“I don’t know. But I think it’s a very big possibility.”

I pull my hand away from hers. “This isn’t helping me.” I grumble.

“I’m trying to be honest, and you have to hear it. But on the other hand, Tor…you guys have obviously have had some kind of deep connection for years that hasn’t gone away, right? So maybe it can last. I know this is hard, but only time will tell.”

“I guess you’re right,” I nod. “But let’s just say she and I date. Do you think we look weird together? Does she look too young? Do I look old? I don’t want people staring at us.”

“I know you have mirrors in your house, Tor. You’re not fat and bald, for God’s sake. You look great. Your body is like a damn Greek God. And you’ve still got that rock star look going on with the hair and tattoos. So no, you don’t look old,” she pauses to sip her coffee. “And don’t even get me started on Kenzi. That girl is gorgeous. And she doesn’t even have to try, it’s so unfair. She doesn’t look or act eighteen, so I think once again, you’re okay if you’re worried about visual appearances.”

“Well, that makes me feel better.”

“What about conversation? Do you have things to talk about? Things in common? She hasn’t turned into a babbling idiot, right?”

“Definitely not. That’s not a problem for us at all. We’ve always had great conversations.”

“How about sex? Have you slept with her?”

Memories of Kenzi on top of me last night and holding her in my arms for hours afterwards float through my mind. “Yesterday was the first time we ever slept together. And it was fucking amazing.”

She sighs. “A little bit TMI, but I’m glad to hear you at least waited. The age of consent is sixteen, ya know. So It’s nice you waited ’til she was eighteen.”

“I’m not an asshole, Tesla. I do have some morals left.”

“Were you her first?”

“Yes.”

She gapes at me again. “Wow. Talk about setting the bar. My first guy was a scrawny sixteen year old who barely knew where to stick it. She’s going to compare every guy in her life to you. That’s going to be a tough act to follow.”

“Don’t even say that.”

“Ya know, if you guys do somehow make this work, it’s wicked romantic. For you to be her first and only for her entire life? That’s just crazy awesome. And the fact that you’d wait for her to grow up to marry her? It’s like an epic fairytale.” She stares off across the room with a giddy smile on her face. “It’s like every little girl’s dream. To find the Prince.”

“I’m not sure I’m much of a Prince.”

“In her eyes you are.”

“So if we were together, you’d be okay with it?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? I want you to be happy, and I like Kenzi. I hate that bitch Sydni and Lisa is just stuck up.”

“She’s not stuck up, you just have to get to know her.”

“I’ll pass. Are you still dating her, too?”

“Fuck no. I’m not seeing anyone else at all. I haven’t even slept with anyone for over six months. The minute I started having feelings for Kenzi, I just couldn’t do it.”

“Impressive.”

“No, it’s love. I only want her. That’s it.”

“Mom will be ecstatic. She totally thinks you’re gay.”

I sputter into my coffee. “What? Are you fucking kidding?”

Laughing, she nods. “Yup. She’s been really worried about you lately and thought you were hiding in the closet. I think she’ll be glad to find out you’re in love with a woman, even if it is Kenzi. Mom likes her, she’s all into the animal stuff. She fits right in.”

Jesus Christ. I wonder if that rumor has been floating around town and for how long.

“I can’t believe this shit. And yeah, she does fit into my life. That’s important to me. I’m never going to give up Devils’ Wolves.”

“So let’s talk about your biggest hurdle, because it’s not anything between you and Kenzi. You two seem to be fine. It’s Asher, right?”

“Yup.”

“Does he have any idea? Have either of you dropped any hints?”

“No.”

“Maybe you should start. Ease him into it slowly. He probably already has some kind of inkling, Tor. Even I knew and I really don’t pay much attention to anyone around me.”

That’s true. Tessie has always been stuck in her own head and a bit on the unsocial side.

“I’ve run a million different imaginary conversations with him in my head. And I can’t see any of them coming out okay. I can’t see him accepting her with me. He’ll think I betrayed him and took advantage of her. He’ll think I’m a child molester. He’ll fucking hate me.”

“He knows you, Tor. He knows you’re not the kind of guy to do something like that. You’ve taken care of her for her entire life. He knows how much you love her.”