Final Destination III Read Free Page B

was a good excuse (although not exactly true), I could only keep that up for the rest of the workweek and would have to come up with another one to avoid seeing him over the weekend.
    My mind raced. Finally, I knew what to say. “I’m seeing someone else,” I mumbled. While I appeared calm on the outside, inside I was aching. Falling apart.
    Ari’s eyes grew steely. He said nothing, but his expression begged for information.
    “It’s someone at work. We’ve been seeing each other for a while, but decided to cool it for a bit. You know, to see if we really wanted to be a couple.”
    Ari listened silently and intensely, not blinking an eye.
    “I’ve missed him so much.” Oh God, was this hard!
    Ari’s eyes narrowed. “So, I see, Saarah. I’ve been a Band-Aid.”
    I felt sick-to-my-stomach terrible. “He told me today he wants me back.”
    Silence.
    “I’m going to move in with him.”
    Silence.
    “Ari, I hope you understand.”
    “I understand.” His voice was devoid of emotion.
    I forced a half-smile that said thanks. Inside, my heart was bleeding tears. After tonight, I would never see my gorgeous stranger on a train—or his son Ben—again.
    I might have burst into real tears once more had not a doctor walked up to us. I jumped up from my chair, my heart hammering.
    The doctor lifted his horn-rim glasses on top of his balding head and wiped sweat from his brow. Oh, God. Wasn’t this what they did on TV shows when the doctor was going to break the bad news that the patient had died?
    “Ms. Greene… Mr. Golden…”
    My heart beat so hard against my chest I thought it would leap out. Ari squeezed my ice-cold hand, a kind gesture I didn’t deserve.
    “I have good news for you. Ms. Hoffmeier will be fine. Fortunately, she did not ingest enough aspirin to cause any permanent liver or kidney damage. We’re going to keep her here a couple of days for observation.”
    I breathed a loud sigh of relief. Thank goodness!
    “Can I see her?” I asked.
    “Yes. She’s awake now and asked to see you.”
    I turned to Ari. He jerked his chin, signaling me to follow the doctor. “I’ll wait for you here.” His frosty voice sent a chill down my spine.
    Lauren’s room was a far cry from my mother’s sterile, shoebox-size hospital room. It was a suite with bleached hardwood floors, sleek white leather furnishings, and pale gray silk drapes. A floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the sparkling city. Lauren, in a hospital bed, was propped up on plump pillows and covered with a luxurious white duvet. An IV was attached to her arm. She looked pale and tired. I planted a kiss on her forehead and plunked down in the armchair next to her bed.
    “Hi,” she said weakly.
    “Hi.” This was awkward.
    “Thanks for being there for me. The doctor said I’m going to be okay.”
    “I’m glad. But you’ve got to get some help when you get out of here. Promise?”
    “Promise.” She asked me to pass her the water that was on her nightstand. She took a sip through the straw. “How did I get here?”
    “Ari drove you here. You don’t have to worry about your parents finding out. He’s got it all covered.”
    A faint smile crossed her lips. “He’s a great guy. Have you slept with him yet?”
    Only Lauren would have sex on her brain right after a suicide attempt. I nodded, my heart aching inside. In reality, we had never actually slept together nor would we ever.
    My BFF’s face brightened. “Sarah, don’t let him go.”
    Her words made my stomach churn. “Well, you’d better get some rest. I’ll check in on you tomorrow.”
    Lauren closed her eyes, and I tiptoed out of the room. Oh, how love could hurt!
    In the waiting room, Ari was on his cell phone. When he heard my footsteps, he ended the call and gazed up at me. Concern was written all over his face.
    “How is she?”
    “She’ll be fine.”
    “I’m glad to hear that.”
    An awful, anxious feeling consumed me. Longing. I desperately wanted to be in his