Make Me Over_ Getting Real - Leslie Kelly [20]
And suddenly, to his great surprise, she did. He listened to her explanation, eyes widening in disbelief. When she’d finished, his jaw stiffened and he frowned. “So you’re telling me you’re going to give up something I know damn well you want…” Her eyes flared, but she didn’t deny his words. “So you can go bail out your spoiled brother who needs to grow up and learn to solve his own problems?”
“When you put it that way, it don’t sound too smart.”
“What’s the matter with letting your father—Luther’s parent—help him get himself out of this mess?”
Seeing the quivering of Tori’s beautiful lips, he suspected what she’d say. She felt like a parent, though, if he remembered the yearly sequence right, she was only two years older than Luther.
“Never mind. I understand,” he muttered. And he meant it. Sweeping a frustrated hand through his hair, he explained, “I have a sister who’s three years younger than me, and I started feeling responsible for her by the time she was old enough to walk. Still do, really.”
There could have been a long explanation. Anyone else might have asked a million questions. About whether he’d had a father around. If he’d had a normal childhood. Why a little boy would feel responsible for his baby sister’s welfare.
Tori didn’t ask a thing. She simply…got it. A slight nod told him she completely understood. Because she’d been there herself.
“Don’t leave, Tori,” he found himself saying, his voice low and intense. “You can’t return to your old life and step back into that role because you’ll never break out of it if you don’t take your shot now.” Trying to lighten his tone, he continued. “This is just a silly show on the outside. But it’s a start. I’ll work with you on your reading, and you’ll have other teachers with you day and night. You can come out of this ready to tackle any kind of future you envision for yourself.”
She met his stare, her blue eyes shining. With the moisture from the air? Or her unshed tears? He couldn’t tell. But sensing he had the advantage, he reached out and touched her hair, brushing it off her face until he had her full attention.
“If you leave you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
Thinking of the similar choice he’d been forced to make—when his aunt and uncle had taken him and his sister into their home, demanding nothing more for their love than that he give everything he had into turning his life around—he knew he was right.
Finally, after a long, silent moment filled with expectation and uncertainty, she offered him a tentative smile.
“I’ll stay.”
B REAKFAST WAS a whole lot quieter than dinner had been the night before. Tori figured all the girls were on their best behavior, mindful of the cameras and crew. Not to mention the frowny-faced, sniffly little director guy.
She’d made it back from the greenhouse just as the rest of the girls came downstairs. Nobody seemed to have missed her, thank the Lord. Drew hadn’t come in with her, sayin’ he figured it’d be best for them not to come back together. She didn’t see what difference it made, but figured somebody might accuse him of givin’ her extra help.
He’d been givin’ her somethin’ in the greenhouse, but that was nobody else’s business.
They tried to feed ’em some fancy breakfast food, but Tori wasn’t havin’ any part of that smoked fish stuff and stuck to the fruit and rolls. While she nibbled it, she looked around the room at the other fifteen girls, wonderin’ which of them would be gone by tomorrow mornin’.
“You decided not to pick your nose?” someone whispered in her right ear.
She looked over and saw Sukie smilin’ her big smile and crackin’ her gum between her teeth.
“I think I’ll stick it out for a spell.”
“Good,” Sukie said. “’Cause I don’t want anybody else for a roommate.” She looked around the table at the other women and lowered her voice even more. “Ginny said Robin was snoring all night, loud enough to wake the dead.”
Tori snickered. “Ginny shoulda just pulled her knockers on either side’a her head to block out the noise.”
Sukie snorted