Page 58 of Toxic Hope
With a heavy heart, I drag my feet through the long corridor toward the large double doors leading into the treatment room. A nurse passes me, greeting me with a smile. I can’t even force my lips up a little. My mood is dark and gloomy as I push open the heavy door.
I glance up and freeze. Right there to the left and right of my usual chair, Easton and Preston are waiting for me. For a moment, I just stand there in shock. I can’t believe they actually showed up. Preston catches sight of me first, Easton a second later. They both stare at me like they are wondering why I’m not moving.
Sucking in a deep breath, I compose myself and walk over to them. “I didn’t think you would show,” I admit ruefully when I climb into my treatment chair.
“And leave you here all by yourself?” Preston waves me off like nothing happened. “We can’t let you get that bored.”
“Someone has to keep an eye on you,” Eason adds with a wink.
I settle in my chair just as one of the nurses comes and hooks me up to the IV. The twins are quiet as the nurse works, but as soon as she leaves, I take the quiet time to say what’s on my mind. “I’m sorry about overreacting yesterday. I should have handled the situation differently.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Easton tries to brush it off. “We overstepped, it’s none of our business…” I sense there is a but coming, but Easton decides to keep it to himself.
“Anyway… thanks for coming to sit with me,” I say awkwardly, because admitting this still feels odd. I shouldn’t like having them here so much, but dammit, I do. I was so relieved when I saw them waiting for me.
What a one-eighty my feelings toward them have made.
“Are you admitting that you like having us here?” Preston asks with a smirk.
I roll my eyes at him, but end up admitting to it still. “Yes, I like having someone keeping me company while I have to sit here.”
“And you want that company to be us?” Easton presses on, looking over at me with a boyish grin.
“Yes, I want that to be you two idiots.” I giggle.
Preston fakes an offended gasp. “Stop it with the name calling, pearls.”
“He says as he calls me a name.”
“Endearment,” he corrects me.
“I meant idiots as an endearment too,” I say with a shrug.
“Sure you did.” Easton snorts, and we all start laughing.
I’m still giggling when one of the nurses comes by to bring me a blanket. “Thank you,” I tell her as she tucks me in.
“Of course, let me know if you need anything else,” she offers with a genuine smile before heading back to the nurses’ station.
I cuddle into the blanket and let my head fall back into the cushion.
“You look cozy,” Preston says.
“They do try to make us as comfortable as possible here. It’s nice.”
“They’d better for what you are paying them,” Easton says under his breath, and I shoot him a warning look.
Not wanting to bring up my finances again, I opt for a different subject. “How is your sister doing?”
“Trying to avoid us, as always,” Easton says.
“Probably doing something she isn’t supposed to as we speak,” Preston adds.
“Oh no, why is she avoiding you?” I ask curiously.
“Because she knows she is in trouble. She is still hanging around with people who are friends with Brody. She goes to parties she has no business going to and does who knows what behind our backs,” Easton explains.
“What about your parents? Can’t they talk some sense into her?” My question seems innocent enough, but both of the guys’ mood darkens when I mention their parents.
