Page 84 of Torn

Tor

I’m going to type one more thing, then we’re going to bed. I can hear birds chirping.

Ok…

Tor

I’ve always loved how unconditionally you love me.

Ah. The power that words can hold is nothing short of amazing. They can hurt you, and they can heal you. Or they can completely gut you. And sometimes, like now, they can make everything right in your world.

I always will. Now go to sleep.

Tor

You too, Angel. Maybe if we fall asleep at the same time, we’ll see each other in our dreams.

Wow, Tor… I never knew you were a romantic.

Tor

There’s a lot about me you don’t know ;-)

After eighteen years, I seriously thought I knew everything about Tor. But cracks spidered through the wall between us tonight, and glimpses of him have seeped out through his words. He’s sensual. He’s lonely. He’s possessive. He’s playful. He’s romantic. And he’s afraid of getting hurt.

I pull the thin cover up over me and hug my pillow, eager to fall asleep now with the hope of meeting up with him in our dreams.

CHAPTER 20

Kenzi—age thirteen

Tor—age twenty-eight

I glance at the clock again above the fireplace. It’s only five minutes later than it was the last time I looked at it, but it feels like an hour has passed. I’ve been sitting in this chair in Asher’s living room all night, listening to the tick of that clock with one ear and the sound of the door with the other. But there hasn’t been a sound at the door, and with each passing minute I’m getting more worried.

I call her phone again and it goes straight to voice mail. I don’t bother leaving a message.

“Fuck,” I mutter, grabbing my car keys off the coffee table. I pull on my sweatshirt as I head for the back door just as she’s coming in.

“Where the hell have you been?” Anger and relief flood through me. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

Her big green eyes widen as she peeks up at me from behind her bangs. I grab her chin and lift her face up into the light.

“Are you wearing lipstick? And eyeliner?”

She pushes my hand away. “Maybe. A little. My phone battery died.” She skirts by me and opens the refrigerator, taking out a pitcher of iced tea.

“Where have you been, Kenzi? It’s eleven o’clock. I’ve been calling you for three hours. You didn’t even tell me you were going out. You just disappeared.”

She pours herself a glass and puts the pitcher back, shrugging nonchalantly at me. “Chloe’s cousin picked me up and took us and some other friends to the movies. Chill out.”

“I’m not going to chill out, Kenzi. You’re supposed to let me know where you are and who you’re with.”

Glaring at me, she tries to push past me to leave the kitchen but I grab her arm.

“Don’t walk away from me.”

“You’re being a jerk. You’re not my father, ya know. And I’m not a baby. I’m allowed to go out with my friends. I don’t have to sit here with you on a Friday night.”

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