Page 68 of Choosing a Forever
Tal opens the bathroom door and comes out in nothing but a white shirt and royal blue boxer briefs so tight they look strained on his muscular thighs.
Or maybe I won’t get any rest, after all.
Not when I have to actively keep my gaze from glancing down at his—
Nope. No.
Seemingly unaffected by the change in wardrobe, Tal gets back under the covers, so I follow suit.
“Good night, Mack. Sweet dreams,” he says.
I click off my phone light.
“Good night. You, too.”
God help me, I am so fucked.
Chapter 25
Talmage
15 years old…
The car is quiet as we drive up to the Scout camp about three hours away. I can tell my mom wants to say something to me by the way she keeps drumming her fingers on the steering wheel and sighing.
Finally, after what feels like an eon of waiting, she turns off the music.
“Talmage, your father and I wanted to sit down and talk to you together, but we didn’t know how. So we decided I’d talk to you alone when I took you to camp.”
“Okay… About what?”
“We know about the Thorpe girl.”
My heart plummets to my stomach.
What does she know? Does she know… everything?
“What do you mean?” My voice comes out shaky.
“Well, Brother Linswell was out in his backyard one afternoon about two months ago and came around the front and saw you and her embracing. He didn’t think much of it, until he saw youkissher before you went your separate ways. He was concerned there might be somethingmore going on, so he called us and let us know to keep an eye on you. Your father and I didn’t want to believe what we were hearing, but Brother Linswell texted us multiple times after saying he saw you kiss her again.”
“Wh-why didn’t you and dad say anything?” I can’t even wrap my mind around what I’m hearing. Mack and I got tattled on like children by an old man? It’s not like we were out there naked or touching each other inappropriately. We’ve only kissed, nothing more.
“We thought you would come to your senses and confess. We hoped you’d end things with her and repent for your sins.”
“I don’t have anything to repent for, Mom. Mack and I never did anything more than kiss and hold hands. I don’t want to end things with her. Iloveher.”
Mom scoffs, and for the first time ever, I feel anger towards her. We’ve always had a close relationship, but right now it feels like she doesn’t trust me.
“You don’t love her, Talmage. You’re too young to know what that means. And you may not have done anything more, but you know you aren’t allowed to date until you’re sixteen, and you shouldn’t have a serious relationship until you come home from your mission. You’ve been lying to me and your father.”
“I haven’t lied. You never asked. Mack and Iarebest friends, and I’ve been open about it.” I don’t want to get into the fact she thinks I’m too young—how many times will I hear that regarding Mack?
“I don’t think she’s good news, Talmage. She seems… lost. There’s something dark inside her, something sinful, and I don’t want it to tarnish your light.”
How can my mom think that about her? How can she say Mack would tarnish my light when I’ve never been happier than when I’m with her?
Mom continues before I can even begin to protest, “You need to make a choice, Talmage. You need to either break up with Mackenzie or potentially ruin your future. One mistake is all it would take to undo all you’re working towards. No mission, no temple marriage, no Celestial Kingdom. Don’t throw it all away for some girl. I hope you make the right choice.”
