Page 58 of Torin and the Princess

“You want me to explain time travel and take some of the heat?”

I got out the parmesan and began shredding it. “Yes, please, because I cannot figure out how to do it. Also, put the wine bottles out on the counter. Some glasses.”

She put the bottles out and lined glasses beside it so it looked like a bar.

19

LEXI

2004 - THE KITCHEN

The pasta was boiling when Cooper returned. He had changed his clothes, putting on dark jeans and his favorite blue t-shirt. His hair was combed, a bit of product making it shiny, his face freshly shaven. He looked handsome as he stood there glowering at the floor for a moment.

Then asked, “Did you say ‘Time Traveler’?”

Jen leaned against the counter. “Yep, that’s what she said, because that’s what he is — he’s a time traveler.”

“You’re both going to come at me with this?”

I said, “I’m not coming ‘at you’ with anything, I’m telling you that the man is a time traveler, if you’ll let me tell you how?—”

There was a knock on the screen door.

Torin called in, “Mistress Lexi, might I enter?”

Cooper’s eyes went wide. “Is that him, that’s the guy? Why is the guy on my — I mean your porch?”

“Because I invited him to dinner.”

He groaned.

So I said what we often said when we were irritated with each other, “Don’t you just love me, Cooper, aren’t I wonderful?”

“You are wonderful… as you doeverythingin your power to kill me.”

Jen went to let Torin in.

I said, “You are not going to die because I invited someone to dinner.”

He said, “You know that isn’t what the problem is.”

“Yeah, I know.”

I turned as Torin entered, wearing the slacks and shirt I bought for him — it fit, a little tight on his muscles. Dude walked along merrily beside him.

I said, “Hi Torin, hungry?”

“Och aye, I am famished.” He bowed deeply.

Jen’s eyes traveled over him as he bowed and then she mouthed to me:Whoa.

Torin continued, “Thank ye, Mistress Lexi for invitin’ me tae the meal.”

Cooper asked, “Are you going to introduce us, Lexi?”

“Of course, yes, Cooper, this is Torin, Torin, this is Cooper, my um… boyfriend.”

Torin’s brow drew down but only momentarily, then he smiled broadly when Cooper put out his hand. He grasped Cooper’s forearm, clutched it tightly, and pulled him closer in kind of an arm wrestling match. “Och aye, tis verra fine tae meet ye, Master Cooper.” The two men were eye-level, though because of Cooper’s thin stature, Torin looked much bigger.

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