Chapter 15
Gavin arrived at the theater mid-morning the next day after opening The Bike Shop and turning it over to Jonny to run for a few hours. As he walked up the steps he smiled at the freshly painted doors and repaired marquee over the entrance. Things were really shaping up. He stepped inside to the smell of fresh paint and newly scrubbed floors. The lights were on, so he knew Tori must be here working somewhere. The subcontractor had finished his work, so it was just the last-minute things Tori was finishing up. And he was here to help with that. But after his mixed feelings last night, he figured it would be best if he just got to work. He headed over to the concession stand to hook up the new soda dispenser.
Despite being a handy person, the setup fought him at every turn. Cords and tubes tumbled in a tangled mess. The connections defied his efforts as frustration spread through him. He placed his hands on the counter, annoyed.
A scream shattered the silence of the lobby. The wrench slipped through his hands and clattered to the floor as he sped across the lobby, his footsteps ringing through the empty room. He raced into the main theater, his heart pounding.
“Tori?” he called out, his word swallowed in the vastness of the hall.
He heard a slight moan down by the stage and ran down the aisle, his heart pounding as he saw her lying on the floor. He raced over and knelt beside her. “Tori? Are you hurt?”
“No.” She moved slightly and grimaced. “At least I don’t think so.”
He ran his gaze over her, looking for blood, trying to remain calm.
“I just got the wind knocked out of me. Help me sit up,” Tori commanded.
“Absolutely not. Just stay where you are. What happened?”
“I… fell off the edge of the stage. I was kneeling at the edge and then I turned to shove that box out of the way and I… I slipped off.”
“That’s quite a fall.” He peered up at the stage, judging the distance of her fall. Five or six feet.
She started to sit up. “Ouch.”
“What? What hurts?”
“You mean besides my pride? My ankle.”
He gently ran his hands over her ankle. “We should go get this x-rayed.”
“No, look. I can move it. I just sprained it or something. I’ll be fine.” She slowly moved her foot this way and that, but he could see a hint of pain flicker in her eyes.
“I think you should get it looked at.” He was holding firm to his opinion.
“Gavin, I heard you. But I’m fine.”
He looked at her doubtfully. Why wouldn’t she just listen? She really should get checked out.
“So, are you going to help me up or do I have to just sit here for the rest of the day?”
Against his better judgment, he gently placed his hands under her arms and helped her to stand, holding her while she caught her balance. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m sure.”
“Let’s at least put some ice on it. I’ll take you back to your office, and then go run and get some ice.”
She nodded. “That’s probably a good idea. Keep the swelling down.”
“Lean on me.”
She leaned against him, and he wound his arm around her waist, supporting her, protecting her. If only he’d been here to prevent her fall.
They slowly made their way to her office, his arm still firmly around her. He helped her settle on her chair, suddenly acutely aware she was no longer in his arms.
“There. See? I’m fine.” She eyed him defiantly, but her eyes betrayed her bravado. He could tell she was in pain.
“Right.” He shook his head. “Stay there until I get back.” He headed toward the door and looked back at her. “Please?”
“Okay, okay. I’ll still be sitting here when you return.”
He walked outside, saw the sign for Coastal Coffee, and figured that was the closest place for ice. He hurried down the sidewalk. As he pushed through the door, he spied Beverly across the room and hurried over to her. “Beverly, I need some ice. Tori took a fall.”
“Is she all right?” Beverly’s eyes filled with concern.
“I told her she needed to go get checked out, but she refused. Her ankle is starting to swell, so I need ice for it.”
“Let me get you a bag of it.” Beverly hurried away and returned with a large bag full of ice. “Here. Are you going to stay with her for a while to make sure she’s okay? Did she hit her head?”
He frowned. “I don’t think so. I should have asked.” He chastised himself. “She really should go get looked at.”
“Just keep an eye on her. And I’ll send lunch over for you two. Tell her just to rest.”
“Thanks, Beverly.” He hurried out the door, thinking maybe he shouldn’t have left Tori alone. Guilt threatened to engulf him as he quickened his pace.
Annoyance crept through Tori. How could she have been so clumsy? It was foolish to be balancing that close to the edge of the stage, especially when she knew better. She’d been performing for years. How many times had she been warned not to get near the edge during her career? And when she was downstage, the edge never worried her. It was like she had an instinctive feeling for where it ended. Though, not today.
She eyed her notebook, sitting across the room on a table. She pushed up from her chair, wincing as she put her weight on her foot. Okay, maybe not such a good idea. She sank back down, thinking she probably should prop up her foot. She pulled out a file drawer and raised her leg, setting her foot on it. That would work for now.
She took a steadying breath. She had to admit, the fall had frightened her. Those split seconds when she knew she was going to fall and could feel the empty air as she struggled to save herself. She had caught herself slightly with her arm, which had helped. She raised her arm and sighed. A nasty bruise was beginning to form under her arm.
She leaned back in her chair. Thank goodness Gavin had been here to help her up. Would she have had to crawl over to one of the seats to pull herself up? He’d looked so concerned for her. But she was okay. Really. She’d just take it easy for a few days. Stay off her foot. But what lousy timing. She still had so much left to do with the grand opening quickly approaching. Dress rehearsals were coming up. The traveling troupe needed at least a few rehearsals to get used to the space. And the lighting crew needed to work with them. And the sound system still had a few kinks that needed to be worked out of it.
Determined, she rose again to go get her notebook. She had to make sure all this got scheduled properly. She could do this. She had to do this.
“Don’t even think about it.” Gavin’s voice cut across the room. “What do you think you’re doing?” His eyes flashed with aggravation and disbelief.
“Going to get my notebook.”
“I’ll get it. Sit.”
“Don’t bark orders at me.” Though she had to admit, sitting sounded preferable to walking right now.
He grabbed the notebook, set it on the desk, and motioned to the chair. She sat back down.
He looked down at her makeshift footstool. “Let me at least get something to put on top of that drawer.” He returned with a pillow from the prop room and placed it on top of the file drawer. She put her foot up, and he positioned the ice on her ankle.
After she was settled, he looked at her closely. “Hey, did you hit your head?”
“No.”
He nodded quickly, and a look of relief swept across his face. He stepped back. “Beverly said she was sending over lunch. And she said to take it easy.”
“I won’t be running a marathon any time soon. But I do have work to do.”
“Give me a list. I’ll help. I was working on hooking up the soda dispenser, but that can wait. What do you need done?”
“I have calls to make. I’ll be fine now that I have my notebook. You can go back and work on the concession stand.”
“I’m not sure I can trust you to stay off your feet.” He scowled.
“Gavin, I appreciate your help. But quit hovering. I’m fine. It’s just a little bruise or twist.” She said the words firmly but wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince Gavin or herself.
“Okay, but I’ll be back to check on you.”
“I’m sure you will.” She motioned him to scoot. He walked out of the room, still scowling.
She opened the notebook, took out her phone, and started on her list, ignoring the pain in her ankle.
Gavin came in and ate lunch with her after Beverly’s lunch was delivered. She had to practically shove him back out the door of her office when they’d finished.
By late afternoon, she had to admit, the pain was worse. Gavin poked his head in for like the hundredth time. “You doing okay?”
“I…” She sighed. “No, you’ve got me second-guessing myself. I guess we could go to urgent care and get it looked at.”
He nodded triumphantly. “Good choice. I’ll go get my car. Don’t move.”
He drove her to urgent care, and she got her ankle x-rayed. Just a sprain, like she’d thought. She was right. Gavin was wrong. The doctor wrapped her ankle, gave her crutches to use, and told her to stay off of it and elevate it.
She clumped back out into the waiting room on the crutches and Gavin looked up from reading a magazine. He sprung from his seat. “You okay?”
“A sprain. Like I said.”
He nodded. “Let’s get you home.” She wasn’t going to argue with him. Exhaustion flowed through her, and her muscles were starting to scream at her.
He drove her home, helped her up the porch steps, and stood beside her as she looked at the long set of stairs heading up to her apartment.
He took one look at the stairs and shook his head. “No way you’re doing those on crutches. I’m carrying you.”
He took her crutches, set them against the wall, and swept her up, his arms strong and steady. The warmth of his body seeped through her. She swore it warmed her to her very bones. But she resolutely ignored it.
He climbed the stairs as if her weight was nothing to him. He set her down by the door and she unlocked it. Before she could protest, he swept her up in his arms again and carried her inside, her head resting on his shoulder.
He strode over to the couch and gently set her down, then grabbed a pillow and placed it under her foot.
“I’ll go get your crutches.” He returned with them and set them near her. “Now, you need more ice. You got plastic bags or an ice pack?”
“No ice pack, but the bags are in the drawer to the left of the fridge.”
She settled against the plush pillows on her couch, reveling in their comfort, glad to finally rest. He returned with the ice bag and placed it on her ankle.
“Thank you for all your help. I do appreciate it.”
He nodded, not saying anything.
“I’ll be fine now.”
He nodded again.
“I mean… it’s okay for you to go now.” Did she have to spell it out to him?
“I’m staying.”
“Gavin, you don’t need to do that.”
“Yep, I do. I’m going to make sure you stay off that foot. And I’ll make you some dinner. You got anything to cook?”
“You don’t have to do all that. I’m fine.”
“So you said.”
“I’m not sure what I have. I haven’t made it to the grocery store yet.”
“I’ll find something.”
He headed to the kitchen, and she closed her eyes. There was really no arguing with the man. Sounds of cabinets opening and closing and a pot clanking on the stove came from across the room.
She grabbed her tablet from the table and browsed through the entertainment news. She might not be performing now, but she still liked to know who was getting what roles. She smiled in delight when she saw her niece, Chloe, had snagged a leading role in an off-Broadway show. Guilt tugged at her for the choices she’d made, but at least she hadn’t messed up anything for her niece. Which was the whole point of her choice. She wasn’t going to tank anyone else’s career with her decisions.
Gavin came back and handed her a bowl. “You’re right. You didn’t have much. But I found some pasta and bacon. Made some pasta carbonara.”
She took the bowl and tried a bite. “It’s delicious.”
“Thanks.”
He sat in a chair near her, eating a bowl of his own. The room started to darken with the evening.
The day finally took its toll, and she set the bowl on the table. She should probably keep up a nice conversation with Gavin, but exhaustion crept in. She’d just close her eyes for a moment.
When she opened her eyes again, early morning light was filtering through the window. Had she spent the whole night on the couch? She pushed herself up to a sitting position, wincing slightly as she moved her foot.
She’d had the strangest dream about Gavin. He had been standing over her, adjusting the throw around her, and pushing a lock of her hair away from her face. And she’d had the strongest feeling that he wanted to kiss her. She stretched her arms and blinked her eyes, slowly waking up, chasing away any remnants of the dream.
Her mouth dropped open when she looked across the room and saw Gavin sleeping in the most uncomfortable position ever in the chair by the window. He’d spent the night?
She reached for her crutches and cringed when one went crashing to the floor. Gavin sprung from the chair. “You okay?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. I knocked over one of the crutches.”
He nodded and scrubbed his hands over his face. “Okay, let me help you up.”
He came over, handed her the crutches, and watched her carefully as she swung through them.
“I’m going to go get cleaned up. Get ready for work.”
“You got coffee in this place?”
“I do.”
“I’ll make us some while you get ready. Then I’ll drive you to the theater. If you promise to stay off that foot.”
The way her foot was throbbing this morning, he wasn’t asking much of her. The thought of walking made her shiver. “Thank you, Gavin. You’ve done so much for me. You didn’t need to stay all night.”
“It was nothing.” He stepped back, letting her pass. She could feel his gaze on her as she headed down the hallway.
She changed and got ready—it took longer than she thought it would. Who knew how awkward it was to do every little thing when you were on crutches? She clumped back into the main room. Gavin was standing by the window, sipping coffee. She maneuvered over by him.
“Your coffee is there on the table. Why don’t you sit while you drink it?”
“It’s getting kind of late.” Wasn’t he the one always commenting if she wasn’t at the theater first thing each morning?
“We have time for coffee,” he countered.
She lowered herself onto the chair and took a sip. A few minutes wouldn’t make much difference.
Gavin leaned against the wall by the window, staring outside toward the water. A peaceful silence settled between them.
“I reconsidered, and I think you should stay home today. Stay off that foot.”
The peace was shattered. “I have work to do. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you?”
“I am. And if you haven’t noticed, I don’t like being told what to do.”
He tossed her a lazy grin. “Oh, I’ve noticed.”
She set down her cup and pushed up out of the chair. “We should go.”
They headed to the door, and he paused, eyeing her. She shook her head. “You are not carrying me down those stairs.”
“Okay, then give me one of your crutches. You hang onto the railing with one hand and use the crutch with your other. I’ll walk right in front of you to make sure you don’t fall.”
She did as he suggested and the first few steps were awkward, but she started to get the hang of it by the time she’d gone down all the steps. He drove her to the theater and followed her back to her office. He was like her constant shadow. It annoyed her…
… and comforted her.
He got her settled onto her chair, setting her crutches within reach. “You all set? I’ve got to check in at The Bike Shop. Will you be okay?”
“I’ll be fine.” How many times did she have to tell him that?
“Okay, I’ll be back to check on you. How about I bring you lunch?” He held up a hand. “And don’t even try to tell me that I don’t have to do that. Because I want to.”
“Then, thank you. I appreciate it.”
He turned and walked across the room with one last look back at her before he left.
Silence thundered around her. But she ignored it. She had work to do.