Page 46 of Spar
Claire stopped mid-chew, and a large smile spread across her face. “Good morning to you, too.”
“Did you order everything on the menu?” Tori asked, eyeballing the variety of foods and deciding if it was worth getting up.
“Chris sent it. Come share before I eat myself stupid.” Claire patted the bed.
“Any more coffee?”
Claire waved the thermos in the air.
She made herself comfortable next to Claire and shoved half a cinnamon roll into her mouth as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
“What?” she mumbled with her mouth full as she caught Claire shooting her a questioning look.
Claire looked back at the TV and turned it down with a remote in hand. “Wanna talk about it?”
“When do I ever want to talk about it?”
“What happened? I feel like in the span of twelve hours, you guys went from the most annoyingly happy couple I know to the two saddest people I know.”
“The most annoyingly happy couple?” Tori asked over her coffee cup.
Claire rolled her eyes and threw a bagel at her. “Okay, fine. Elle and Ryan are the most annoyingly happy couple I know, but you guyswerehappy. A Tori-and-Chris kind of happy. You’re more subdued.” She winked as she lay back against the headboard.
Tori finished off the pastry and thought about confiding every fear and emotion rumbling inside her. No, she wasn’t ready. Especially before finishing a cup of coffee. “I don’t want to talk about me. Let’s talk about you. Tell me what really happened with Jake.”
Claire’s chipper demeanor dispelled visibly. “I think maybe we waited too long. We built it up so high that when we finally went for it, it felt awkward and forced. I expected fireworks and lightning bolts. I mean, this is Jake we’re talking about.”
Tori smiled and slumped next to her friend, resting her head on Claire’s shoulder. “Think you’ll try again?”
She felt Claire shake her head. “No. I couldn’t bear it if it was terrible a second time. With any luck we can put this behind us and be friends again.”
Claire sounded resolute, but Tori didn’t buy it.
“Besides, I think I might go back to nursing school,” she admitted softly.
Tori sat up and looked at Claire’s shy smile. “You’re serious?”
“Last night reminded me how much I love it. The adrenaline, the excitement, helping people. The blog is great, but I’m ready to go back. It’s been long enough.”
Tori squeezed Claire’s hand, hoping she really was ready. Claire didn’t often speak of family, but Tori knew it had been Claire’s parents’ death at an early age that had pushed her on the road to a career in medicine, and the death of her grandmother when she was in nursing school that had caused her to second guess that decision.
“I think that’s amazing.You’reamazing, but—”
“But?”
“It’s just — make sure you’re not using nursing school as an excuse to push Jake away. Give him a little credit. He has his own life, job, friends. All I’m saying is you can have both if you want it.”
A knock on the door had Claire seizing the opportunity to escape the hot seat.
“And you say I’m the one who avoids these types of conversations,” Tori said and smiled as Claire flung open the door.
The energy in the room changed immediately as the three of them exchanged a look. Claire silently opened the door wide to allow Chris to enter.
“I’m gonna head over to the hospital,” Claire said, grabbing her keys and giving Tori a pointed look. “Call if you need anything.”
When the door shut behind Claire, Tori got up from the bed and rifled through her overnight bag for a change of clothes. Chris had a look on his face that hinted at a serious conversation. She’d be damned if she was going to take part in any such conversation in baggy sweatpants with makeup smudged under her eyes. This man had destroyed her once. She wasn’t going to let him see her break again. No — scratch that — she wasn’t going to break. Period. She had a perfectly good life with her job, family, friends. She could live without Chris. She was almost certain.
“Sorry to barge in so early. I need to talk to you before I head back to Sweetbriar.”
