Page 73 of Torn
“We’ll see about that. I have a feeling if you have to choose between pussies, you’ll choose mine,” she says with a smirk.
I know she’s joking, but I’m not seeing the humor in it. “One thing I’ve learned over the past few months is I can live without it, Syd. You don’t have any power over me with that. So, the pets stay, no matter what.”
It’s bugging me that she didn’t even ask their names or want to know how I saved them. She didn’t sit on the floor and pet them or show any interest in them at all. Unlike Kenzi, who treats this dog like royalty—brushing him and trimming his nails. Making him all-natural peanut butter dog treats from some recipe she found on Pinterest. She even ate one herself first, to make sure it tasted good. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.
Fuckin’ Kenzi, creeping back into my mind again. Always haunting me.
CHAPTER 17
Kenzi—age thirteen
Tor—age twenty-eight
I smile at the framed photo of my parents that’s on the night table on my mom’s side of the bed. They’re about fourteen and fifteen in this picture, and they’re kissing but smiling against each other’s lips. They look so young but also so much the same. It’s my favorite photo of them.
“Mom, how did you know Dad was the one?” My eyes linger on the photo for a moment longer before turning to her. She’s lying on her stomach at the end of their bed, writing in her journal as she does every night, her long blond hair falling around the rims of her nerdy, yet trendy, red-framed glasses.
She chews on the end of her pen, her face lighting up as she’s thinking about my dad. I love how much they love each other. Never fighting, always hugging and kissing, always whispering secrets to each other and pulling each other closer for kisses. It’s like they existed in their own little bubble of love and forgot the rest of the world existed.
“I just knew. I’d seen him around school and thought he was incredibly cute. But the first time we actually met face-to-face, he looked into my eyes with a dreamy smile and said ‘Oh shit. There goes my heart.’ We stayed in the park all day that day, just holding hands and talking. We found out we had a lot in common. Music, writing, the same foods and movies, the same fears and dreams. I felt like I had met the other half of myself. He walked me home at midnight, gave me my first kiss, and told me he could see his entire life in my eyes.” She closes her journal, a big smile on her face. “Needless to say, I fell totally head over heels in love with him and we’ve been inseparable ever since. My parents were less than thrilled, but nothing they could say or do could have kept me away from him.”
“That’s awesome,” I say wistfully. “I want to fall in love like that someday.”
She rolls over onto her back and stares at me, upside down, her hair hanging off the edge of the bed. It’s easy to see how my dad was so easily taken by her playful eyes, loving nature, and beautiful smile. She’s the kind of woman you just gravitate toward and want to be close to. She makes everyone around her feel loved and beautiful, just like my dad does. Together, they are the perfect fairy-tale couple.
“You will, baby. Don’t ever settle or be afraid to love. I always want you to follow your heart, no matter what.”
KENZI
It’s not even 8:00 a.m. yet and my phone is blowing up with text messages.
Chloe
Happy birthday to my girl! I love you!! Call me!
Rayne
18 baby! Woot! Love ya, my little chickadee!
Sailor
Happy birthday, beautiful. Hope it’s the best
Uncle Storm
I refuse to accept that you’re 18. Stop it.
Uncle Talon
Happy birthday, sweetheart. See u soon. :-)
Uncle Lukas
Happy birthday little one. Stop by and I’ll give you your first tat ;-)
Finn
18 spankings, Kensington. My palm is waiting.