Waiting on You

Chapter 31

"Slow down there speed racer," Tucker grabs my waist and pulls me towards him, as if I weigh nothing.

"I want to get out of this stupid hospital," I hiss at him, pushing forward.

I had finally changed out of my dreadful hospital gown and was on my way out the door. I was finally free. Except for the fact that I was covered in casts.

He chuckles. "I know you do, but if you don't slow down you're gonna break yourself even more."

The thought makes me slow down. If I broke anything else, I would look like a giant marshmallow for the rest of my life. "Okay," I sigh.

He puts his hands on my hips and walks behind me on our way to his car. "Ready to go?" He asks, pulling his keys out of the pocket of his jeans.

I nod, even though I don't know if I am ready to get back into a car.

Tucker traces my nervous gaze and gives me a small, sympathetic smile. "You don't have anything to be nervous about, Ror. I promise."

He lets go of me and I suddenly feel cold. He walks over to the driver door and opens it, putting the keys in the ignition, warming up the car.

When Tucker comes back over, he grabs my hand and leads me into the passengers seat. He buckles me in and then jogs back over to the drivers seat.

"Okay, I think we're ready to go," Tucker pulls out of the hospital parking lot slowly.

I clutch my seat, trying my best not to make fingernail marks in the cold leather.

Snow had gathered on the hood of Tucker's car, reminding me of how long Tucker had stayed, just sitting next to me. I look over at him and smile to myself.

The day was dismal and gray, the clouds looking about ready to explode with snow, but holding back, completely stubborn. I look up at the sky longingly.

"You hungry?" Tucker asks, and soon I realize we are pulling into the diner. It looks so familiar, and safe, that I want to cry.

"Definitely," I reply. "A girl can only live off of hospital food for so long."

Tucker laughs and hops out of the drivers seat. "True." A cold gust of wind makes its way into the car, bringing old snow along with it.

"Let's go," he supposes me by opening my door. He is offering his hand to me.

I take it, stepping out of his truck, landing on the cold snow. Tucker locks the car behind him and we walk towards the diner, not taking his eyes off of me.

The diner is decorated for Christmas and I shiver with excitement. I had completely forgotten that Christmas Eve was tonight.

"Honey!" Cherry greets us at the door, a plate of shepherd pie in one hand and a concern on her face. "What happened to you? Did you get attacked by wolves."

I laugh. "No, it had that effect on me, though."

She smiles sympathetically at me. "Well you guys go sit in a booth and I'll bring you some hot cocoas- on the house."

"Thanks, we'd really appreciate it," Tucker says, leading me towards our booth.

We walk past all of the other booths, listening to the peoples happy chatter. They all stare at me, but I don't this time. All I care about is this diner, Tucker, and Christmas to come.

"Aurora," the strain in his familiar voice makes my skin crawl, my chest tighten.

Tucker and I look behind us and I gasp when I see the person attached to the voice sliding out a booth. He walks over to us, but is careful to keep his distance.