Page 30 of Torn
“It’s okay,” he says groggily. “Shit. Something smells great.”
“Dinner is ready. If you’re hungry?”
“You kidding? I’m starving.”
“Well, get up, sleepyhead. I’ll go set the table.”
I make a quick exit out of his room. He joins me in the kitchen a few minutes later, dressed and much more awake, and throws a pair of purple sweatpants at me.
“What’s this for?” I ask.
“To wear when we check the traps after dinner. I don’t want you to wear shorts walking in the woods; you might get a tick on you.”
“Thank you. Whose are these? Is there a woman without pants running around town?” I joke, not sure I even want to know the answer to that.
“Sydni left them here months ago. She won’t mind if you borrow them. You can burn them if you want. I don’t want her stuff in my house anymore.”
I fold them and put them off to the side. “Duly noted. Let’s eat.”
He raves over my lasagna, telling me it’s just as good as his mom’s and he’d love for me to make him dinner on the days I’m here cleaning his house. He’ll throw me some more money to cook. I agree, not because I want the money, but because I want to cook for him. I have no idea why I’m so drawn to domestic activities, butI am, and now I’m incredibly excited about cooking for him a few times a week. My mind starts to churn with meal ideas.
“Hey,” I say as I’m cleaning up our dishes after dinner. “After we check on the food stations, do you want to hang out and watch a movie in Dad’s theater room? He’s not coming home tonight; he’s staying in the city meeting with some friends, and I’m still mad at Chloe, so I don’t want to see her yet.”
“I can’t tonight. I have a date with Lisa.”
I almost drop the towel I’m drying my hands with. I didn’t know he was seeing Lisa again.
“Oh.” I try to hide my disappointment behind a smile. “Maybe another time.”
“Are you okay to be alone all night?”
“Of course. You know my father and his crazy security system. I’ll just read and watch the bunny hop around my room. I’m still kinda tired anyway.”
“If I had known you wanted to hang out, I would have told Lisa I couldn’t see her.”
“Don’t be silly. I’ll be fine. I want you to have fun on your date. I’m glad you’re giving her another chance.” I honestly want to be happy for him, but I feel like Lisa doesn’t deserve or appreciate him. How could she when she called him cold and uncaring? She clearly doesn’t get him at all.
Tor is unusually quiet and distracted when we check on the food traps, and he opts out of our ritual of sitting on the rock and making wishes. I’m disappointed, because I love our little rituals, but I assume he wants to get to his date and I’ve probably worn out my welcome by now. An unexpected call from me for a ride home has turned into me spending the entire day at his house.
When he brings me home, he insists on walking me inside and then tells me he has to wash his hands before heading back out to meet Lisa because she thinks he smells like motorcycle grease and meat. I’ve actually always liked the faint smell of motorcycle grease because it’s such a part ofhim, but I suppose most women may not feel the same way.
As he leaves, I watch his truck back out of our long driveway before I engage the security system and retreat to my room. As I’m running water for a bath, my phone rings.
“Hi, Dad,” I answer. “I’m getting ready to take a bath. Tor just dropped me off.”
“I know, he called me. I wanted to say good night and tell you I love you.”
I smile into the phone. “I love you, too.”
“You okay? I could call Rayne for you and have her stay the night.”
“Dad, no. Why does everyone think I need a babysitter? I’m almost eighteen.”
“You’ll always be a little girl to me, Kenzi. I can’t help it.”
“I know…”
“I worry about you. That’s what fathers do.”