The Choice Read Online Free PDF Page B

anymore.”
    Ana smiles at me, happy to see me happy again and I match her grin.
    “I’m glad to see the two of you aren’t up in the air anymore, either,” I say to them both.
    “Thanks,” Drake says as his eyes meet Ana’s and he pulls her closer for a kiss. “Me , too.”
    “G et a room!” I hear my favorite voice, stronger now than when it left me, booming down the hallway and my cells ignite.
    His eyes find mine and I’m done for.
    “Hi Baby,” he smiles up at me as Nurse Nancy pushes his bed back through the door of his room.
    “Hey you, how are you feeling?”
    “Are you staying?” h e asks and I nod.
    “Of course,” I answer immediately.
    “Then I feel great, my Sweetheart,” he says with a wink, causing color to sweep through my cheeks. I watch by the door as Nancy and another nurse hook him back up to the monitors surrounding the area where his bed has been replaced.
    Standing awkwardly outside the door, I glance over at Ana when she grabs my hand and squeezes it gently. She smiles affectionately at me and I can see the relief in her expression.
    “Love you, Soph,” she whispers and I can’t keep from pulling her to my chest.
    “I love you, too, Ana. Thank you.”
    “For what?” she asks as she pulls away gently, our hands still entwined between us, confusion marring her otherwise gorgeous features.
    “For being here for me always,” I tell her quietly. “I couldn’t ask for a better friend, I don’t know what I’d ever do without you.”
    “You’ll never have to find out, Honey.”
    “Y’all can head on in now if you want to. He needs to rest , but you’re welcome to stay for a little while,” Nurse Nancy addresses us as she and the other nurse exit Chase’s room. “The doctor will be by as soon as he can, probably in a couple hours.”
    “Thank you,” the three of us say in unison as we walk inside.
    I m ake my way back over to my self-appointed spot to his right. After placing a quick kiss on his lips, watch Drake approach him to his left, wrapping his arms around him carefully.
    “You scared the shit out of me!” I hear him say as Chase squeeze s my hand slightly and let it go to return the hug.
    “ Sorry, man,” Chase tells him and I can hear his voice is thick with emotion.
    “Don’t be sorry , just don’t do stupid shit like that again, man. If you weren’t already in the hospital, I’d kick your fucking ass.”
    “I know,” Chase says as Drake pulls away and reaches over to ruffle his hair.
    “Love you, Loser.”
    “I love you, too, man,” Chase chuckles.
    “You girls wanna get a room?” We hear from the doorway and when we all look over, we see Chase’s sister, Emily, coming in with a nervous but relieved smile on her face.
    She was ta ll like her brother, about five-nine, with the same bronzed skin and blue eyes. Her hair was a little darker than his, closer to the color of caramel, and hung well past her shoulders in soft waves.
    I’ve never met her , but from talking to her on Facebook about her upcoming wedding, we’d gotten pretty close before Chase and I broke up. I’d know her face anywhere.
    “Oh yeah, your parents and Emily are on their way,” Drake tells Chase with an apologetic smile as Emily makes her way to his bedside next to where Drake and Ana are standing. They step out to let her get closer and she leans over the side to hug Chase.
    “Hey , Bubba,” she says quietly into his hair.
    “Hey , Squirt,” he replies and she lets out a relieved breath.
    “You look like ass,” she says pulling away and taking him in for the first time.
    “Thanks,” he chuckles.  
    “How are you feeling?”
    “Like ass,” he laughs again and she settles on the side of the bed gently. “Are you by yourself? Where are mom and dad?”
    “Parking the car,” she says. “I ditched them and came straight up. They’ll be in any time now.”
    “I’ll go meet them and bring them up,” Drake offers and leans over to hug Emily and quickly