Page 55 of Little Broken Pieces

“Are you okay, Angel?”

I gulp, not wanting him to know where I went in my head, or what happened to me. “I was just in my own head about what the fuck could have possibly happened to her tonight.”

“I’m sorry, Alex. I wish there was more I can do. We are almost at the hospital. How is she doing back there?”

“She’s sleeping, I think,” I whisper like it makes any difference.

“We’re here.”

The fluorescent lights of the hospital's emergency room sign come into view and I can breathe easier, knowing she will be okay soon.

We are never really okay, the little devil whispers.

And she is right, we never fully heal. No matter what.

Kohen pulls up to the big sliding doors of the ER where the ambulance dock is.

“Kohen, this is for ambulances. We can’t park here.”

“I got you. My family owns part of the hospital.” He jumps out of the car, meeting some nurses with a wheelchair on the other side of the car. “Come on, let’s get Cora checked out.”

This man keeps surprising me. Just when I think he can't get any better, he does something like this. A big part of me doesn’t fucking like it.

Imagine what you'll owe him for this, the little voice of doubt says.

The nurses wheel her into the ER and ask us to wait in the lobby while they get her settled into her room. I know what they are really doing, though. It’s clear where she is bleeding from, and they want to make sure she wasn’t raped.

Could that have happened?

I shake the thoughts from my head because she would have told me if she was. It's impossible. She and Edward must have just gotten a little too rough and she just lost her V-card.

I make myself stop pacing the hallways and sit with Kohen. He has his head lowered and his hands together in front of his lips like he’s praying or something, so I don’t bother him.

My eyes search the room for a distraction, my senses heighten, and I can hear everything around me. The buzzing of the snack machine, the hum of the computer at the triage desk. It's too much and my leg begins to bounce. This hospital is huge, the area opens up in front of me like reverse claustrophobia, and everything is just too much. The scent of cleaning products, the chill in the air. Goosebumps erupt on my skin, and I close my eyes to try and refocus. I just want my best friend to be okay.

I feel a warm hand on my thigh and my eyes open. They’re met by the most intense, beautiful hazel eyes known to man.

And like a breath of fresh air, I crash my lips to his.

I don’t know what made me need to feel his lips on mine in that moment. It’s like I’m a dementor inHarry Potterand I can suck what strength I need from him through that kiss, and he offers it up like a sacrifice. His lips warm me in ways that I’ve never experienced. Like a fireplace in winter. I bathe in this warmth, this moment, in this disgusting hospital. He makes it feel warm and safe- like it's all going to be okay.

I don’t like it one fucking bit.

“You okay, Angel?”

I look at him, studying his stupid face. I hate that he always asks me if I’m okay. I’m fine. I’m always fine. “Yes, I’m okay. I’m sorry, I don’t know why I kissed you.”

He smirks. “It’s okay, I know why you did.”

“You don’t know anything about me.”

He hums. “I don’t need to know your life story to know you feel something for me. You feel something and you're scared. So, you’re going to fight it, push it away, sabotage it. And that’s okay. I'll still be here. Making sure you know that I, Kohen Ventura, am not going any-fucking-where.”

He kisses me gently and I have no words. Instead, I cross my arms and feign annoyance. This man has bewitched me, I don’t know why or how, and it all feels too fast but I like it just as much as I hate it.

“So you're some big shot here, huh?”

He laughs. “No, I’m just the son of the people who invest in this hospital. My father is a doctor.”

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