Make Me Over_ Getting Real - Leslie Kelly [63]
Tori trusted Drew completely. He was much too decent a guy to sleep with her Sunday night then do anything with Ginny today. Still, Ginny had to know her chances were slipping away. And desperate women…“What if she strips naked and puts those hooters of hers right in his face?”
“Then he’ll suffocate,” Sukie quipped. “But he won’t touch ’em.”
That made her feel better. She gave Sukie a smile, watching her move from leg-lifts to sit-ups.
They both watched the clock. For some reason, Sukie was now as anxious as Tori to see what would happen. She suspected Sukie had figured out something had gone on between her and Drew the other night at the party. Tori sure hadn’t told her anything, but she wouldn’t put it past her new friend to do some condom counting. Ever since then, Sukie had been practically bouncing in excitement, saying she was certain Tori was going to waltz out of here a millionaire.
Tori hadn’t had the heart to burst her bubble. Because waltzing out of here a millionaire was the last thing she wanted to do. Oh, sure, the money would be nice. Nice, hell, it would be fabulous. But whoever the old guy was who’d said money couldn’t buy happiness had been on to something. Because money couldn’t buy Drew. And Drew, she truly believed, was the key to her future happiness.
It was like that Lady and the Tiger story they’d been reading in the literature and grammar lessons with Mr. Halloway. She didn’t have to choose a door, but rather a path for her future. And whichever way she chose, she was taking a big risk.
“Here she comes,” Sukie hissed. They both heard someone stomping down the corridor outside their room. Leaping out of the bed, Sukie dashed to the door and pulled it open to peek out. “It’s Ginny all right. Ooh, she looks mad. She’s slamming—”
She didn’t have to finish her sentence. Tori heard the door to the next bedroom slam shut.
“Whew,” she whispered. Obviously things hadn’t gone however Ginny had wanted them to.
“Now it’s your turn,” Sukie said. “You ready?”
Tori nodded, looking down at her thickly corded slacks, her bulky sweater and the long black coat Evelyn had produced for her. “I’ve never been on a sleigh ride. Shew, I’ve hardly ever seen snow before this trip.”
“You’ll love it. The only trouble is you can’t get naked and do the nasty out in the snow in this weather. Something’s liable to freeze off.”
Sukie’s sassy good humor hadn’t changed a bit from the day they’d arrived, and Tori had never been more glad of it. Though she’d never reached out to hug another woman who wasn’t kin, she couldn’t help grabbing Sukie and yanking her close. Sukie grunted, then threw her arms around Tori’s shoulders, hugging her back. “Have fun.”
“I will.”
“Oh, wait,” Sukie said, letting go to dash over to her dresser. She drew out a pair of thick gloves. “You said you didn’t have any.” She held them out, and watched as Tori put them on.
“You’re a very nice person,” Tori whispered. “I’m going to miss you when this is over.”
“They have airports in Tennessee?”
Tori nodded.
“Then you’ll be seeing me.”
With a little wave, Tori left the room and went downstairs to meet Drew for their sleigh ride. He was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs again. But this time, he looked more like the abominable snowman than Rhett Butler.
“You in there?” she asked, seeing only his face beneath the hat and behind the scarf.
“It’s cold as hell out there,” he said, taking her arm as she reached the bottom of the steps.
“Hell’s hot, from what I hear.”
“Okay, it’s cold as…as…”
“As a well-digger’s butt in January,” Tori declared, the old southern expression coming easily to her lips.
“That works.”
Taking her gloved hand in his, he led her outside. In front of the house, an old-fashioned looking sleigh waited. Tori’d never seen one, except in movies, and she smiled, thinking how perfect it was for this time of year. Christmas was this Saturday, and she was finally beginning to feel the spirit of the season. “I feel like one of Santa’s helpers.”
“Only with horses instead of reindeer.