Misty Reigenborn Romance Boxed Set (149 page)

"Oh yeah, Rob.  I'm sorry.  Rob, this is my girlfriend Tory."

"Nice to meet you Tory."

"You too, Rob.”

"That was a great party you had last summer Tony.  I mean, you had a lot of great parties but damn the one on the 4th of July, people are still talking about it."

Tony gave him a look.  "Thanks.  You mind helping me bring that bed into my room?  I'll kick you a twenty." 

"It's all right.  I got laid so many times after your parties that I owe you one."

Tony gave him another 'shut up' look, which Rob was either too stupid to notice or just wasn't paying attention to because he was going on about another of Tony's parties when they walked together out to the truck. 

Tory stood in the kitchen, watching them heft the new bed through the living room and into the bedroom.  She turned to the fridge and was digging around for something to make for dinner when they came back through, Rob still chattering about some chick he had screwed in Tony's living room while ten other people were getting it on with the way he told it. 

No wonder she'd always stayed locked up in his bedroom while his parties were going on she thought as they came back through with the mattress.  Rob clapped Tony on the back when they'd come back out and asked if he was having a party for new years'.

Tony said no.  Rob left with a disappointed look on his face. 

When the door was closed behind him Tony turned to her.  "Sorry.  The guy's kind of a moron." 

"Yeah, I got that.  Did people really have orgies in your living room?"

"I guess."

"Yuck."

"No more parties Tor.  After New Year's no more drinking, no more partying.  No more adolescent bullshit.  It's time to grow up."

"What if I don't want to grow up?"

"You're the one that's always saying you can't wait until you turn eighteen so you won't have to deal with your mother." 

"I know.  Did you bring your sheets in?  Can we put them on?"

"Don't you want to eat dinner first?" 

She made a face.  "Do we have to?"

He laughed.  "No, we don't have to.  But weren't you griping at me for not wanting to eat breakfast just yesterday?"

"Yeah, yeah.  Your fridge is stocked with leftovers.  You want me to warm up a couple of plates?"

"Sounds good to me.  Aunt Lori's leftovers taste better than anything you can get at any restaurant."

She dug through the plastic bowls in the fridge, and saw that everything was labeled.  There was turkey, stuffing, potatoes, dinner rolls, salad, three different kinds of pie and whipped cream.  She made them both up a plate and carried them into the living room. 

"Thanks babe.”

"Do you think Carl and Andi are still coming by?  It's starting to get late."

"Who knows?  They've probably spent the last couple of hours having sex in the back seat of the jeep and no longer need the use of my air mattress.  It's not much more comfortable than the jeep."

She got up, taking the plates back to the kitchen.  "What kind of pie do you want?  Cherry, pecan or pumpkin?"

"How about we skip the pie for now?  I've got to help my favorite girl forget all about some guy she saw today with a nose ring."

Tory smiled.  "You'd look hot with a nose ring Tony."

"Don't think so darlin’."

"How ‘bout your lip or your eyebrow?"

"Uh, no."

"What if I get one?"

"So you can match your new boyfriend?"

"Yes Tony."  She ran her hands under his shirt.  "Don't you owe me a picture of your sexy butt in a tight pair of jeans and your naked chest all sweaty because we've just gotten done having sex?" 

"Mmm.  I think I do.  Guess we'd better get busy."

He led her to the bedroom, where they put the sheets on the bed and then quickly stripped.  He started out urgent in his lust and then slowed down, his eyes locked on hers.  She let herself enjoy looking at him this time; forcing herself to keep looking at him when she came, though it felt strange. 

He let out a quiet groan a moment later and said “I love you Tory," as he reached climax.  He leaned down and kissed her, then moved back to his side of the bed, digging around in his jeans. 

She thought he was looking for a cigarette, and then noticed that his cigarettes were on the nightstand.  Maybe he was looking for his phone, she thought.  Hers was still in the living room.  She got up to get it, but he stopped her. 

"Wait a sec Tor."

Then he was kneeling naked on his bedroom floor; taking her hand.  He flipped open a velvet covered ring box.  Her heart was suddenly beating triple time. 

"I know that you may not be ready now, but I don't want to wait any longer to ask you Tor.  I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.  Tory, will you,” then "Damn could they possibly have any worse timing?" as a loud knock sounded at the front door. 

"Hold that thought." He pulled on his jeans. 

She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  Granted, her boyfriend was a drug dealer who had been out of town for a few days.  But someone coming to buy drugs when he was in the middle of proposing she thought?  She pulled the sheet up around her, reaching for a cigarette. 

"Who the fuck is it?"  She heard Tony say from the living room. 

"It's me Tone, open the damn door."

It was Carl.  What was he doing here now she thought?  It was almost nine o'clock.  He'd called around 5:45 or so.  With the way he'd sounded on the phone, there was no way in hell he'd waited to screw Andi.

"Kid," she could hear Tony saying as they came down the hallway.  "You could not have worse timing.  I’m trying to be romantic and proposing to the love of my life and you come banging on the door."

"Oh." Carl sounded sheepish.  "Sorry Tone.  How the hell was I supposed to know you were proposing?  Can we still borrow your other bedroom?  We've been driving around for hours now, trying to find someplace to do it."

Tony sighed.  "Go ahead.  What the hell was wrong with the old make out spot?"

"There were cops up there.  Some chick supposedly got raped up there tonight."

"If some girl was up there with a guy," Tony grumbled.  "She knew what was coming."

"That's not true," Andi protested.  "Making out doesn't have to lead to sex."

"Yeah." Tony let out another sigh.  "I guess I should be thankful that it was you two and not some junkie.  Now, that would totally have killed the moment.  Go on.  Go have your makeup sex so that you can get home before curfew."

"Thanks Tone," Carl said.  "I know I can always count on you." 

"Get out of my sight.  I have to run damage control with the woman."

Carl laughed.  "She's not gonna tell you no just because we interrupted you, Tone.  Tory loves you.  It is Tory isn't it?" 

"You really are an asshole,” Tony said. 

She could hear Carl laughing as they went down the hallway. 

Tony opened the door and came back into the bedroom, giving her a half-hearted smile.  "Sorry, baby." He kneeled beside the bed again and took her hand.  "What I'm trying to say Tory
is that I know we've had our ups and downs, but the time that I spent without you made me realize how much I need you in my life.  You make me want to be a better man.  There's no one on this earth that I'd rather grow old with.  No one that I'd be prouder to say is the mother of my children.  I may not be much now, but someday in the not too distant future I hope you'll be as proud to have me as your man as I've always been proud to have you as my woman.  I'm not excepting you to marry me tomorrow.  You can decide when and where it happens.  If it takes twenty years, I'll wait.  I'll go to the end of the earth and back baby if you want me to.  So." He pulled the ring out of the box.  "Tory Louise Collins, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?  Will you marry me?"

"Oh Tony."

She was going to start crying.  She had imagined this moment with Jude before, wondering when and where it would happen.  But it couldn't have been better than this.  Looking at Tony, even with the now loud sounds of sex coming from down the hall, even if she'd had sex with Jude and he with her teacher, she'd never been surer of what she wanted in her life.  Even if they were both mostly directionless, and would have a rough road ahead of them, THIS was what she wanted.

She put her arms around him.  "Of course I'll marry you Tony."

"Wooh." He pulled back and gave her his usual cocky grin.  "For a minute I was afraid you were going to say no."

Which was pretty funny she thought because the voice of Andi broke in from down the hall saying "Oh Carl, yes."

Tory had to laugh.  "You think he's in there proposing too?"

Tony snorted.  "Nope, but I'll bet he did it already.  He's not gonna let that one get away."

Carl's voice broke in then.  "Oh, oh Andi.  God Andi, I," then a quiet sigh, indicating his release.  "Love you." 

They could hear the door open and then Andi knocked softly.  "Are you two decent?"

"I suppose," Tony said.  "C'mon in guys."

Andi was wearing Carl's t-shirt, holding the bundle of her clothes in her arms.  "Can I borrow your shower Tony?  My Dad's got a nose like a bloodhound.  He can smell sex on me a mile away."

Tony laughed, shaking his head.  "Go ahead."

"Thanks." She went into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. 

Carl was standing uncomfortably in the doorway.  "Don't just stand there kid.  Either come in or get out."

"Sorry Tone." Carl came in and sat down on Tony's side of the bed. 

"Nothing to be sorry about.  You okay?"

"Yeah, I just.  .  ."

"Just what bro?  Spit it out."

"I'm gonna miss Andi so much when she goes back home."

"No reason to miss her now.  She's in the damn shower.”

"I know." Carl sighed.  "But they're leaving New Year’s Day.  That's only 5 days away.  I don't know how I'm going to survive without her."

"You've got a cell phone.  She's got a cell phone.  There are computers, there's the postal service.  It's only six months before she's back here.  Her parents already said they'd let her stay with her grandparents over the summer right?"

"They haven’t exactly said yes.  But I’m sure she can work on them, especially if she gets into Crestview.  It's gonna suck so bad.  Six whole months without her."

Tony got up on the bed.  Tory moved over so he could sit beside her.  "Listen kid, nothing worth having is ever easy to get or to keep.  It's comes too easy, it ain't worth it.  Don't you remember how hard I had to fight for this one?  Andi walked back into your life and she was yours at hello.  You are one lucky man Carl.  You'll make it work.  Yeah, it's gonna suck without her.  I can barely stand the thought of Tory going back to school because she won't be in my bed every night where she belongs, but I'm gonna deal with it."

"But Tory will just be at Crestview.  At least you'll be able to see her on the weekends and stuff." 

"Those six months are gonna be done and over with before you know it.  You keep busy, you study, you work your ass off to be able to give the girl you love the life that she deserves.  You talk to her on the phone, you instant message her on the computer, you write her twenty page love letters and send them in the mail.  You're lucky that her parents can see past the puppy love and see that you two have a future together.  Not a lot of parents would let their daughter spend the summer with her grandparents so she could be near her boyfriend."

"Her grandma could use the help though.  She's got this big huge house.  It's too hard for her to do everything by herself."

"So there you go.  When you're not working this summer, you help out too.  It's never hurts to get in good with the in laws ahead of time, right Tor?"

"Sure Tony."

"Hey," Carl said.  "How's my future sister-in-law?"

Tory gave him a puzzled frown.  "Sister-in-law?  What makes you think I told him yes?" 

Carl's face crumbled.  "Oh, shit Tone.  I'm sorry."

Tony gave her a dirty look.  "She was fucking with you.  She said yes." He held up her left hand, showing Carl the engagement ring. 

"Bitch," Carl mumbled under his breath. 

Andi came out of the bathroom then, drying her hair.  "Who's a bitch?  I hope it's not me."

"No," Tony said.  "Of course not.  He was talking about Tory.  She was teasing him.  How's MY future sister-in-law?"

Andi gave him a bright smile.  "So much better now."

She looked at Tory, whose hand was still on top of Tony's, engagement ring glinting even in the dim light from the lamp on the nightstand. 

"She said yes?  That's so cool.  Can I see your ring Tory?"

Tory held out her hand so Andi could get a better look.  "Oh, it's so pretty Tony.  I can't wait until Carl has enough money to get me one.  It's gonna be great to wear his class ring.  But an engagement ring?  Then everybody knows you're gonna get married."

Tony gave Carl a knowing look.  "I think you're gonna be okay while she's at home.  Your girl seems pretty devoted."