Just a Little Hope Read Online Free Page B

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.
    â€œDr. 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.”
    â€œSo he did find you.”
    â€œYes. 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.
    â€œSo 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?”
    â€œWhat 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.”
    â€œIt’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.
    â€œTori… Give it up girlfriend.”
    â€œHe might have mentioned I have beautiful eyes.”
    â€œAha! 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.”
    â€œOh. 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.
    â€œWell, hey,