The door flew open, and a body barreled right into Bradley, like a fly smashing into a windshield.
“What the…”
“Language! We’re in a hospital,” Seth joked, waggling a finger at Bradley. His eyes were still red from crying, but Seth was completely oblivious, as usual. His slapped red cheeks matched his flaming hair, and he charged at me like a mini-comet. His bony arms dug into my body as he did his best to wrap me in some kind of bear hug. I grimaced at the pain of a few tender spots, and he jumped back as though he’d been scalded.
“Oh geez, I’m sorry! Did I hurt you? Oh Kate! A fire? How did this happen? I’ll kill them! Are you okay? Will you be okay? Why didn’t you call me?” He would have continued, the questions spilling from between his lips, if I hadn’t raised my hands to defend myself from the ginger inquisition.
“Seth, I’m fine. Really, I’m fine.”
“I didn’t mean to interrupt, I’m sorry.” He appeared even more flustered and then stood and rushed back to the door. “Oh my gosh, I forgot Maddie!” He poked his head into the hallway and called her name, waving her toward the room. Voices spilled in from the hallway, and I wondered how many kids from school were out there. I wondered if Liam was among them. I couldn’t believe they had come.
I knew I looked like complete shit, but when Maddie walked in, I realized I was in good company. Her hair was pulled into an unruly mess at the top of her head, and her eyes were bloodshot and ringed in red. Her cheeks might have been as puffy as my own. As soon as she saw me, she burst into tears.
She cried through words I couldn’t make out, but I knew Maddie well enough to understand that she was saying sorry and thank you and I miss you and everything’s okay and most importantly, we’re okay. We’d returned to a new beginning and were given another chance to start over and learn how to be friends again. And this time, I wasn’t going to let what happened to Grace hold us back. This time, I really was ready to let all of the tears wash our slate clean and get my best friend back.
“It’s okay, it really is. We’re going to be fine.” I whispered the words into Maddie’s shoulder, and for the first time, I really believed them.
She pulled away and stared into my face, lip trembling.
“I’m not sure how to tell you this…”
Her words made my heart race. Was it Liam? God, I knew there had to be a reason he wasn’t here.
“I’m sort of in love with Seth.” She whispered the words, her cheeks as red as his hair.
Because I’m a horrible, selfish person, my first reaction was relief. Thank God her big reveal had nothing to do with Liam. But I mentally kicked myself in the ass. I mean, really, Kate? Your best friend professes her love for your other best friend, and relief is the best you can do?
And then it came. Happiness. A smile that was so big that I thought my face was going to break in half. Seth beamed from behind her, and I matched it. We all did.
A constant stream of students poured into the room, which was exhausting and exhilarating at the same time, if that’s even possible. But as I watched Seth and Maddie giggle together and hold hands and flirt, I couldn’t stop the tiny pulls on my heart.
Seth elbowed Maddie and raised his eyebrows toward me. “Overwhelmed yet?”
I tried to appear thankful. “Oh my gosh, yes! I can’t believe all these people. It’s crazy. I didn’t even know anyone knew who I was.”
“Everyone loves you, Kate. You should see Amicus. There are pages and pages of messages. Teachers, parents, students, even Mr. Bob the custodian. It’s crazy!”
We both knew what I was thinking, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask where Liam was. I wasn’t ready for the answer, wasn’t ready to hear that it wouldn’t work between us, that it never could, that it was my fault he’d been expelled from Pemberly Brown.
“But we should let you sleep. You’re probably exhausted,” Seth said, standing. Both he and Maddie gave much gentler hugs this time and closed the door gently behind them. And it was so quiet then, too quiet.
“Mom?” I shouted toward the door. “Dad?” The door remained shut, and I deflated into the sheets, sinking down and feeling sorry for myself.
I couldn’t believe that I’d been stupid enough to think that Liam might show up. He must hate me after all I’d put him through. I tried to get comfortable despite the tubes, and when the door opened a few minutes later, my face lit up. But it was only a nurse coming to take my vitals. I turned to my side and faced the window, back to the door, eyes closed, and tried to convince myself Liam’s absence was for the best. We weren’t meant to be. Our timing sucked.
And then the door clicked quietly, and although I’d never understand how I knew it was Liam before I even rolled over, I knew he had finally come.