Read Just a Little Hope Online
Authors: Amy J. Norris
Just a Little Hope (3 page)
Watching her friend laugh at the seemingly innocent behavior of the young man, Tori shook her head. “Our laughter might have driven him in there. Well, that,“ she pointed at Pax, “and I think her pain meds might have just kicked in. Instead of becoming drowsy, things seem to be becoming more and more hilarious in her world.”
Pax emitted a loud snort that set Seb and Tori laughing until they cried.
The bathroom door swung open.
“What's so funny? Wait⦠What are you doing here?”
Startled, Tori looked up. No! Blue eyes twinkled at her.
“You again?”
****
Carter shook his head. It seemed the same girl showed up everywhere he went these days. Not that he minded. She was a cute little thing with her fiery red hair. And the way her green eyes flashed, he couldn't help but sense an immediate attraction spike through his body.
“Okay. You are without a doubt stalking me.”
Carter's eyes grew round. “Me stalking you? I believe I was here first. Much like the parking garage and the car dealership. You've got a totally warped way of thinking, Jessica.”
He chuckled to himself when she narrowed her eyes at the use of the nickname. He pushed her a bit further. “So, what are you doing here? You need some help getting more papers out from under cars or perhaps my bumper needs another dent?”
Pax's voice interrupted their staring contest. “Wait? What? What is he talking about? Have you two met each other? And why is he calling you Jessica?”
Carter didn't move but kept his eyes on Tori, watching for her reaction.
Tori held his gaze for another moment and then cut her eyes over to the bed toward Pax and Seb. “Remember when I brought you the papers the other day and they were a little worse for wear because they scattered all over the parking garage and someone helped me get them?”
“Yes. You mentioned a Mr. Blue Eyes saved the day.”
At this, Carter swung his head around to Pax. “Mr. Blue Eyes, you say?” His question caused the redhead to squirm and only made him want to see how far he could take this little competition. “Yes,
Jessica
. Tell them about Mr. Blue Eyes. I'd like to hear about him myself.”
A smile tugged at his lips when Tori's cheeks flamed to the same color as her hair.
Her emerald eyes continued to pierce his in an apparent refusal to speak.
Okay. A standoff? No problem
.
“Carter, I think she's not gonna admit anything to you.”
Carter's shoulders started to shake as he tried to control his laughter. Turning toward Seb, he pointed a thumb in Tori's direction. “I didn't know she referred to the person who helped her out as Mr. Blue Eyes. But if that's the case, I know him well. Quite well, actually. Jessica is evidently someone we know who might sacrifice comfort for fashion a little too much.”
Tori stomped her foot on the floor and muttered under her breath.
Seb leaned over in Tori's direction. “What? I don't think we heard you?”
Carter loved the fact Sebastian wanted to play along. He chuckled when Tori spun abruptly in Seb's direction, quaking in apparent frustration.
“Okay. Yes. Thisâ¦man is the one who retrieved an elusive paper for me in the parking garage the other day. He's also the one whose car I might have grazed at the dealership this morning. Therefore, he is Mr. Blue Eyes. Are you happy?”
Tori's face reddened more than her hair. Though Carter registered an inkling of sympathy for her plight, he still couldn't refrain from joining in when Pax and Seb started laughing.
“Oh sure. Laugh at me. Laugh it up! Why is it these things happen to me?”
To his surprise, she swiveled on her pretty pink high heels and stomped out of the room.
Their laughter died down, and Pax looked at Seb. “Oh my! I better try and talk to her. Help me down off the bed. There's got to be a wheelchair around here somewhere.”
“Hey there. No way, sweetheart. You are in no condition to be running or wheeling after her right now. She'll cool off. She's just embarrassed. Let me go talk to her.”
Carter reached out and pressed his hand to Seb's shoulder. “Wait. I'll go talk to her. I knew I could push her buttons. Perhaps I took it a little too far.”
“Are you sure? I bet she'll calm down in a few minutes.”
“Nah. I don't mind. I should try and show her I'm not a complete jerk.” Carter slipped out the door, and as he started down the hall, he thought he saw a flash of pink turn the corner at the end of the corridor.
His running shoes made soft squeaks on the tile floor as he jogged in the direction of Tori's escape route. Carter saw a small waiting room to his left. A few hard plastic chairs occupied the small space, and a TV played some kind of children's show at a low volume. In the far corner of the room, Tori sat in a chair, legs crossed. The toe of her foot tapped in fury on the tile beneath her.
Carter didn't say a word but chose to sit in the aqua colored plastic chair to her right. The only acknowledgement of his presence was the slight tilt of her head in the opposite direction.
They remained still for a couple of minutes. Carter kept hoping she might finally break down and say something, but when it became apparent she wouldn't, he took a deep breath.
“Look, Tori. I'm sorry for embarrassing you back there. I reckon when you started getting all riled up and those beautiful green eyes were flashing back at me,” he shrugged and gave her his best smile, “I couldn't hold back on seeing how far I could push you. I didn't mean to make you so mad.”
She sat still without speaking. Carter started to fear he'd upset her more than he realized. He tried to think of something else to say.
She whirled to face him. “What did you say about my eyes?”
“Ahhh, they were flashing at me?”
“No. Before that.”
“Oh.” He remembered then and he felt heat creep up his face. “I said they were beautiful.”
“That's what I thought.” She turned back to the wall in front of her, and her voice drifted over the drone of the TV, a faintly whispered, “Thank you.”
In an instant, she leaned over and nudged him with her elbow. “You're forgiven. For now.” Then Tori stood and left the room, the rapping of her heels echoing down the hall.
“Everything okay, Tor?”
Tori glanced at her best friend before sliding into the chair beside the bed. “Yes. It's fine.”
“Look, I'm sorry for egging Carter on. I knew you were embarrassedâ”
“It's okay, Seb. Really. Just forget it.” Tori closed her eyes and took a deep breath before looking around. “Has anyone official been by to give you permission to blow this taco stand?”
“Nope. We're just waiting, patiently. At least, one of us is.”
“I'm just so anxious to get home. I've had enough poking and prodding to last me a lifetime.”
Seb rub his hand up and down Pax's arm. “Well, don't think more poking and prodding isn't coming when you get home. Believe me, I know the torture â I mean joy â ahead with the physical therapy.”
“Don't remind me, Sebastian.”
A light tapping on the door interrupted them, and a nurse stuck her head in the room. “Pax? I think we've got you all squared away. You ready?”
Tori thumbed in Pax's direction. “I think ready might be far too loose of a term to describe my BFF right now.” Seb nodded his head frantically out of Pax's line of sight. Tori covered her mouth with her hand to keep a snicker of laughter from escaping.
The nurse pushed a wheelchair in the room, one hand grasping the handle and some folded papers. “Here's your release forms all ready for your autograph, and then we'll head down stairs. I left my pen at the nurses' station. Hang on.”
“No, wait. Tori, find a pen in that monstrosity you call a purse.”
Tori snatched up her handbag and rifled through it until she finally laid hands on a pen buried at the bottom under receipts, sunglasses, and her wallet. Grabbing one of the receipts, she scribbled on the paper to make sure the pen still worked and handed it off to Pax.
As the nurse pointed out each place to sign, Pax wrote her name and the date. She flipped the pen back to Tori.
“Dr. Kohler wants to see you back in one week, so be sure and get the appointment on your calendar once you get home and settled.” The nurse glanced around the room. “I'll grab a cart to put all your plants and flowers on. Let me track one down, and I'll be right back.”
Seb and Tori helped Pax into the wheelchair. Seb walked to the door and looked down the hallway. “I guess Carter decided to leave.”
Tori sat down on the bed and played with a thread hanging from the hospital blanket. “Um, I left him in a waiting room down the hall.”
“So he did find you.”
“Yes. He did. And I forgave him.” Tori continued to wind and unwind the thread around her finger. She guessed she'd forgiven him. He'd gotten under her skin. And she wasn't sure it was such a bad thing.
“So you all are okay now.”
Her heart pitter-pattered in a way she didn't expect at the thought of his compliments. “Yes. We are.”
Pax reached over and placed a hand on Tori's arm. “Why are you turning red?”
“What are you talking about Pax?”
Seb snickered. “She's right, Tori. Your cheeks are getting all pink. What happened when Carter found you?”
She released the thread and stood up. “Nothing. He apologized. After a few minutes, I decided to forgive him.”
“It's embarrassing because⦔
Tori refused to look them in the eyes. Carter'd said something nice and she acknowledged it. That was it. It meant nothing. Except it meant everything and she knew it.
“Tori⦠Give it up girlfriend.”
“He might have mentioned I have beautiful eyes.”
“Aha! Now it's become clearer. You, my dear, have quite a crush on Carter.”
Heat continued to fill her face. “You don't know what you're talking about, Seb.”
“Oh. I think I do.”
Tori breathed a sigh of relief when the nurse entered the room pushing a cart. Hurrying toward her, Tori patted the nurse on the back. “Let me take that for you.” She grabbed the cart and began filling it with the cards and flowers, which had accumulated in the room over the past several days.
Anxious to get away from their interrogation, Tori concentrated on pushing the cart down the hall.
Navigating this thing is as precarious as a unicycle.
The wobbling wheels refused to move in the direction she desired, and she gritted her teeth while manhandling the obstinate object.
They stopped for a few seconds until the
ping
announced the elevator's arrival. Seb, carrying Tori's overnight bag, and the nurse pushing Pax stepped inside. Tori started to push the cart into the elevator when Pax looked in her direction. “I just remembered something. Did I hear Carter correctly? Did he say you ran into his car this morning?”
Tori closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them, raising her eyebrows. “Well, looky there. I don't think we'll all fit in the elevator at the same time. You go ahead and I'll wait on the next one. And you know, I'll just put this stuff in my car and drop it by Seb's place later. See ya'!”
As Pax protested, Tori stepped back into the hallway and waved at them as the elevator doors closed.
****
The chirping of grasshoppers in Sebastian's wooded property filled Carter's ears as evening approached. He locked his gaze on the welcome mat mentally tracing each letter on the mat before raising his eyes to meet Sebastian's face when he answered the door.
“Well, hey, man. We didn't know what happened to you.”
Carter glanced to the side before returning his eyes to Seb. “I hope I'm not disturbing you. Did Pax get settled okay?”
“Yep. She's actually taking a nap, so come on in.”
Carter paused at the entrance to Sebastian's home. “Is Tori coming over? I think we parted on okay terms, but I don't want to create a scene or anything.”
Seb's raised eyebrows didn't escape Carter's attention. “Nah. She called and said she'd come over tomorrow, I think. And don't worry about Tori. She's gets riled up but then calms down after a little bit.” Seb swung open the door and stepped back into the foyer. “So, you coming in?”
“Yeah. I guess.”
Seb bumped him with his shoulder. “Well, don't be so excited about it.” Carter smiled in response and entered, closing the door behind him.
Seb led the way through the back of house, pausing when Pax's mother, Janet, came out of the master bedroom.
“She still sleeping?”
“Yes, thank goodness. The trip home wore her out more than she thought. I suspect we won't hear a peep out of her for a long time.” Her glance shifted in Carter's direction. “How are you doing today, Carter?”
“I'm fine, Mrs. Taylor. Glad to hear Pax is home safe and sound.”
“We are, too. I think I'm going to take advantage of the quiet while I have it and grab a cup of coffee and call Pax's father. I'll be in my room if you need me, Seb.”
“Enjoy yourself, Janet. And thanks for everything.”
“No, Seb. Thank you. I don't know what we'd have done if you hadn't offered to let Pax stay here.”
Seb shook his head. “It's my pleasure.” He nodded in Carter's direction. “We'll be out on the deck. Call if you need anything.”
“You want something to drink or eat? I'm not sure what I've got but we can snoop around and see.”
Carter shrugged his shoulders. “Only if you're getting something.”
Seb detoured toward the kitchen. “I think I could eat. Let's see what we can find in the cabinets.” He opened up the pantry and stuck his head in, mumbling something.
Carter stepped closer. “What did you say?”
“It looks like I can make you a mean PB and J. Okay.”
Carter laughed. “Sure. Sounds pretty good.”
“Then make yourself useful, and pull some jelly out of the fridge. While in you're in there, might as well grab the milk. Some things just go together.”
“You bet.” Carter rummaged around in the refrigerator and found two kinds of jelly and a gallon of milk while Seb retrieved the peanut butter and bread from the pantry. Carter set his items on the counter and noticed Seb giving him a look.
“What?”
“I think that's the question I should be asking you. You wanna tell me what brings you over here tonight?”
“Who says something brought me over? Can't a guy just come and hang out with a buddy?”
Seb leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “The team actually has an off day, and you spent yours at the hospital and now over here. Spill it, Carter.”
“I, uh, actually came to talk to you about Tori.”
“Now we're getting to the root of the matter. What do you want to know?”
Carter played with the twist-tie Seb'd removed from the loaf of bread. “Is she⦠uh, seeing anybody?”
“I don't think so. But you could ask her yourself, you know.”
Carter swallowed hard. That's what he figured Seb would say. “I know. I just don't wanna get myself all geared up for nothing.”
“Do you want to ask her out?” At Carter's nod Seb continued, “Then like I said bro, ask her yourself. All she can do is say no. I promise it won't be the end of the world if she does.”
Carter pulled out a bar stool and sat down. Just thinking about asking Tori out made his palms sweat. He felt like a kid in high school. How crazy was that? He was a major league baseball player for crying out loud. Shouldn't that make a difference?
“Is that how you felt when you asked Pax out the first time?”
Seb's face lit up. “I was nervous. Probably more so than I had been in a long time, but it was worth it. Relationships are risks. You gotta jump in with both feet. Just have a little hope.”
A weight lifted from Carter's shoulders. “I reckon. She's a feisty little thing, and I think she might be quite a challenge.” He couldn't remember the last time he had wanted to get know someone as much as he did Tori. Something about her smile and playful attitude made him feel more alive than he had in a long time.
“Which is exactly why you are attracted to her. You aren't where you are today because you're afraid of a challenge, right?”
Carter stared off in the distance, his thoughts straying to a time long before when he was no older than seven or eight. Shaking his head he replied, “Nope. I've never backed down from one before. I guess I shouldn't start now.”
“Good plan. Let's get these sandwiches made and head outside. We need to enjoy this crazy non-July-like weather while we can.”