Page 38
As if a fire alarm pealed, the others scrambled out of the room, leaving them alone. Tori wanted to rush after them, but she’d have to go past Tobias and that was way too close for comfort.
“What the hell are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be crippled or something?” She couldn’t help but scan his body. He looked well, a bit thinner. No arm cast, only a brace, and he wore a black contraption on his left leg.
“Yeah, nice to see you, too.” He hobbled to a stool and sat. “Good thing you’re the only Italian restaurant, otherwise, your mouth would close the business down.”
She knew everyone was just outside the door listening in. “What do you want?”
“We have a lot to talk about. I’m coming over tonight. Eight.” He stood. “Oh, and you better be there.”
“Bite me. I don’t have to be anywhere.”
He walked closer, until they were her nose to his chest and glared down at her. Obviously aware the others were listening, he lowered his voice. “You can’t drop the kind of news you did and just think it’s going to stay at that. I want to see the pictures.”
Her breath escaped and Tori fought to suck in air. “I can’t…”
“Tonight.” His gaze bored into hers. “I have a right…”
“Don’t go there,” Tori hissed.
Her hands trembled with anger as he left. Immediately, Allison rushed in. “Oh my God. You look pale. What was that all about?”
“He’s such an ass,” Tori offered as reply. “I’ll see him tonight and after that, he won’t ever want to speak to me again. The damned past is in the past. Nothing can change it.”
Thankfully, an hour later, the awkwardness of the moment was gone. Jessie, a savior, shared about her husband’s latest antics and had everyone laughing. Tori refused to allow Tobias to ruin her day. She finished food prep and then treated Marco and Jessie to a cappuccino and muffin from Cuppa Joe.
Evening came toosoon. Tori made sure the lights were on and she was dressed in baggy clothes with no makeup.
She’d asked Allison to call at eight thirty sharp to give her a reason to leave and ask Tobias to do the same.
On the dining table was a small box tied with a blue ribbon. She’d not looked in it in years, but often held it. Why had she been so stupid as to tell Tobias about the baby? Even if she wasn’t on good terms with Tobias, she knew it wouldn’t be easy to see the items in the box. Considering it, she went to the kitchen and retrieved a bottle of whiskey and two small glasses.
It wasn’t quite eight when the doorbell rang.
Although she was prepared to see him, her body instantly reacted. Every inch of her being recognized him. How she hated how much Tobias affected her. His hazel gaze met hers, there was uncertainty and, for once, he didn’t utter an insult or attempt to annoy her.
Instead, he just looked past her. “Can I come in?”
“Yeah.” Tori moved back. She then walked ahead of him to the dining table. “Sit down.” She busied herself pouring the whiskey into the short glasses.
“I can’t drink. Still on drugs. No spleen.”
“Oh,” Tori said, pushing both away. “I forgot about your spleen being removed.”
“Thank you, anyway. I’ll take water though.” His voice was tentative and low. Obviously, he was hoping to be prepared to see what the box held. He glanced at it, but didn’t move to touch it.
When she returned with the glass, Tori decided it was best just to get it over with.
“I was about four months pregnant when I found out. I was scared and not sure what to do. It was too late to get an abortion, so I decided to tell you. That last night, we went out to eat and you got us a room at the hotel. Remember?”
“Yeah,” he replied, his gaze moving from her to the box. “I remember.”
Tori cleared her throat. “So anyway, when we got to the hotel, it had been so long since we’d been together that we didn’t exactly talk. I expected you to notice, but you didn’t say anything about my weight gain.”
“I thought it was because you’d gone off to college and all. I didn’t want to say anything because it didn’t matter to me.”
Tears stung and Tori closed her eyes, willing herself not to cry. She wasn’t going to cry.
“Anyway,” she continued. “You proposed and when I said yes. Just as I was going to tell you, you announced you’d joined the military and were going overseas. The moment didn’t seem right at that point.”
