Page 44 of Spar
“He’s gonna be okay,” Chris said, taking a seat next to her.
Tori nodded and sat back down.
“Okay, I got two rooms at the hotel next door,” Claire said as she hustled into the waiting room with a large plastic bag in her hands. “Let’s get out of here.”
Tori took hertime in the bathroom, wiping her face bare and thinking over the night. Chris had come to Carroll to fight Louis. He hadn’t said it exactly, but he’d told them he’d found Travis after his fight was over. Why hadn’t he told her he was coming to Carroll to fight? It bothered her more than she wanted to admit. He’d asked her opinion and pretended it mattered. She’d been feeling bad about leaving him in Sweetbriar for a night out with Claire. Ha!
“Tori?” Claire’s voice came from the other side of the bathroom door. “I’m gonna head back to the hospital and sit with Travis. My nurse-friend said it was okay as long as I didn’t get in the way.”
Tori listened and nodded at her reflection in the mirror.
“Tori?” Claire asked, knocking on the door.
“I’m here. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She waited until she heard the click of the door signaling Claire’s departure then opened the bathroom, ready to collapse into bed. Her head ached with unanswered questions.
Long denim-clad legs caught her attention. Her eyes snapped to the bed where Chris sat. His legs dangled over the edge of the bed, and his torso was bare, revealing the bruising he’d gotten tonight.
“What are you doing in here?” she asked more harshly than she intended.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to talk.”
“How did you get in?”
Chris pointed toward the adjoining door that led to his room.
“Oh” was all she managed.
“Sit, please. I need to explain.”
Tori waved her hands in front of her face. “There’s no need.”
“Are we back here again?”
Tori shot him a look, wondering why she’d ever imagined things could be easy between them.
“Just let me explain. Please?” He patted the bed next to him.
Tori moved the bag Claire had brought back from the hospital, glancing inside to find a variety of first-aid items, and sat at the end of the bed, keeping some distance between them.
Chris’ voice was low and apologetic, nothing like his usual teasing, argumentative tone. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was coming to Carroll tonight.”
“You think I’m mad because you didn’t tell me you were going to be in Carroll?”
“No. I know why you’re mad. I wanted to surprise you after the fight, but then everything happened.”
Tori kept her eyes focused on the bag and began pulling each item out. Bandages, antiseptic, ice pack, Tylenol — Claire had thought of everything Chris might need. “I was definitely surprised.”
She looked up to find his face sad and searching. She took a deep breath and told herself this was not the time or place. “Here, let’s get you fixed up.” Tori tore open the antiseptic wipes and dabbed at a cut on the side of his face. “Does it hurt?”
He laid a hand on top of her free hand that rested on the bed. “Yes.”
It wasn’t clear if they were still talking about the cut or the turmoil between them, but she didn’t push. She placed a bandage on the cut and moved to his torso. She ran a hand lightly down his chest and over the bruising that was turning a purplish color.
His hand moved to caress her face, and she closed her eyes and leaned in to it. He kissed her softly and slowly apologized with each gentle touch.
She kept her eyes closed and let him take control, laying her back on the bed and covering her with his body. The anger and frustration she felt for his betrayal gave way to an urgency deep within her. She needed him. Every screwed-up part of him was meant for her. Her anger had always been a buffer to her heart. If she hated him, then his actions couldn’t hurt her. Only they had, and they always would.
