hovered above hers for a moment before he brushed it lightly.
Beth’s eyes fluttered open, and relief, exhaustion, and pain were all tangled in the look she gave him.
“Hey,” he whispered, voice catching. “You’re okay.”
“I… I’m okay.” It was barely a whisper, and her lips trembled slightly. “Thanks… for getting there for me.”
“It wasn’t me,” Aaron said as he shook his head. “It was Brett. You have him to thank for pulling you out.”
Her eyes widened slightly. “I… you were there.” This was nothing more than a croak.
“Yeah, I got there just as he was pulling you out.” He sighed. “Don’t try and talk. Lea just went…” He glanced back just as Lea stepped out of the bathroom.
“She’s awake?” Lea said cheerfully. “Good morning, sunshine.” She smiled down at Beth. “On a scale of one to ten, one being bad, ten being awesome, how are you feeling. Just use your fingers.” She motioned to her free hands.
Beth thought about it for a moment and lifted four fingers.
Lea nodded. “More drugs it is.” She walked over to the machines and worked as she talked. “Your throat is going to be raw for a few days, so don’t talk too much,” Lea said as she adjusted the IV drip. “We’ll keep you comfortable.”
Aaron’s eyes didn’t move from Beth. He had never been so fearful in his life, but she was awake, aware, and, thankfully, still fighting. He leaned forward and let himself breathe for what felt like the first time since Brett’s phone call.
Beth shifted slightly in the bed, her gaze finding his again. Her lashes fluttered heavily, but she didn’t look away. Her hand moved a fraction in his, slow and weak, but he understood. He reached out carefully, and his calloused hand covered her smaller, trembling one.
Warmth. A reminder she was here, not gone.
He swallowed and leaned a little closer, careful of the tangle of wires and tubes. “Beth,” he said softly, keeping his voice steady. “Can you tell us what happened?”
Her brow pinched, lashes lowering as though the memory itself was heavy.
She shifted against the pillows, then forced her eyes back open to him.
“I… I was on the sofa,” she whispered, her voice raw.
“I fell asleep watching TV. Then I woke up to a sound.” Her lips trembled, the words halting.
“There was someone there. A dark figure… just standing over me.”
Aaron’s jaw clenched. His grip on her hand tightened slightly.
“I didn’t even get out a scream,” Beth went on, her eyes glossing as she forced the memory out.
“He… he covered my mouth. All I could see was his shadow, and then...” She swallowed hard.
“Then I woke up outside, with you there. And the ambulance lights blinding me.” Her gaze searched his, fragile and pleading.
“Got it.” He bent closer, brushing a kiss over her forehead. “You’re safe now,” he said quietly, his chest tight with the promise. He could see the drugs taking effect. Her eyes became unfocused as her hand went lax in his. “Sleep. I’ll be here,” he promised her as she drifted off again.