Page 112 of Torn

“I know you have mirrors in your house, Tor. You’re not fat and bald for God’s sake. You look great. Your body is like a damn Greek god. And you’ve still got that rock star look going on with the hair and tattoos. So no, you don’t look old.” She pauses to sip her coffee. “Don’t even get me started on Kenzi. That girl is gorgeous. And she doesn’t even have to try. It’s so unfair. She doesn’t look or act eighteen, so I think once again, you’re okay if you’re worried about visual appearances.”

“That makes me feel better.”

“What about conversation? Do you have things to talk about? Things in common? She hasn’t turned into a babbling idiot, right?”

I laugh. “Definitely not. That’s not a problem for us at all. We’ve always had great conversations.”

“How about sex? Have you slept with her?”

Memories of Kenzi on top of me last night and holding her in my arms for hours afterward float through my mind. “Yesterday was the first time we ever slept together. It was amazing.”

She sighs. “I’m glad to hear you waited till she was eighteen.”

“I’m not an asshole, Tesla. I do have some morals left.”

“Were you her first?”

“Yes.”

She gapes at me again. “Wow. Talk about setting the bar. My first guy was a scrawny sixteen-year-old who barely knew where to stick it. She’s going to compare every guy in her life to you. That’s going to be a tough act to follow.”

“Don’t even say that.”

“If you guysdosomehow make this work, it’s wicked romantic. For you to be her first and only for her entire life? That’s just crazy awesome. And the fact that you’d wait for her to grow up to marry her? It’s like an epic fairy tale.” She stares off across the room with a giddy smile on her face. “It’s like every little girl’s dream. To find the prince.”

“I’m not sure I’m much of a prince.”

Smiling, she says, “In her eyes, you are.”

“So if we were together, you’d be okay with it?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? I want you to be happy, and I like Kenzi. I hate that bitch Sydni and Lisa is just stuck up.”

“She’s not stuck up. You just have to get to know her.”

“I’ll pass. Are you still dating her, too?”

“Hell no. I’m not seeing anyone else at all. I haven’t even slept with anyone for over six months. The minute I started having feelings for Kenzi, I just couldn’t do it.”

“Impressive.”

“No, it’s love. I only want her. That’s it.”

“Mom will be ecstatic. She totally thinks you’re gay.”

I sputter into my coffee. “What? Are you fucking kidding?”

Laughing, she nods. “Yup. She’s been really worried about you lately and thought you were hiding in the closet. I think she’ll be glad to find out you’re in love, even if it is Kenzi. Mom loves her; she’s all into the animal stuff. She fits right in.”

I wonder if that rumor has been floating around town and for how long.

“I can’t believe this shit,” I say. “But yeah, she does fit into my life. That’s important to me. I’m never going to give up Devils’ Wolves.”

“So let’s talk about your biggest hurdle, because it’s notanything between you and Kenzi. You two seem to be fine. It’s Asher, right?”

“Yup.”

“Does he have any idea? Have either of you dropped any hints?”