Read Online Mia's Heart (The Paradise Diaries) by Courtney Cole - Free Book Online Page A

explosion?”
    My
mother pats my hand. 
    “No,
it wasn’t your fault. But Elena seems to think that you brought that boy into
everyone’s lives.  You really should take the time to explain that you
didn’t.  That you were deceived along with everyone else.  And no,
she wasn’t seriously injured, but her cheek was scarred. And she is a beautiful
girl.  She’s taking it hard.  In fact, I believe she’s here in the
hospital right now. She’s undergoing a series of surgeries to repair the scar.”
    I
am quiet.  “I would like to talk to her and to apologize for any hand that
I had in the whole mess. But the problem is, I don’t remember any of it. 
How can I apologize for something that I don’t remember?”
    My
mom offers me a little smile.  A tight, tight smile. 
    “I
don’t know, Mia,” she sighs. “But maybe you should try talking to her and just
see what happens.  We can get her room number from the nurse.”
    I
nod and she leaves the room, presumably to talk with the nurse.  I
continue looking through my phone.  I have hundreds of pictures. 
Reece and I are in many of them.  We’re on a boat, we’re by the beach,
we’re in a bedroom.  In one, we’re dressed in green matching shirts,
presumably from work.  Gavin told me that I work for Dante’s father. 
It looks like we are great friends.
    There
are pictures of Gavin.  There are pictures of Gavin and I together. 
And there are pictures of us with another boy.  A really, really handsome
blonde boy who has to be Dante.
    Dante
Giliberti.
    I
look at the handsome face smiling at me from my phone and I wonder how I could
possibly not remember him.  He’s movie star handsome.  I should
remember him.  But I don’t. 
    I
scroll through the other faces in the pictures and I don’t remember any of
them, either. Charming Reece Ellis. Cocky Gavin Ariastasis.  Gorgeous
Dante Giliberti.  I should know them.  I should have their faces
memorized. 
    But
I don’t.
    And
it is oh-so-frustrating.
    I
am practically growling when my mom returns. 
    “Room
402,” she tells me.  “Elena’s on the fourth floor.  She’s here only
for today and then she’ll be gone. So you should go see her now while you have
the chance.”
    I
am hesitant, but my mom is insistent.
    “Mia,”
she says patiently.  “You have known Elena since you were children. You
shouldn’t let a misunderstanding like this ruin things.  Just go and speak
with her.  I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
    I
am still unsure, but I go anyway.  How can I not?  I have to make
sense out of my life somehow.  I should begin by piecing it back
together. 
    I
creep out into the hall and take a big mouthful of the medicinal hospital
smell.  It smells like iodine and alcohol and plastic.  I hate
it.  But I timidly make my way through the bustling corridors and sterile
halls until I find myself standing in front of room 402. 
    I
stand there for a few minutes, trying to get my courage up. 
    You
can do this.
    You
can do this.
    You
can effing do this .
    My
hand shakes and I silently cuss myself out.  Listen, you.  I don’t
know who you used to be.  But I know that you are not such a wuss. 
You are a badass.  Buck the eff up.  
    I
knock lightly and there is no answer.  I knock harder.
    “Come
in,” an annoyed voice calls.   I swallow hard and stick my shoulders
back.  I don’t know who I used to be, but I don’t like feeling intimidated
by anyone now.  My chin juts out and I push the door open.
    A
beautiful girl lies in the bed, covered up to her waist by blankets. 
She’s got hair the deepest shade of red that flows in soft waves over her
shoulders.  Her eyes are emerald green and narrowed as she looks at
me.  And there is a bandage on her cheekbone, marring what would otherwise
be a perfect face.  She’s breathtakingly beautiful. And she looks like she
hates me. 
    I
gulp.
    “Elena?” 
I ask, although I’m sure it is.  Who else could it