AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Twenty-two
Finley
––––––––
“Abel’s here.” Clairebursts into my room, causing me to jump.
“What?” I stutter out, sure I heard her wrong.
“Abel is here,” she repeats slower. “I ran into him downstairs in the cafeteria. Something about his mom having a procedure done.”
“You didn’t tell him I was here, did you?” Panic rises in my chest.
“Of course not.” She crosses the room, placing her coffee on the bedside table. “I told him I was here visiting a friend.”
“What’s wrong with his mom?”
“He didn’t say. Sounded like she’ll be okay.” She shrugs.
“He’s here,” I say more to myself than to Claire. After over three hellish weeks we’re existing in the same space again. Even if we aren’t physically together, it’s something I wasn’t sure would ever happen again.
The urge to see him becomes almost too much to bear. Knowing that he’s here, in this very hospital. That with a quick trip to the cafeteria I could be standing face to face with him all over again. The realization sends both fear and excitement coursing through me.
I jump again when my phone signals a text. I already know who it is before I lift my phone from the table.
Abel: So funny thing. I just ran into your sister at the hospital.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm my shaking hands.
“Is that him?” Claire leans forward and looks down at my phone. “Well that didn’t take him long.” She laughs to herself.
Me: Oh yeah. Why are you at the hospital?
“I already told you why.”
“But he doesn’t know that.”
“Oh right.”
“What was he doing when you went down there? Who was he with?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. I didn’t see him until he was standing next to me.”
“How did he look?” I ask, suddenly so envious of my sister I could curl up into a ball and cry like a two year old.
“Is that man capable of looking anything outside of incredible?” She gives me a knowing smirk.
“Good point,” I agree right as my phone pings again.
Abel: My mom had to have a procedure done. Nothing to worry about.
Me: Is she doing okay?
Abel: I think so. It’s been a long day.
I look up at Claire who’s standing next to my bed, reading over my shoulder.
“Do you mind?” I flatten my phone against my chest.
