Page 50 of The Torment of Two

“Hey,” I parrot back. “You answered.”

“I told you I would.”

“No Cedarwood?”

“Figured you needed me more.”

A thrill shoots through me and I’m unable to suppress a grin. “I did.”

He covers the phone for a second, his voice muffled, and then I hear a door close. “Dad’s being nosy tonight.”

“Mine too.”

We both chuckle quietly.

“Our little secret, huh?” I murmur, letting my eyes fall closed as I listen to his breathing.

“Yeah. Our secret.”

“Like Alexander and Edgar?”

He snorts. “Except we’re the opposite sex.”

“But we’re totally like them, right? Hiding our feelings from those around us.”

“Yup.”

“I know you want to hate me, Two, but I’m glad you can’t.”

His breath rattles through the phone. “Me too, Golden. Me too.”

“Tell me a story about you.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to know more about you.”

“I annoy most girls.”

“You annoy me,” I remind him with a smile. “But I keep sticking around for some reason. You’ve grown on me. Like a fungus. Now tell me a story.”

“Perfect little Gemma Park is tainted by Two.”

“Story time.”

He grunts at my persistence but then proceeds to tell me a dramatic tale about how one time he and Dax nearly drowned in the creek behind his house when they tried to ice skate on it. I listen with rapt attention, enjoying the animated way he tells how they were able to escape the chilly waters. When he finishes, the air between us feels lighter.

“Your turn. Tell me about your brothers. I always wanted a brother. Dax is the closest thing to one I have.”

We spend the next several hours on the phone, talking about everything and nothing. With each passing moment, I fall deeper and deeper into the abyss that is Two Sheridan. Learning silly things like his favorite song or foods he can’t stand intrigues me. Sharing real details about myself with him is something rare for me to do. It’s refreshing. Needless to say, I’m enjoying the man whose guts I hated a week ago.

“The sun’s coming up,” Two says with a yawn.

“Guess we better go to sleep.” I pause and then ask, “I’ll see you Monday in class?”

“Nah, Golden,” he murmurs. “I don’t think I can wait that long.”

My heart does a somersault.

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