AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I peer over at him and smile. "Well, you're incredibly old so I didn't want to run the risk of you dying on the slopes. Figured this would be more your speed."
Tal snorts and hits back with, "You realize I can run rings around guys half my age…and I do."
I smile. "It's one of the things I love about you. You're a classic, one-of-a-kind, ball of energy."
Tal stops walking and scrunches his nose. "Where's the punchline?"
"No punchline." I spike my pole into the snow. "I mean it. I have so much respect for you. You give less than zero fucks about what anyone thinks about you. You live your life on your terms. I really admire that."
"Thanks." Tal grabs my arm. "I'm so used to being judged that it's really nice to hear that."
We resume walking. It's a beautiful winter's day. We're out on a hiking trail that's not too far from my brother Branum's place.
"Who judges you?" I ask after a while.
"Who doesn't?" Tal replies. "A lot of people think that by my age, I should be married or at least settled down. I shouldn't be fucking around. I definitely shouldn't be fucking around with guys half my age. I should wear board shorts when swimming and not a neon pink G-string."
"Ah, the infamous neon pink G-string." I nudge his side with my elbow. I've heard many a story about it. "Did you bring it with you?"
Tal lifts his head and opens his mouth, catching a few snowflakes on his tongue. "No. Not exactly swimming weather."
"You'll have to show me it sometime."
I grin at Tal, and I swear I must be seeing things, because for a moment, it looks like he's blushing. His cheeks definitely weren't that pink a moment ago.
Tal shakes his head, his eyes glimmering. "Stop only wanting me for my insane body. I have a personality, too, you know. God, it's hard being so beautiful."
He winks at me before stomping ahead. I'm smiling when I reach him. I love our playful banter. Apart from my brothers, and now their partners, I'm not like this with anyone else. I don't know how he brings out this side of me, but he does.
He always has.
"My brothers asked me how we met."
Tal smirks. "I see. And what lie did you make up?"
"I didn't lie to them."
"You told them we met at an orgy?"
"I did."
"And what was their reaction?"
"They were fine with it. I told them we spent the time talking to each other, rather than fucking."
"A very important distinction," he says with a chuckle.
"Which brings me to a very interesting point."
"Being?"
I lean against a tree. "Whydidn'twe have sex that first time we met? We were at a freaking orgy for Christ's sake. And back then, I was in your fuckable age bracket."
Tal walks over and places his walking poles against the thick trunk. "Where is this coming from?"
"I'm just…curious."
That's only partly true. I'm also laying the groundwork for my big revelation tonight. Depending on how he answers this question, I'll know better what angle to approach it from.
