Page 124 of Aria

I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to go anywhere until I saw Noah—but I was smeared in crusty blood with my dress torn to shreds. A shower would probably do me good. Taking a nap was the last thing on my mind, but my body was crumbling from exhaustion.

“Thanks, Lisa.”

“Do you need to pick up some clothes from my place?” Devon asked, tucking his hands into his pockets.

I flinched.

Myplace—notourplace.

I supposed it was better that way.

“She can wear something of mine,” Lisa offered. “It’s not a problem.”

“All right,” he shrugged. “I’m sure I’ll see you back here later. Keep me posted if you hear anything.”

I watched as Devon and his bandmates exited out the hospital doors before I felt Lisa’s reassuring touch on the small of my back.

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” Lisa said, pulling me into a hug with a gentle squeeze.

I returned to my chair to fetch my purse, pulling out my phone to call Rosa.

Rosa was frantic when she answered. “Mi muchacho, Noah! I need good news, señorita. Por favor…”

“He’s okay, Rosa. He’s stable and resting now. They think he’s going to be okay.”

“Gracias a Dios!”

I could almost see Rosa making the sign of the cross. “I’m going to my friend’s place to freshen up and I’ll head back to the hospital later. Can you bring Sam over when Noah is allowed visitors?”

“Si. Of course, mi querido.”

“Thanks, Rosa. For everything.” I pulled my purse strap over my shoulder and smiled my first real smile since sitting in the pub with Noah. “I’ll see you later.”

“Gracias, muchacha.”

I popped my phone into the center of my purse and followed Lisa out of the hospital. I couldn’t wait to breathe in the crisp morning air.

Noah had lived to see another morning.

* * *

I awoke to Lisa nudging me as I laid curled up on my friend’s sofa.

“Chels, wake up.”

I rubbed my eyes to correct my blurred vision. My mind was groggy, my limbs like jelly. “How long was I out?”

“Almost three hours,” Lisa replied. “The hospital called your phone, so I answered it. They said Noah’s awake and asking for you.”

Jolting into a sitting position, a gasp left me. “Oh my God. I need to go. Can we head over now?”

“Of course. I’ll grab a coat for you.”

Rising from the couch, I winced as my right foot connected with the floor. My ankle was still swollen and tender. I slipped into a fleece jacket, already dressed in slightly oversized sweatpants and a white tank top. I combed my fingers through my hair and coated my lips in a kiwi Chapstick. “Let’s go.”

It was a quiet drive to the hospital. I had called Rosa to tell her the news, causing her to shriek with joyous gratitude. Little Sam would be reunited with his father soon.

I was trying to prepare for my own reunion with Noah Hayes. What could I possibly say to him?

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