Page 101 of Unexpected Kisses

“Okay. I’ll grab your meds.” She records information on her tablet after checking over the machines, then leaves us alone again.

“Do you remember what happened?” He nods and groans. “Stay still.”

“I remember looking up for my next hold and realizing it was farther away than I originally thought it would be. I knew I’d have to push hard and stretch long to reach it but I don’t remember doing it.” His eyebrows slash low over his eyes and I watch him as he works through his memories. “Or falling.” The beeps on the heart monitor change; increasing in frequency. “I can’t believe I fell.”

I take his hand in mine and slowly stroke my thumb back and forth across his knuckles. “Don’t worry about that now. You’re going to be okay.” He shakes his head and groans. “Stay still, AJ. You’re going to hurt yourself and getting upset won’t help anything. You’re going to be back to your usual self in no time.” I lift his hand to my lips and lay a soft kiss against the back of it, trying to settle him.

His eyes skate around my face, drifting down to my clothes. “You’re in your work clothes.”

I glance down at my creased skirt and blouse. “Yeah. I came straight from the office yesterday when Dylan called. I haven’t been home to change. I didn’t want to leave you here on your own.”

His body visibly relaxes and he melts into the mattress. “Thanks for being here.”

I squeeze his hand, careful of his grazes. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else, AJ. I needed to be here with you. I needed to know you were okay. I needed to tell you I love you,” I tell him softly, hoping he realizes how important he is to me. “I’ve done a terrible job so far of showing you how much I value you and how much I love you. My dismissal of you on Monday was awful and hurtful, and completely unacceptable. I’m so sorry. I only hope you can forgive me.” I bring his hand to my lips and press another kiss to his knuckles. The need to kiss him and make him feel better is overwhelming. “I promise to do better.”

“Good morning.” AJ and I turn toward the woman’s voice. “I’m Doctor Fieldman. I believe you’re experiencing a fair amount of pain. Let’s take a look.” She checks AJ over from head to toe, explaining his injuries to him as she works. “Do you know what day it is?”

He looks at me. “Uh, Tuesday”—he glances out of the darkened window—“night?”

Doctor Fieldman glances at me. “It’s actually very early Thursday morning. You were found and rescued mid-morning yesterday by Parks and Wildlife and brought here immediately. We operated on your leg and head wound yesterday afternoon.”

AJ’s eyes widen. “But I was climbing on Tuesday. That’s when I fell.” He shakes his head and groans. “I can’t believe I fell. I never fall.”

Shit! That means he was lying unconscious exposed to the elements overnight before he was found. I snap my head back to the doctor, waiting to hear her thoughts on that.

Doctor Fieldman purses her lips and makes some notes. “You were very lucky then, Mr. Jackson. The temperature was fifty-nine on Tuesday night. I’m surprised your condition wasn’t worse when they brought you in.”

I glance at AJ, thanking whoever above that he was brought back to us. “He’s going to be okay, though, right?” I’m doing my best not to panic.

“Oh, absolutely. His leg and head will heal nicely, and he’ll be as good as new with some physical therapy.” She turns her attention back to AJ. “You’ll have a nasty headache, bouts of confusion, and extreme fatigue for a few days as a result of the concussion. Make sure you rest and don’t put pressure on yourself to be at full capacity right away. We’ll keep a close eye on you while you’re here.” She raises an eyebrow at AJ and he nods slowly.

“I’ll make sure he rests.”

She turns her focus to me. “Good. I’ll leave you to it and send a nurse in with some pain medicine.”

“Knock, knock.” The three of us turn toward the door, finding Hayley standing on the threshold. I’m not surprised she’s here at the crack of dawn, she was reluctant to leave the hospital last night. Hayley makes a beeline for her brother, and I step out of the way so they can reunite. Her body shakes and AJ does his best to stroke his hand up and down her back, but the angle is awkward.

I thank Doctor Fieldman, while AJ and Hayley embrace, stepping off to the side to give them some privacy. Maybe I should leave? I’m sure his family will be coming to visit and they don’t need me hanging around. Eric gave me the day off to be with AJ, but perhaps I shouldn’t intrude on family time.

Hayley takes the chair I slept in as I stand beside the window to give them space. “Sarah,” AJ calls my name, snapping me out of my thoughts and I turn to him. He’s holding out his hand for me. “Come here, Cupcake. I want you next to me.” The rigidness I was holding in my body dissipates instantly. He wants me next to him which means I’m not going anywhere, even if I have to live in these clothes for the entire time he’s in the hospital. I step forward quickly to slide my hand into his roughened one and he pulls me forward. When I try to sit on the second visitor’s chair next to his bed, he tugs me forward. “Sit here.”

I smile at him and perch my butt on the edge of his hospital bed, careful not to bump him. “Okay.” I lean down and peck his lips. He explains to Hayley about his fall, coming to the end of his story when his mom and dad walk in, closely followed by the nurse.

“Oh, you have a full house. I have your medicine here.” Everyone says hello and she administers AJ’s medicine through his IV. “You’ll probably feel sleepy in a little while. It’s the best thing you can do for your body’s healing.” After she checks the monitors again, she leaves the room and AJ’s parents fuss over him, his mom sobbing.

My phone buzzes in my purse, which is on the floor beside Hayley. “Would you mind passing my purse?”

She hands it over and I dig around with my free hand to find it. Mel’s face flashes on my screen. “I’m just gonna step out and take this.” Reluctantly, AJ releases my hand and I step into the hallway to accept the call. “Hey, Mel.”

“Hiya. I wanted to check how you were doing. I’m sorry I’m on nights this week and haven’t been around much.” I burst into tears at the sound of my best friend’s voice. “Hey, hey, hey. Sarah.” Her voice is panicked. “Do you need me to come home?”

“I … I’m okay. I’m not at your place, I’m at the ho-hospital,” I manage to say through my tears.

“Why are you at the hospital? Are you okay?” Her words tumble out quickly.

“It’s AJ. He f-fell when he was cli-climbing.”

“Oh shit! Is he going to be okay?”

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