Page 111 of The Persistence of Thornes
Those words—freshly fucked—coming from this little old lady, make me want to crawl beneath the table, never to be seen or heard from again. Yet at the same time, I have to hold back uncontrollable laughter.
“Thelma,” Cynthia scolds, batting at her wife. “Watch your mouth. You’re embarrassing her. Look at her face.She’s so red.” To me she says, “Breathe, hun. There are only two of us in this house who are old enough to go. Let’s not resort to dramatics, okay?”
Caleb snickers and sets his fork down. “You two want any breakfast.”
Scoffing, Thelma pulls out the chair beside me. So much for our quiet morning in. “Breakfast was hours ago. I eat at eight sharp every morning. You should try it. It’s great for your digestive system.”
Despite her speech, she plucks a piece of bacon from my plate and bites into it.
Caleb gives me a look, lips pressed together but twitching, as if to saycan you believe her?
Yeah. Yeah, I can. If there’s one thing I’ve learned since moving here, it’s that Thelma marches to the beat of her own drum.
“The boys were great,” she goes on, as Cynthia eases into the fourth seat at the table. “Though I’m sure you were too busy to think about them.”
Cynthia heaves a sigh, placing her hands in her lap. “Stop with the guilt trips. We offered.” She turns to me with a soft smile. “I hope you both had a lovely night.”
I have never wished to be sucked up into a tornado or fall into a sinkhole, but right now, either would be preferable to this.
“It was great.” Caleb sends a smirk my way, his chin lifted.
Kill me now, please.
“Good, good.” She pats him on the cheek. “Happy to hear it. You deserve it.”
I shove my plate away. Nothing kills an appetite like being congratulated for having sex by a pair of elderly neighbors. I might hate my hometown, but there are far more strange people here.
Though I suppose the town and the people in it are growing on me.
Like a weed.
“Well.” Thelma smacks the table hard enough to rattle the cutlery. “We better be heading out. Headed to the flea markets today.”
Cynthia gives us a gracious smile and eases to her feet. “Your brothers are lovely. We love having them over.”
My heart pangs with gratitude. “Thank you. They’re really fond of both of you.”
I’m not sure I’ll ever understand the friendship they’ve developed, but it’s adorable anyway.
They let themselves out of the house, and we’re once again alone, since the boys are nowhere to be seen.
Caleb picks up his fork again, eyes dancing. “You’re not running away screaming, so I’ll take that as a good sign.”
Head lowered, I laugh. “Your town is crazy.”
“My town?” He tosses a piece of bacon at me. “It’s your town too, now.”
I pick the bacon—which has landed in my hair—out and drop it onto my plate. “But it isn’t named after me.”
His eyes darken with heat. “It could be. One day.”
My heart stops, my chest pinching painfully. “What did you say?”
“I said”—his smile grows, like he’s not the least bit concerned about freaking me out—“it could be yours oneday too. If you want it.” He shrugs, as if it’s no big deal to casually mention that he thinks about marrying me one day.
Yes, I just told him I could see a future like that with him, but this is so much bigger. He’s talking about sharing a last name. As I process it, my pulse takes off, my breaths coming shallow.
Halle Thorne.
