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Chapter Eleven
Tori tiptoed into Tobias’ hospital room. He was asleep, his face turned toward the door. His left arm was across his midsection, tubes connected to it. The other arm was in a cast from the elbow down to his hand.
Thankfully, he seemed pain free, his expression relaxed. There was a beeping sound from a monitor and his brow marred with a slight frown, but then it smoothed out.
Mrs. Hamilton had asked that Tori keep an eye out while she went home to shower and change. Everyone else had gone home this day.
The doctors expected Tobias to remain in the hospital another few days. At first, after surgery, he’d been in intensive care for three days. Once he’d been moved from ICU to a regular room, he’d made remarkable progress.
There was a cast on his left leg from lower thigh to foot and it was elevated. His hospital gown didn’t cover everything, so part of his bottom was exposed. She neared and tucked the blankets around him to hopefully provide warmth and modesty.
Tori allowed her gaze to roam across his broad chest as she searched for signs he was breathing normally.
“What are you staring at?” he mumbled groggily. “Trying to figure out where you can stab me and make it look like an accident?”
“It would be easier to smother you with a pillow,” she replied with a smile. “Or I could always inject something into this.” Tori pointed at the bag that was dripping into his vein.
Tobias’ brow crinkled. “Where’s Mom?”
“She went to shower and change. You’re stuck with me until she gets back. Are you in pain? I can call a nurse.”
He shook his head. “I hurt everywhere. They’ll bring me a shot of something in a bit.” It was endearing when he frowned and looked at the IV bag. “I do need a drink.”
Tori went to the nurses station and asked for juice. The nurse on duty, a pretty Latina, gave her a wide smile. “Your boyfriend is very handsome. He’s a good patient.”
She didn’t bother correcting the nurse, too surprised to find out he’d not given the nurses any grief. Then again, they were probably bending over backward for the handsome guy.
“I’m surprised to hear that. He’s normally a pain in the butt.”
The nurse laughed. “I’ll bring him juice and a snack in a moment.”
His eyes were closed when she returned, so Tori went to the window. It would be at least two hours before Mrs. Hamilton returned. There was a half-read book in her tote she planned to pull out and read but, at the moment, she felt too restless.
“I have an itch.” Tobias said. “Right above my leg cast.”
Tori came around the bed and lifted the blanket, doing her best to avoid lifting his gown. “Here?”
She scratched gently at the skin above the cast.
“Yeah.” He closed his eyes with a pained expression. “Can you reach a bit around the back? Don’t touch my ass. I know how you like my butt.”
“Shut up.” She did as he requested and stopped when he let out a sigh. “This is not going to be good. How the hell am I supposed to work?”
“Your Mom said she’s taking you to her house. She and your fiancée will be closer to help out there.”
He frowned. “Yeah, I don’t think so.”
“Oh, yes, you will,” Tori said with one hand on her hip.
The nurse walked in. “Lover’s spat?” She smiled at Tobias who grinned back.
Tori rolled her eyes and moved away as the nurse set up Tobias’ lunch and juice on a rolling tray. She then checked his vitals and put a small cup with pills on the tray. “Take the medication with your juice, please.”
He did as she instructed. She then rearranged his tubing so that it wouldn’t tug and left.
“Why can’t all women be as nice as Lydia?” Tobias said, looking to the door.
“It’s her job to be nice to you,” Tori said. “Plus, she doesn’t know you.”
