Teaser Tuesday from Life is a Highway

Okay, kiddies. Here's my first teaser on my new blog. How exciting! It's an inaugral post! Anyway, it's from the first part of Life is a Highway. Liam, who has a heart condition collapsed while hanging playing Rockband with the group, and he's been rushed to the hospital. The friends are waiting to get to see him after he's admitted.

At the sound of Chloe’s sobs, Aidan’s grip tightened around my hand. When I glanced up at him, his jaw was clenched. Before I could say anything to him, he bolted out of his chair. “I need some air,” he muttered, before he hightailed it across the waiting room and shot out the sliding doors into the dark night.

Christian looked helplessly at me before I headed outside. Scanning the shadowy parking lot, I didn’t see Aidan. Finally in the beam of one of the street lights, I saw him leaned face first against the corner of the building. I jogged over to him.

As I got closer, I heard the sound of his cries. His broad shoulders shook as he pummeled his fist against the concrete. “Aidan,” I whispered. He ignored me and kept hitting the wall. I gasped when blood stained the spot. I ran my hands over his back. “Aidan, please stop. You’re hurting yourself,” I cried. When he didn’t respond, I wrapped my arms around his waist and tugged with all my strength. He collapsed into me, and his weight caused me to slam into the wall. My sweater tore across the concrete, and I cringed. Aidan's arms dropped to his side, the blood on his fists smearing his jeans.

Defeated, his head drooped against my shoulder. I ran my fingers through his hair and then down his back in wide circles. “Shh, don’t cry. It’s going to be okay. Liam is going to be okay,” I said. He continued sobbing, his tears soaking through my shirt.

My mind spun as I tried to figure out how to comfort him. Finally, words began spewing out of my mouth. "Okay, just let it all out. It's going to be all right, I promise. I’m here for you, and I love you,” I whispered into his ear.

He jerked his head up to stare into my eyes. “You love me?” he questioned, in a strangled voice.

My face flushed with heat of the mistake I’d made with my words. I’d wanted to tell him I loved him for a long time, but at the moment, those feelings were the farthest from my mind. I loved him then like the aggravating older brother and best friend he’d always been.

“Well, uh, yeah, of course, I love you....and I love Liam,” I stammered.

His eyes burned into me, and my cheeks became enflamed. I wanted him to say something, anything, but he didn't. Finally, he bobbed his head. But he still kept staring at me. Grief had been replaced by a questioning look, and I felt like he was searching me for answers I wasn’t sure I had. His piercing gazed stripped me down to my bare soul, sending liquid fire scorching from my cheeks down to the pit of my stomach.

As we hovered together in the darkened corner of the parking lot, I found myself aching for him in different way than I had just minutes before. I hated myself for the feelings that coursed through me. Liam was lying in the ER, and I was having lovesick--even impure-- thoughts that about his brother. I shuddered.

But by the look on Aidan’s face, he was just as bad. His breath hovered over my cheek. “Maddie,” he whispered. He pressed himself against me, pinning me harder against the wall. His chest crushed mine as his arms encircled my waist.

His lips almost grazed mine when I heard Christian’s voice cutting through the haze. Aidan’s head jerked back, and when he stared back at me, he looked stunned at what had almost transpired between us.