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“Maybe you should give her a minute to wake up.”
“You’re not,” Mom retorted. “You’re in her face.”
“Aiden,” I said again, my voice a raspy plea. He turned back toward me, ignoring my mother.
“I’m here, baby girl,” he murmured. Gently, he brushed my hair from my forehead, and I melted at his touch.
“Dani,” Mom sighed, sounding agitated. “I don’t have time for your dramatics right now.” My eyes stayed locked with Aiden’s, like if I didn’t look away, if I didn’t acknowledge her, she wasn’t there.
“I’m here,” he said again. A promise.
“Who is this man?” Tears burned the backs of my eyes, but I stayed staring at him.
“I’m her boss,” he gritted out. My mother snorted—her usual annoyed snort that told me someone was about to get a verbal lashing.
“And friend,” I added, like it would matter to her.
“So, you’re sleeping with your boss?” she said, her piercing voice bouncing off every wall in the room. His lips pressed into a thin line. As I opened my mouth to say something, the door flew open.
“Where is she?” Bridget’s frantic voice hit me in the chest, and I moved my attention away from Aiden and toward her. She stood at the door, her hair twisted up in a messy bun, panic painted on her face. “What happened?”
She stepped toward me, and Aiden moved closer, nearly covering me with his body. Protecting me, I realized. Her eyes shifted to him, then she glanced at our mother. I still didn’t have the courage to look at her.
“Aiden?” Bridget asked, sounding confused.
“Does everyone know him except me?” Mom demanded. Bridget’s eyes shifted to me, her botoxed brow barely lifting in question.
I was still feeling out of it but was becoming more aware by the minute. I was in the hospital, but I didn’t know why. I didn’t know how I’d gotten here, or who brought me in.
“Aiden.” He immediately turned his attention back to me, his body still hovering close.
“What do you need?” He frantically scanned my face. I smiled softly, and almost reached up to touch him, but stopped myself at the last moment.
I couldn’t touch him, could I? I didn’t know where we stood, but if he was calling me baby girl, maybe we were far past just boss and employee.
“Can someone explain what’s going on?” Bridget asked, drawing my attention. I roughly cleared my throat, then nodded.
“Aiden, you know my sister, Bridget.” My voice was too raw and raspy. He glanced at my sister and gave her a curt nod.
“Hello,” he said, his voice not kind, but not unpleasant either. Almost as quickly as he’d given her his attention, he turned back to me. “What can I do for you, baby girl?” I blinked at him, and Bridget cleared her throat.
“I’m okay,” I said, glancing at my sister. She had a shit-eating grin on her face, her arms folded over her chest as she flicked her eyes between us. I glowered at her. “Stop it.”
“What?” She grinned wider, flashing her teeth. “I’m not doing anything other than checking on my baby sister. It seems like you’re in good hands.” She paused, her eyes twinkling before she added, “baby girl.”
I sank back into the bed. I wanted to cover my heated face with the blanket and never come up for air. Aiden stiffened but didn’t say anything. If it bothered or embarrassed him, he showed no sign of it. It was me she was teasing, not him.
“Why are you here, Bridget?” Mom sighed. “You know how Dani gets—”
“Can you not do this right now?” Bridget snapped, barely glancing in her direction. Aiden looked at my sister with less suspicion, but still hovered close to me.
“You know this is just a ploy for attention,” Mom said.
Finally, I shifted my eyes to her. She looked like I remembered. It had been months since I’d last seen her, but she was still rail thin with her dyed hair perfectly blown out. She was staring at me with her usual disdain. I couldn’t stand it. I looked back at Aiden and felt immediate relief.
His jaw tensed and I silently pleaded with him not to acknowledge her. It’s what she wanted—a reaction. I’d long since learned, but he didn’t know how she worked.
“I found her passed out on the ground outside the office,” he said, his voice like ice. “Her lips were blue.” Slowly, he turned toward my mother, his shoulders tense. “Did you hear me? Her lips were fucking blue. How is that a ploy for attention?” He folded his arms over his chest.
