Page 78 of Torin and the Princess

“Yeah, me neither.” She smiled at me sadly, then pantomimed her head exploding.

Then she said, “Maybe you’ll be famous for discovering it. That would be cool, you would definitely teach Cooper a lesson, he should not be so skeptical.”

I turned my glass. “Coop just doesn’t believe time travel exists so he can’t accept anything to the contrary. He heard Torin’s answers and his conclusion was that Torin was just a really good actor or a total bullshitter.”

“All I know is be careful. Cooper loves you, you love him, just... don’t... you know.”

I huffed. “Let down my guard? That’s what Cooper accused me of doing.”

She nodded. “Cooper isn’t being cool, but he’s not wrong aboutthat.”

I drank down the rest of the milk. “Cooper is my family, I’m not going to screw anything up for the visiting Scotsman.”

“I just want you to be okay, you deserve to be okay.”

“Thank you.”

“And you also almost sound like someone who is leaving.”

I shook my head. “No, just feeling like I’ve been left...”

She frowned again. “Oh honey.”

“But it’s just a mood, I’m not leaving, first of all, it’s my house, also why on earth would I tear down my whole life over a bad mood? Or a time traveler?”

She added, “He is hot though, I wouldn’t blame you for feeling a little...warmtoward him, but I totally called dibs. And I am your bestie, even more of your family than Cooper, I want to point that out.”

I laughed and rolled my eyes. “Always so competitive.”

“It’s my way, three siblings, we fight over resources...”

I said, “Look, Torin’s leaving tomorrow. We discussed it. He’s gone right after breakfast. You going to help me cook?”

“Of course, sweetie, I’ll make my special pancakes, do you have syrup?”

“Yep, gallons. Sounds good, I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”

I slowly climbed the stairs,wishing I could go back to not believing in time travel, to not having the hot Scotsman in my back-shack, to thinking Cooper was going to get the deal, and believing that I was going to get married — life was simpler on the other side of yesterday.

But I couldn’t go back, I had seen this totally crazy story with my own eyes.

Dammit. It kinda felt like the world had flipped upside down and I wanted it to go right side up again.

I wanted everything to go right back to how it was before.

And then while I was at it, I wished it could go back to before my parents were gone.

As long as I could dream, why not that?

But instead I had to believe in this, a man jumping in and out of time, disrupting my everything.

26

LEXI

2004 - MY BEDROOM

Ipeeled up the covers and slid into bed. Then I lay there for a moment thinking,this is fine, I don’t mind. Cooper had a tough day, a long week. He deserved a passing out and a deep sleep.

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